Pregnancy – articles and advice
Antenatal care
Articles and features on pregnancy, prenatal care and preparing for birth. For trusted details, see our Patient Information Leaflets on pregnancy.
Antenatal care
Antenatal care monitors your and your baby’s health during pregnancy. Learn what to expect at appointments and why regular check-ups are essential.
Diet and lifestyle during pregnancy
What you eat and how you live affects your growing baby. Discover safe foods, exercise tips, and what to avoid during pregnancy.
- What to pack on your babymoon
- How to stay healthy and safe when pregnant at Christmas
- How does pregnancy impact your job?
- Postpartum power: exercising after pregnancy
- Which pregnancy vitamins do I really need?
- How much pregnancy weight gain is normal?
- Our top tips for coping with hot weather and pregnancy
- How to travel safely during pregnancy
- Build a maternity capsule wardrobe on a budget
- What your pregnancy cravings could mean
- Fertility diet: what to eat when you're trying to get pregnant
- Why can pregnancy cause nightmares and vivid dreams?
- Should you take probiotics for pregnancy?
- Can Pilates help strengthen your pelvic floor during pregnancy?
- What to do if you miss alcohol during pregnancy
- The food and drink to avoid on holiday if you’re pregnant
- How to be vegan when you are pregnant or breastfeeding
- How to safely maintain your exercise routine while pregnant
- What do you learn in antenatal classes and what are the benefits?
- How to deal with negative body image in pregnancy
- Can you drink coffee when you are pregnant?
- How to snack healthily when you're pregnant
Fertility
Trying for a baby? Learn about factors that affect fertility in men and women, and when it may be time to seek help.
- How common is male infertility, and what causes it?
- How your lifestyle may be a cause of low sperm count
- Scientists develop sperm separation method for sex selection
- How an underactive thyroid affects fertility
- Do anabolic steroids cause infertility?
- Junk food diet linked to low sperm count
- Protecting your mental health during fertility treatment
- The truth about getting pregnant after 40
- The truth about egg freezing
- What not to say to someone experiencing infertility
- Does your ethnicity influence your fertility success?
- Why is egg freezing on the rise and is it safe?
General pregnancy information
Pregnancy brings big changes. Discover what happens trimester by trimester, what symptoms are normal, and when to call your midwife or doctor.
- Pregnancy insomnia: how to get better sleep while pregnant
- Video: Is it safe to have sex during pregnancy and other lifestyle questions?
- When should you announce a pregnancy?
- Which type of pregnancy pillow is best for you?
- What happens after finding out you're pregnant?
- What are the UK abortion laws?
- What are all the different types of abortion?
- What to do if you need an abortion
- Women denied abortion may experience long-term health problems
Infections in pregnancy
Some infections can affect pregnancy. Learn which ones to watch for, how to avoid them, and what to do if you’re concerned.
Labour and childbirth
Every birth is unique. Learn about the signs of labour, pain relief options, and what to expect during the delivery of your baby.
- Does mindfulness help during pregnancy and delivery?
- What it's like to give birth on Christmas Day
- Unassisted birth: is the free birthing trend dangerous?
- Black women more likely to experience stillbirth than white women
- How to help your C-section recovery
- How to feel more confident about childbirth
- Experts dispute new study linking C-section births to autism
- The best form of childbirth for you and your baby
- How to be a supportive birth partner during childbirth
- How to create a birth plan
- Home births as safe as hospital for low-risk pregnancies
- What you need to know about inducing labour
- C-section babies have different gut bacteria to those born vaginally
- How to cope with a fear of childbirth
Mental health in pregnancy
Anxiety or low mood during pregnancy is common. Learn how to recognise when you need extra support and what treatments are available to help.
- How stopping breastfeeding can impact your mental health
- How to plan for pregnancy when you have mental health problems
- Quiz: Do I have postnatal depression?
- Is 'baby brain' a real medical condition?
- How to access mental health support in pregnancy
- How to cope with anxiety during pregnancy
- What behaviour changes should you expect during pregnancy?
Newborn baby
Caring for a newborn can be overwhelming. Discover tips on feeding, sleeping, and common health checks in those precious first weeks.
- Putting together a budget for your baby
- Many 'healthy' baby food brands contain too much sugar
- Babies with tongue-ties most likely don't require surgery
- When to worry about your baby's development
- When should your baby's bedtime be?
- What are the benefits of baby probiotics?
- How to keep your baby safe and warm in winter
- When should you worry about a fussy eater?
- What is tongue-tie in babies?
Feeding your baby
- Thrush with breastfeeding: what to do
- What to eat when breastfeeding
- How to deal with public breastfeeding stigma
- A guide to comfortable breastfeeding in public
- What are the benefits of baby-led weaning?
- How the pressure to breastfeed can impact mental health
- Is breastfeeding for me? The pros and cons of breastmilk and formula
- How to manage breastfeeding when you return to work
- Breastfeeding: What is colostrum and what are the benefits?
Pregnancy complications
Not every pregnancy runs smoothly. Learn about common complications like gestational diabetes and pre-eclampsia, and how doctors help keep you and your baby safe.
- Is it safe to take epilepsy medication during pregnancy?
- Gestational diabetes - what's the outlook?
- When you should and shouldn't worry during your pregnancy
- How to cope with hair loss after having a baby
- What causes dizziness in pregnancy?
- How to cope with groin and pelvic pain in pregnancy
- What is pre-eclampsia and how can it affect pregnant women?
Bleeding in pregnancy
- When to investigate a miscarriage
- Miscarriage: why it's important to break the taboo
- Video: Can stress cause a miscarriage?
- What is the difference between implantation bleeding and a period?
- How to cope with repeated pregnancy loss
- How does miscarriage affect partners?
- How to support a friend after a miscarriage or stillbirth
Pregnancy planning
Thinking of starting a family? Learn about steps you can take before conception to improve your chances of a healthy pregnancy.