WEEK 36

Maria is still determined to keep in shape, despite the obvious handicap of being eight months pregnant.

With normal exercise routines now out of the question, she goes along to her gym for an aqua aerobics class. I joke that she’s just going for a paddle – I’m told in no uncertain terms that this is serious stuff.

Maria is a fitness fanatic – she loves her swimming and aerobics, so is excited by combining the two for the first time and meeting women in a similar situation.

When she comes back, I enquire about how she got on. Her face cracks into a fit of giggles. Far from a class for pregnant women, it turns out that the session was aimed more at the more 'mature' ladies.

Maria says she felt so young – the average age was about 50!

It’s a good week, Maria's last at work. Colleagues organise a couple of 'send-offs' and she is flooded with cards, flowers and presents.

Brilliant, but it comes with a price: her company want to get every last minute out of her and they force her to work the weekend. I shake my head in disbelief…

Read week 37 >>