Health Library / Pregnancy
Health Library
Symptoms, scans, kicks, birth prep — answers you can use week by week.
7 min read · 2026-09-15
Why acid reflux peaks late in pregnancy, meal and sleep tweaks that help, and when burning chest pain needs urgent assessment.
7 min read · 2026-09-14
Why bowels slow down in pregnancy, fibre and fluid habits that ease strain, and when constipation with pain needs urgent assessment.
7 min read · 2026-09-04
How to tell a 'show' from amniotic fluid leaking, what colour and amount matter, and when either sign means heading in for assessment.
10 min read · 2026-09-03
How Braxton Hicks tightenings differ from labour contractions, what timing and pattern to notice, what can ease practice tightenings, and when to call your maternity unit the same day.
7 min read · 2026-09-02
Why sharp side-belly twinges often appear in mid-pregnancy, gentle ways to ease round ligament pain, and when abdominal pain needs a clinician's check.
10 min read · 2026-09-01
What gestational diabetes can feel like before your glucose screen, when routine testing usually happens, what a diagnosis means day to day, and why a positive result is manageable with the right plan.
9 min read · 2026-08-30
Which foods carry higher listeria risk in pregnancy, simple storage and reheating rules, how to keep meals enjoyable, and the symptoms that need urgent contact with your maternity team.
9 min read · 2026-08-29
How DHA and EPA support fetal development, which fish are safer choices, how often to eat them, when supplements make sense, and how to avoid high-mercury species without fearing every meal.
9 min read · 2026-08-28
Why vitamin D matters in pregnancy, who NHS guidance recommends should supplement year-round, how to balance safe sun with daily tablets, and when high-dose vitamin D needs a clinician’s say.
9 min read · 2026-08-27
A clear explanation of delayed umbilical cord clamping — timing, iron benefits for baby, and the situations where immediate clamping is still the safer choice.
10 min read · 2026-08-25
A calm walkthrough of induction of labour — why it is offered, common methods, how long it can take, pain relief options, and questions to ask your birth team before the day arrives.
9 min read · 2026-08-24
A practical, calm hospital bag list for labour and birth — what to pack for you, baby, and your partner, plus what can stay at home until you are actually in labour.
9 min read · 2026-08-23
Why late-pregnancy nesting hits hard, how to channel the burst without overdoing it, and when restlessness might signal anxiety worth mentioning to your clinician.
9 min read · 2026-08-22
What stretch marks actually are, why genetics and skin stretch matter more than miracle oils, and how to care for your skin without guilt or expensive promises.
9 min read · 2026-08-21
A calm guide to restless legs syndrome in pregnancy — common triggers, iron and lifestyle checks, and when leg symptoms need blood tests or medical review.
9 min read · 2026-08-20
How pregnancy-related carpal tunnel syndrome shows up, gentle relief strategies for tingling hands, and when wrist symptoms need referral rather than wrist braces alone.
9 min read · 2026-08-19
Why light bleeding after intercourse can happen in pregnancy, how to tell it apart from warning signs, and when your maternity team needs to know the same day.
9 min read · 2026-08-18
A careful guide to human chorionic gonadotropin in early pregnancy — why single numbers rarely diagnose on their own, and when repeat testing or ultrasound matters more.
7 min read · 2026-08-16
A calm look at pregnancy food aversions and smell sensitivity — what is common, how to eat enough anyway, and when appetite changes need a clinician's attention.
10 min read · 2026-08-15
Gentle, evidence-informed ways to ease nausea and vomiting in early pregnancy — plus the signs that mean you should call your clinician, not just sip ginger tea.
9 min read · 2026-08-13
Why sleep fractures in late pregnancy, a short wind-down plan that fits real life, side-lying and reflux tips, and when sleeplessness, racing thoughts, or breathlessness need medical advice.
9 min read · 2026-08-10
A practical question list for the mid-pregnancy anatomy scan — what the scan checks, how to leave with clarity, what follow-up can mean, and how to ask for plain-language answers when you feel overwhelmed.
9 min read · 2026-08-09
A calm beginner's guide to pelvic floor exercises in pregnancy — how to find the muscles, a simple daily pattern, common mistakes, and when pain or heaviness means you need specialist help instead of harder squeezes.
9 min read · 2026-08-08
Practical iron-rich lunch ideas for pregnancy that fit a normal day — building blocks for better absorption, habits that help, and when supplements need a clinician's say rather than a self-started megadose.
9 min read · 2026-08-05
Why second-trimester back ache is so common, gentle relief strategies that fit real days, posture and sleep tweaks, and the red-flag symptoms that need a clinical call instead of more stretching.
10 min read · 2026-08-04
Why back-sleeping often gets harder later in pregnancy, how side-lying setups help, what to do if you wake on your back, and when breathlessness or dizziness needs a clinical check.
8 min read · 2026-08-02
Clear guidance on reduced baby movements — what counts as a change, why same-day assessment matters, what not to try first at home, and when to go straight to maternity triage.
10 min read · 2026-08-01
A practical kick-count guide for the third trimester — when to start, how to time ten movements, what “normal” means for your baby, and when a change means calling your midwife the same day.
