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Alcohol

The less alcohol you drink when you are pregnant or actively planning to conceive the better, because alcohol passes via the placenta and directly affects the baby.

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Smoking

Mothers who smoke increase the risk of miscarriage, still birth and cot death. Their babies are more likely to be born prematurely, to be of low birth weight and have breathing, feeding and health problems at birth.

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Medication

Always check with a GP, midwife or pharmacist, before taking any over-the-counter medicines, prescribed medication or herbal remedies, that they are safe for you while you are pregnant.

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Caffeine

You need to limit the amount of caffeine you have each day, but you don't need to cut it out completely.

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Exercise

Physical activity or exercise is an important part of pregnancy, before during and afterwards. It is one of the ways, along with eating a healthy diet, not smoking and making sure your weight is appropriate, that you can increase your chances of having a healthy, happy pregnancy, labour and baby.

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5 A Day

Fruit and vegetables are a great source of vitamins and minerals essential for you and your baby; they are also an excellent source of fibre. Why not have a look at our ten top tips to increase you intake.

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Healthy Weight

There is a growing body of evidence that how much weight you gain in pregnancy affects your health and your babies health.

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Shopping and Cooking on a Budget

If you're feeling the pinch, take a look for our tips for shopping and cooking on a budget.

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Ramadan

Fasting is not compulsory during pregnancy. You should feel strong and healthy enough to fast, especially during the early part of pregnancy. If you don't feel well enough to fast, Islamic law gives you clear permission not to fast. During fasting your body's supplies of some nutrients will become depleted. See our advice below on how to achieve a healthy fast.

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