How many weeks pregnant am I?

Pregnancy normally lasts from 37 weeks to 42 weeks. The day you conceived is really the first day of your pregnancy but as there’s usually no way to know exactly when you conceived for sure, doctors use the first day of your last menstrual period to work out when you probably conceived, how old your baby currently is, and when your baby's birth is expected. You can figure out your due date here.

How often/when will I see my midwife?

You'll probably get to know your community midwife before your baby is born and they will visit you at home, after you have given birth. You can also visit them at children's centres. A health visitor will usually visit you for the first time around 10 days after your baby is born. After that, you will see your health visitor at the child health clinic, although you can ask to see them at any time. A health visitor is a qualified nurse with extra training who can help families stay healthy -- especially families with babies and young children.

How do I deal with morning sickness?

Dietary and lifestyle changes are usually recommended first if you are having nausea and vomiting while pregnant. They include: getting lots of rest; drinking little and often; eating small, frequent meals; eating cold meals to avoid cooked food aromas and eating plain biscuits before getting up. If these measures don’t help, your GP may prescribe an anti-emetic medicine that’s safe to use during pregnancy. Some people use natural remedies like ginger or acupressure and there is some scientific evidence for these helping. Check with your GP, midwife or pharmacist before using these or any other remedies.

When will morning sickness end? When do I stop feeling sick?

Morning sickness can be miserable but it is not harmful to your growing baby and for most women, it clears up by the 12th to 14th week of pregnancy. Rarely, women develop a more extreme form of morning sickness called hyperemesis gravidarum or HG. This is a serious medical condition requiring specialist treatment and may require admission to hospital. Seek medical advice if your vomiting is constant or so severe that you can't keep fluids or foods down. This can cause dehydration and should be treated right away.

How do I sleep with a bump?

It's normal to experience sleep problems during the third trimester caused by the discomfort of your growing tummy. Try these tips for better sleep:

• Use extra pillows for support
• Relax with breathing techniques, yoga or massage
• Drink a warm glass of milk before bed
• Stay active with regular low-impact exercise

How can I cope with no sleep?

Sleep problems in pregnancy are usually due to hormonal changes and physical discomforts. Your growing bump, frequent urination, heartburn and leg cramps can all affect your quality of sleep. Self-help remedies like more pillows and exercise may help. If they don't work, some medicines might help you sleep better and are considered safe to take during pregnancy. Always talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking any kinds of medication.

What exercise can I do?

Staying active during pregnancy helps you adapt to your weight gain and your body's changing shape. It may also help reduce problems in late pregnancy and labour. The type of exercise you choose should be low impact and not too strenuous. Brisk walking, swimming and some raquet sports like tennis are safe options. Avoid exercise that involves lying on your back, and high impact or contact sports like football or basketball. Talk to your GP or midwife before beginning an exercise programme. They can also give you personal exercise guidelines, based on your medical history.

How will I know I am in labour? What are the signs of labour?

Every labour is different, but signs you are labour include any of these key symptoms:

• Strong, regular contractions
• A show of blood as the mucous plug comes away from the cervix
• Your waters break

Other signs you may be in labour include backache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea or an urgent need to go to the toilet.

When should I contact my midwife or GP?

Active labour, or the time when you should go to hospital, is usually when contractions last 45 to 60 seconds and happen 3 to 4 minutes apart. Experts recommend that you should call your midwife when your contractions are coming every 3 to 5 minutes and are lasting between 30 to 60 seconds, unless advised otherwise.

How will I cope with labour?

Women have been having babies since the dawn of mankind so rest assured your body is well designed to cope with the rigours of labour. Talk to your GP or midwife if you are concerned or have any medical issues that may require extra care during labour. You can also help yourself during labour by: staying active by walking or moving about; drinking plenty of fluids and snacking to keep energy levels up; using relaxation or breathing exercises, and having your birth partner rub your back to help relieve pain.

Will the birth hurt?

Many women fear the pain of childbirth, especially as it may be their first experience of pain of that intensity. The National Childbirth Trust says pain in labour should be viewed as useful, because it lets you know how the labour is progressing. Some women swear by drug-free natural birth, using birthing pools, breathing techniques or hypnotherapy. Others choose epidurals or pain relieving drugs. Everyone is different, so ask your midwife or GP to explain what's available so that you can decide what's best for you.

What pain relief options are available?

Some women opt for natural births and may choose to have no drugs for pain. Natural pain relief techniques include: breathing exercises, relaxation, hydrotherapy, or TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation).

Drugs to help relieve pain include:

• Breathing a mixture of gas and air (oxygen and nitrous oxide)
• Injections of pain-relievers like pethidine, or less often diamorphine
• An epidural painkiller given through a small tube in the back to numb nerves carrying pain signals to the brain

How long will labour last?

There’s no set answer to how long labour will last. Generally, first labours last longer than subsequent ones but that’s not always the case. There are three stages of labour:

• Dilation (takes an average of 6 - 12 hours for first births as the cervix gradually opens wide enough to allow the baby to pass through)
• Pushing stage (starts when you are fully dilated and lasts until birth)
• The placenta (after birth, more contractions push out the placenta. This can be speeded up by an injection to make the womb contract)

Labour can be also speeded up or induced by artificially breaking the waters, or use of a syntocinon drip.

How will I cope with being a parent?

It’s normal to be feel overwhelmed by your new role as a parent. Coping with feeding, changing, bathing and bonding with your baby may take time, so be patient. Getting enough sleep can be a challenge, so try to nap when baby naps and, if possible, share nightime disruptions with your partner. You may feel low, which usually passes, but 1 in 10 women develop post-natal depression, so see your GP, midwife or health visitor if you feel overcome by sadness, have difficulty sleeping, or are anxious or irritable. Overall, give yourself a break and don’t try to do everything. It’s alright to leave the dishes in the sink or ask for help from friends or family.

Breastfeeding: How do I do it?

Breastfeeding is natural, so relax and let your body take care of the ABCs:

• Awareness: Breastfeed when your baby wants to. Watch for cues like sucking noises, hands moving towards the mouth or baby turning toward your breast.
• Be patient: Babies aren't all the same. Some may feed for 10 or 20 minutes on each breast.
• Comfort: Put your feet up and support your arms and head with pillows.

How much milk does my baby need? What about when weaning?

Each newborn baby is different so there's no set amount to feed. As a general rule, 7ml, or just over half a teaspoon is normal for the first day, working up gradually to 65ml by the end of the first week. First feeds may take up to 40 minutes or longer. As for weaning, the official advice - endorsed by the Department of Health and others - is that infants should start to be weaned at 6 months.

How do I know my baby is getting enough milk?

Most women are able to produce enough milk to breastfeed. Breast milk is easy to digest, and it’s normal for your newborn to breastfeed every 2 to 3 hours.Your body naturally balances your milk production with baby's needs. It's simple supply and demand which is why experts don't recommend supplementing breast milk with water, juice or formula in the first 6 months. Weight gain and regular wet or dirty nappies also show your baby is getting enough to eat, although babies may lose a small amount of weight in the first few days after birth, so do not fret if this happens.

How can I get the baby to latch on?

Like any new skill, you may need support to get started. Your midwife, health visitor or a breastfeeding counsellor can help you with tips and techniques, including how to help your baby to latch on. Your baby needs to get a good mouthful of breast to latch on well. Experts suggest making sure:

• Her mouth is wide open before she attaches to your breast.
• Her tongue, bottom lip and chin touch your breast first.
• Once she is attached, her chin touches your breast, and her nose is free.

What's the best way to wean and how?

At about 6 months of age, you can start offering your baby a few teaspoons of solid food, such as pureed vegetables or fruit, once a day. This can be given after or during a milk feed and you can use a little milk to mix the food to the desired consistency.

Related reading

• Pre-pregnancy checklist
• Looking and feeling your best during pregnancy
• All about breastfeeding
• Morning sickness
• Pregnancy and exercise