Pregnancy
Laying the foundations for their future, stage by stage
Your first trimester pregnancy is often spent getting used to the idea that you’re expecting a baby and reading up on all the changes that your body is going through and are yet to come. Although it’s still early, adopting good eating habits now will give your baby the best chance of healthy development.
You’ve reached your second trimester. For most mums it’s a real milestone because it’s around now that you’ll want to start announcing the news to your friends and family. As your baby grows inside you, your body will be going through some changes too during the 2nd trimester of pregnancy; pregnancy hormones will be affecting you both physically and mentally. But, although you might notice your moods are a little changeable, lots of mums-to-be report an increase in their energy levels – especially as morning sickness tends to fade as you enter your second trimester.
As you approach the third trimester of pregnancy, your baby’s development is rapid and it’s common to experience aches and pains as the weight you’re carrying increases. You might soon begin to feel the urge to ‘nest’ and get everything ready for the new addition to your family. It can be an incredibly exciting time, but also a frustrating one if you’re like most mums who can’t wait to meet their baby. It’s also perfectly natural to feel nervous about labour.
Conception
While headaches, nausea and a missed period can be signs of early pregnancy, the only way to confirm it is to take a home pregnancy test.
From eating a nutrient-rich diet to taking key nutrients in the form of supplements, what you eat can play an important role in increasing your potential to conceive.
Practical Tools & Tips
There are many symptoms other than a missed period which can be early signs of pregnancy.
So you can start planning for your new baby, check out this due date calculator1. It will help you to work out when they’re likely to arrive – most babies arrive within a week of their due date.
Giving birth to your first baby is a once in a lifetime experience, so you’ll want to ensure you’ve considered everything.
Packing your hospital bag is an exciting process in those last few weeks of pregnancy because it means that you’ll soon be meeting your little one as your due date gets close.
Diet & Nutrition
During pregnancy, the food you eat helps your body to provide nutrients so that your baby can grow and develop normally.
Essential for healthy blood, iron is a vital nutrient during pregnancy. It has a key role in transporting oxygen to your baby and contributes to their healthy brain development.
You know that growing a baby is hard work (one never forgets that first-trimester fatigue!) and it’s so important to look after yourself and keep up your energy.
We know that as happy as you are to be pregnant and eagerly awaiting meeting your little one, it can sometimes be hard to give up some foods and drinks that you love because they’re unsafe for you and baby.
Find out what you should eat to create a good foundation for your baby’s future health and development.
Labour & Birth
Giving birth can be a daunting prospect, so it helps to have someone you know and trust to support you on the day.
Some women may know they need a caesarean (C-section) long before they give birth, but for others, the decision might not be made until they go into labour.
It’s natural to feel nervous about giving birth, especially if it’s your first time.
In which cases is a caesarean section planned? What happens during the operation? Why is it important to surround yourself with the right people? Whether you have made the decision to give birth by caesarean or your situation requires it, you are bound to have many questions as the moment approaches… Discover all our tips to help prepare for it!
How can you take care of your scar? How should you look after your child? How do you recover from the operation?… Many mothers have many questions following a caesarean section. Here are the steps to take in this particular time.
Post-Pregnancy
Your new baby is the centre of your world, but they’ll need you to stay strong and healthy, physically and emotionally, in order to look after them.
Being pregnant and giving birth can both have a huge impact on you physically and emotionally.
Both mother and baby benefit from being in contact immediately after birth. Give your baby your full attention during this precious time.
