Pregnancy guide

67 guides · Trying, expecting and birth

Whether you have just seen two lines on a test or you are already weeks in and looking for answers, these guides cover the whole journey: from preparing your body before conception, through each trimester and every antenatal appointment, right up to what happens in the birth room and the first days after.

Trying to conceive

• Pre-conception health: folic acid, vitamins and preparing your body — What to do before trying: folic acid, vitamin D, lifestyle changes.
• How long does it take to get pregnant? — How long most couples take, what affects the timeline, when to see a GP.
• Understanding your cycle and fertile window — How the menstrual cycle works, when ovulation happens, how to recognise it.

First trimester

• First trimester symptoms: what is normal and what to watch for — Common symptoms, when to take a test, which signs need prompt attention.
• Pregnancy nausea and morning sickness: what actually helps — Why nausea happens, when it eases, what helps and when to seek support.
• Pregnancy fatigue: why it happens and how to manage it — Why extreme tiredness is common in early pregnancy and how to cope.
• Your booking appointment: what happens at your first antenatal visit — Blood tests, questions you will be asked, and what you receive.
• NHS antenatal appointments: your schedule from booking to birth — A week-by-week guide to the NHS antenatal appointment schedule.
• Miscarriage: understanding early pregnancy loss — What miscarriage is, why it happens, NHS support and how to find help.
• Pregnancy after miscarriage or loss: what to expect — The emotional and practical realities of pregnancy after loss.
• Twin pregnancy: what to expect from diagnosis to birth — What makes twin pregnancy different, the care you will receive.
• Vitamin D in pregnancy: why it matters and how much you need — Why vitamin D is important, who is at risk of deficiency, NHS recommendations.
• Iron in pregnancy: foods, supplements and preventing deficiency — Why iron requirements increase, which foods help, when supplements are needed.
• Alcohol and caffeine in pregnancy: what the NHS advises — NHS guidance on alcohol and caffeine, what the evidence shows.
• Genetic testing in pregnancy: NIPT, CVS and amniocentesis explained — What genetic tests are available, who is offered them, how to decide.
• Pregnancy after 35: what changes, what to expect, and what the evidence says — What risks are genuinely higher and what additional care is offered.
• Pregnancy traditions and beliefs in Indian culture — Dietary beliefs, activity customs and what medical evidence says about them.
• Chinese pregnancy traditions: customs, beliefs and what the evidence says — Common customs, dietary beliefs and taboos, evidence-based look.
• Boshi techo: Japan's mother and child health handbook — What the boshi techo records and how Japan's portable health record works.
• Antenatal care in Australia: your options and what is covered — Public vs private care, what Medicare covers, your care options.
• Prenatal care in the USA: your schedule, costs and what to expect — How prenatal care works in the US, appointment schedule, insurance coverage.
• US prenatal visit schedule: what happens at each appointment — A visit-by-visit guide to prenatal appointments in the United States.
• Mutterpass: Germany's maternity record booklet explained — What the Mutterpass records and how the German antenatal system works.
• Hebamme: midwifery care in Germany and how to find one — What a Hebamme does, what insurance covers, how to book one early.
• Pregnancy care in Italy: the antenatal system explained — How antenatal care works through the SSN and what is covered.

Second trimester

• Pregnancy nutrition: what to eat and what to avoid — What to eat more of, what to limit, and what to avoid entirely.
• Exercise in pregnancy: what is safe and what to avoid — Which activities to continue, which to avoid, and why.
• Mental health in pregnancy: anxiety, depression and getting help — Why mental health conditions are common in pregnancy, how to get support.
• Gestational diabetes: screening, diagnosis and management — Who is offered screening, how it is managed, what it means for birth.
• Anaemia in pregnancy: symptoms, causes and treatment — Why anaemia is so common, how it is diagnosed, how iron deficiency is treated.
• Pelvic girdle pain (PGP) in pregnancy: symptoms and management — Why PGP happens and how physiotherapy and lifestyle changes can help.
• Heartburn and reflux in pregnancy: what helps — Why heartburn is so common, what makes it worse, what the NHS recommends.
• Iwata obi: the Japanese pregnancy belly band tradition — When and why the iwata obi is worn, and the Inu no Hi ceremony.

Third trimester

• Counting kicks: monitoring fetal movement in pregnancy — Why monitoring movements matters, what is normal, when to call.
• Pre-eclampsia: signs to recognise and when to call — The symptoms to watch for and when to contact your maternity unit.
• Hospital bag checklist: what to pack for birth — A complete NHS-informed checklist of what to pack for labour and beyond.
• Group B strep in pregnancy: testing, risks and decisions — How group B strep is managed in UK pregnancies and your testing options.
• Overdue pregnancy: what to expect and your options — What it means to go past your due date, when induction is offered.
• Breech presentation: what it means and your options near term — What the NHS offers, including ECV and planned caesarean, and how to decide.
• Maternity leave and pay: what you are entitled to in the UK — How UK maternity leave and Statutory Maternity Pay work.
• Paternity leave and pay: what partners are entitled to in the UK — UK paternity leave, Statutory Paternity Pay, and Shared Parental Leave.
• Godh bharai: the Indian pregnancy ceremony — When the godh bharai takes place, what happens, how it is celebrated.
• Birth choices in Australia: public, private and birth centres — The different birth settings in Australia and how to choose between them.
• Maternity and parental leave in the USA: federal and state rights — US federal and state maternity leave laws, who qualifies, how states compare.
• Elterngeld: Germany's parental allowance explained — How Elterngeld works, how much you receive, who qualifies, how to apply.
• Congedo di maternita: maternity leave and pay in Italy — How Italian maternity leave and pay works and what partners are entitled to.
• La quarantina: the Italian postnatal rest tradition — What the Italian 40-day tradition is and what evidence says about postnatal rest.
• Skin-to-skin contact after birth: benefits and how it works — The evidence for its benefits after both vaginal and caesarean birth.
• The first week after birth: what to expect for mother and baby — What happens to your body and your baby in the first seven days.
• Perineal tears and episiotomy: recovery after birth — The different degrees of tear, how recovery works, what to expect.
• Birth positions: options for labour and how they can help — What evidence says about upright positions and how to use them.
• Preparing for a newborn: what you actually need and what can wait — What you genuinely need for a newborn and what can wait until after birth.
• Preparing for zuo yuezi: planning your postnatal confinement — How to plan for zuo yuezi: centre vs home care, setting up your space.

Scans and tests

• The 12-week dating scan: what it checks and what to expect — What the NHS 12-week scan involves, what it measures, combined Down's screening.
• The 20-week anomaly scan: what it checks and what to expect — What the NHS 20-week scan looks for, how to prepare, what happens if unexpected.

Labour and birth

• Writing a birth plan: what to include and how to approach it — What to include and how to discuss your preferences with your midwife.
• Pain relief in labour: the options explained — Every pain relief option in NHS labour wards, from TENS to epidural.
• Induction of labour: methods, reasons and what to expect — Why induction is offered, the methods used in the NHS, what the process involves.
• Vaginal birth after caesarean (VBAC): what the evidence says — Who is a candidate, success rates, and how to discuss the decision.
• Caesarean section recovery: what to expect in the days and weeks after birth — Wound care, pain management, and gradual return to activity.
• Labour: what happens from the first contractions to birth — A clear guide to early labour, active labour, pushing, and delivery.
• Elective caesarean: what to expect from arrival to recovery — Pre-op steps, what you feel during surgery, the recovery ward.
• The birth partner's role: what to do and how to help during labour — How to use a TENS machine, what to do during contractions, when to call.
• The golden hour after birth: what happens immediately after your baby is born — Why skin-to-skin contact matters and what to expect straight after birth.
• The postnatal ward: what to expect in the first 24 to 48 hours — The checks, the feeding support, and how to make the most of your stay.
• Your baby's first night: what to expect in those first hours — Feeding, sleep, newborn checks, and what is normal in the first night.
• Going home after birth: what to prepare and expect on discharge day — When you can go home, what midwives check before discharge.

Frequently asked questions

What should I do when I find out I am pregnant?

Book an appointment with your GP or midwife as soon as possible. You will be referred for your booking appointment, usually between 8 and 12 weeks, where blood tests and your antenatal schedule will be arranged. Start taking 400 micrograms of folic acid daily if you have not already.

What are the early signs of pregnancy?

A missed period is the most common first sign. Others include nausea, tiredness, breast tenderness, needing to wee more often, and a heightened sense of smell. A home pregnancy test can give an accurate result from the first day of your missed period.

When will I have my 12-week scan?

The NHS dating scan is usually offered between 10 and 14 weeks, most commonly around 12 weeks. It confirms your due date and, together with a blood test, screens for conditions including Down's syndrome. You will receive your appointment through your midwife after your booking visit.

What is a normal pregnancy week by week?

Most pregnancies last around 40 weeks from the first day of your last period. The first trimester covers weeks 1 to 12 and is often the most tiring. The second trimester, weeks 13 to 27, is when most people feel better and movement begins. The third trimester, weeks 28 to 40, is the final stretch before birth.

How do I prepare for labour?

Writing a birth plan helps you think through your preferences for pain relief, positions, and who you want in the room. Packing your hospital bag from about 36 weeks is a good idea. Your midwife can talk you through what to expect and antenatal classes, whether NHS or independent, give you and your birth partner practical preparation.

What happens at the postnatal ward after birth?

After birth you will be moved to the postnatal ward, usually for 12 to 48 hours depending on how the birth went. Midwives will check your bleeding, pain, and how feeding is going. Your baby will have newborn checks including a physical examination and hearing screen. Most people go home once both mother and baby are well and feeding is established.