Life during pregnancy

If you use complementary and alternative medicines or therapies, be aware that not all are considered to be safe in pregnancy; for example, some essential oils are not recommended for use while pregnant Speak with your consultant, GP or midwife before you start the use of any complementary and alternative medicine. Click here for more information on complementary and alternative medicine

As soon as you find out you're pregnant, see your GP - advice on what to do and where to find more information about your care in pregnancy

Being pregnant with twins or triplets is different from being pregnant with one baby. Although most of the advice for a healthy pregnancy applies, there are some extra things to bear in mind - where to find more information

Flu and whooping cough in pregnancy can have serious consequences for you and your baby. The flu and whooping cough jabs are safe in pregnancy. The flu jab dramatically cuts the chance you’ll get flu and the whooping cough jab can protect your baby in the first months of their life- advice on what to do and where to find more information

Hormone changes during pregnancy can increase blood flow to gum tissues, causing sensitivity, bleeding or swollen gums. This is known as pregnancy gingivitis, which has been linked to poor pregnancy outcomes, including pre-term birth and low birth weight babies Free dental care is available to all pregnant women and up to a year after the birth. Ask your GP, midwife or existing dentist about how to access free dental care

You should get enough of the vitamins you need from a healthy diet. But some vitamins are particularly important in pregnancy These vitamin supplements are recommended for pregnancy: Folic acid: helps to reduce the risk of spina bifida, heart or limb defects and some brain tumours in babies Pregnant women are advised to start taking a daily dose of 400 micrograms (µg) of folic acid before getting pregnant, and continue taking them until 12 weeks’ gestation. If you did not take folic acid before you became pregnant you can still start taking it as soon as you realise you are expecting a baby

Pregnancy isn’t the time to try to lose weight, but it isn’t the time to eat more, either - advice on what to do and where to find more information

Deciding where to have your baby is a big decision - your options, and where to find more information