Early pregnancy advice

Women who are overweight (with Body Mass Index over 30) are more likely to have difficulty conceiving and are also more likely to develop complications during pregnancy. Complications such as miscarriage, high blood pressure and diabetes are all more likely, as are difficulties during labour and delivery. If you are undergoing fertility treatment, this is less likely to be successful if you are overweight. It is therefore recommended that you maintain a healthy weight and pre-pregnancy you can use the BMI healthy weight calculator to work out what your ideal weight should be. If you are already pregnant, you should discuss this with your midwife or doctor.

Further information

Most food and drinks are sate to have during pregnancy. But there are some things you should be careful with or avoid. Find out more.

For further dietary advice.

Smoking is bad for everyone’s health, and can be particularly bad for women and their babies during pregnancy. Smoking increases the risks of complications during pregnancy, including miscarriage, poor growth of the baby and stillbirth. The best thing you can do for your own and your baby’s health is to stop smoking completely.  For support, ask your GP, midwife or call one of the numbers below. The sooner you stop smoking, the quicker the risks are reduced. Smoke from other people’s cigarettes is also harmful, so all babies and children need their home to be kept completely smoke free.

For more information and support for you and your family to live smoke free.

There is also more information here.

It is safer not to drink alcohol during pregnancy, or planning to become pregnant, because it can damage your growing baby. By not drinking, you are protecting your baby and minimising the risks to their development and future health.

Alcohol passes from your blood into the baby’s placenta. Your baby can’t process alcohol like you can, and too much can be extremely harmful to their development. If you carry on drinking, especially in the first 3 months of pregnancy, the risk of miscarriage, premature birth and low birth weight are increased.

Further information can be found here, including tips on cutting down.

There is also more information here.

Folic acid supplements

It is best to start taking folic acid as soon as you start trying for a baby, or as soon as you find out you’re pregnant. Folic acid is very important for your pregnancy, as it can prevent birth defects known as ‘neural tube defects’, including spina bifida.

You should take 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid every day for at least 3 months before conception and until at least the first 3 months of pregnancy. Don’t worry if you get pregnant unexpectedly. If this happens, just start taking the folic acid as soon as you find out. You can buy folic acid without a prescription from many supermarkets and pharmacies, or see your GP.

Some women with long standing medical problems are recommended to take a high dose of folic acid. This includes women with diabetes and epilepsy. These women need to take 5mg of folic acid daily via a prescription from their GP.

Vitamin D supplements

Everyone needs vitamin D – it helps us absorb the right amount of calcium and phosphate in the body (to keep our bones, teeth and muscles healthy). You should take a daily vitamin D supplement of 400IU or every day. This is because most vitamin D comes from sunlight exposure, which is sometimes limited in the UK, especially during the winter months. Your doctor or midwife may suggest a higher dose particularly if you have dark skin – for example you have an African, African-Caribbean or south Asian background – or if you usually wear clothes that cover up most of your skin when outdoors.

More information on vitamins and supplements can be found here:

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Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists

There is also more information here

There are some infections that can harm your baby if you get them when you are pregnant. One of these is Rubella (German measles). This infection can be prevented by having a vaccination more than 1 month before you are pregnant (not in pregnancy itself). Most women in the UK have already had this vaccination, known as ‘MMR’ and are immune. If you think that you may not be immune, you should discuss this with your GP who can check and arrange vaccination if necessary.

Further pregnancy advice including advice on exercise, mental health and advice for partners can be found here:

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If you have a long term medical condition, for example, epilepsy or diabetes, this can affect pregnancy and therefore some of the choices you make. It is important to make sure long term conditions are as well controlled as possible before attempting a pregnancy. We therefore provide pre-conception counselling to women through our .  You should discuss your plans for pregnancy with your GP or hospital specialist. Your GP can refer you to our specialist clinics. If you are taking medication for a long term condition, do not stop it without discussing this with your doctor, even if you find yourself pregnant unexpectedly.