If you sleep on your back, it's safe to continue during the first trimester, but as your bump gets bigger and heavier you'll need to sleep on your side, so it's best to get into the habit as soon as you can. By the third trimester after 28 weeks of pregnancy , sleeping on your side is the safest position for your baby as it helps prevent the risk of stillbirth. Don't worry, if your pregnancy is uncomplicated your risk of stillbirth is low 1 in babies are stillborn and going to sleep on your side will make it even lower.
It's ok if you end up in all sorts of positions when you are asleep. The important thing to remember is to fall asleep on your side, as this means you are sleeping safely for your baby. If you wake up on your back, don't be alarmed, just turn onto your side and go back to sleep. Try sleeping on one side with your knees bent, it'll help reduce the amount of pressure on your uterus and help you breathe better. Plus, this position can help relieve backache.
You can use pillows under your belly, between your legs, and behind your back if you like. Antenatal classes are available to give you and your partner lots of helpful information on labour, birth and early parenthood.
They're usually informal, fun and sociable, which makes them a great place to meet other parents-to-be.
The friends you make at antenatal classes can become a great support network. You can now find many antenatal courses and workshops online. Antenatal classes usually start 8 to 10 weeks before your baby is born, and happen once a week for about 2 hours. You can choose classes that are just for pregnant women, or classes that welcome a partner or a friend.
There are sometimes classes especially designed for single mothers or teenagers. There are 2 different types of breast pump: electric and manual. They're both designed to mimic the sucking action your baby makes when they're breastfeeding. When you use a manual pump , you squeeze the plunger by hand. This type of pump takes a bit longer to use than an electric pump but is:. An electric pump does the hard work for you. This type of pump is quicker than using a manual pump, but can be noisy and more expensive.
Mums often say that a manual breast pump is better if you're only expressing occasionally, while an electric pump is more efficient if you need to express milk quickly and often, for example if you've gone back to work.
If you're giving your baby expressed or formula milk, you'll need to buy some bottles. The choice of baby bottles can be overwhelming as there are quite a few options. When you start bottle feeding, don't buy loads as your baby may not necessarily like the ones you've chosen.
Better to start off with a few and, if your baby approves, you can always buy more. Shaped: some bottles come with holes in the middle or special handles to make them easier for your baby to hold. You can choose between silicone and latex teats for most of these bottle types.
Silicone is more durable, while latex is softer and more flexible, but needs to be replaced more often. The teats come in a bell shape, or a bulbous shape that's designed to feel more like a nipple. You might want to try both shapes when your baby first starts bottle feeding to see which one they prefer.
The teats often come with different flow rates. To find out which flow rate is best for your baby takes a bit of trial and error. If they're spluttering or choking with their current bottle, they need a slower flow. But if they're sucking quite hard and seem to be getting frustrated while they're feeding, you might want to try a faster flow.
You can also get variflow teats — some of these can be manually adjusted, while others automatically increase in flow as your baby's sucking gets stronger. A birth plan is a way of letting your midwife, nurses and doctors know what you want to happen during your labour. It's a chance to plan things like where you want to give birth, who's going to be with you during the birth, and what facilities you'd like to use.
If you're concerned about how coronavirus might affect your birth plan, visit the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists for the most up-to-date advice. It's important to remember that giving birth doesn't always go perfectly to plan, and things may have to change at the last minute but your midwife will be there to help you make the best and safest decision for you and your baby.
You can download an NHS birth plan template. While you're writing your birth plan, talk to your midwife about your choices so they understand and can advise you. The flu jab is the safest way to help protect pregnant women and their babies against flu, regardless of their stage in pregnancy, or how fit and healthy they feel.
Pregnancy naturally weakens the immune system, which means it's harder to fight off infections. As a result, flu can cause serious complications. One of the most common flu complications is bronchitis - a chest infection that can become serious and develop into pneumonia.
Read more about the flu jab in pregnancy on the NHS website. Get personalised emails for trusted NHS advice, videos and tips on your pregnancy week by week, birth and parenthood. Back to Pregnancy. Share this page Facebook Pinterest Twitter Whatsapp. Medically Reviewed by Kameelah Phillips, M.
Medical Review Policy All What to Expect content that addresses health or safety is medically reviewed by a team of vetted health professionals. Finding new taste turn-ons and turn-offs! Here's what causes food cravings and aversions during pregnancy, and what you can do about them. Back to Top. In This Article. Understanding Pregnancy Cravings. Continue Reading Below. Recommended Reading. Best and Worst Drinks for Pregnant Women. Foods to Avoid During Pregnancy.
View Sources. Mayo Clinic, Anemia , August Cleveland Clinic, Pregnancy: Nutrition , January Frontiers in Psychology , Pickles and Ice Cream! Kameelah Phillips , M.
Your Health. Pregnancy Groups. First Trimester. Second Trimester. Jump to Your Week of Pregnancy. Pregnancy Week. Signs of Labor. You might find yourself repulsed by a smell or flavor you had liked just a few months back, or you may not have any cravings at all.
These food cravings and aversions are generally nothing to worry about, and you can indulge in some chocolate or ice cream in moderation. Experts are not sure what causes these difficult-to-resist food cravings during pregnancy, but they may be your body's way of letting you know that some nutrients, like vitamin C, calcium, or iron, are missing from your diet. Early pregnancy cravings during the first trimester may also be linked to a surge in pregnancy hormones.
Morning sickness may be connected with some aversions, as certain smells may make you feel more nauseated. Cravings and aversions can be an early sign of pregnancy, appearing in the first trimester along with all the hormonal changes going on in your body.
For many women, food cravings are likely to lessen in the second trimester, and after your baby is born, all those cravings and aversions will be a thing of the past. Although you may not be sprinkling sugar on your steak, you may still be experiencing other unusual food cravings, especially late at night. Although every mom-to-be has her own story, here are some common pregnancy cravings:.
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