Looking after myself and my baby

Eating a diet from different food groups is the best way for you to stay healthy, and help your baby grow and develop.

Having a good diet and being active will:

• increase your chances of becoming pregnant
• improve the likelihood of having a healthy baby
• reduce the risk of complications
• make your recovery and healing easier after the birth.

Quality-assured information resources

Eating well in pregnancy

• Information and guidance on NHS inform's Ready Steady Baby website about the benefits of a healthy diet in pregnancy.

Healthy eating and vitamin supplements in pregnancy

• Patient information leaflet from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.

Being overweight in pregnancy and after birth

• Information from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. Most women who are overweight have a straightforward pregnancy and birth and have healthy babies. However, being overweight or obese does increase the risk of complications to both you and your baby. This resource explains how you and your healthcare professionals can work together to reduce some of these risks.

Tips for a healthy pre-pregnancy diet 

• Information from Tommy's about eating a healthy, balanced diet to help you stay well throughout pregnancy and to support your baby’s health.

Being active throughout your pregnancy and after birth will benefit you and your baby.

If you’re already active, being pregnant shouldn’t stop you. If you’re not doing much activity now, finding out you’re pregnant can be a great opportunity to start.

Quality-assured resources

Keeping active in pregnancy 

• Information and advice from NHS inform's Ready Steady Baby website about being active throughout your pregnancy and how this will benefit you and your baby.

Physical activity and mental health

• Rethink Mental Illness explains how to improve physical and mental health by being physically active. It's not specific to pregnancy.

The benefits of exercising/being active when trying to conceive

• Information from Tommy's on how exercising/being active before you get pregnant and during pregnancy benefits your pregnancy and baby.

The earlier you stop smoking in your pregnancy, the better. Any amount of smoking damages your health and your baby’s. Cutting down isn't enough. The safest thing is to stop smoking completely.

Quality-assured information resources

Smoking and pregnancy 

• Information and advice from NHS inform's Ready Steady Baby website about the risks associated with smoking and how to get help to stop.

Smoking and mental health

• Information from Rethink Mental Illness on smoking and mental health. It explains ways to help stop smoking. 

Smoking and pregnancy

• Information leaflet from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists on the effects of smoking during pregnancy and support available to help you to stop.

How smoking affects female and male fertility

• Information and advice from Tommy's about the benefits of stopping smoking when trying to conceive.

When you’re pregnant, taking drugs can seriously affect your and your baby’s health. Sometimes this can be lifelong.

Having a baby can be a positive reason to make changes to your life.

Quality-assured information resources

Taking drugs in pregnancy

• Information and guidance from NHS inform's Ready Steady Baby website about the risks of taking recreational drugs in pregnancy, and how to get help and support. 

Alcohol and pregnancy

• Information from NHS inform's Ready Steady Baby site about how alcohol can affect your baby, and how to get help to stop drinking.

Drugs, alcohol and trying to conceive 

• Information and advice from Tommy's based on how alcohol and illegal or recreational drugs can affect fertility and cause problems in pregnancy.

Insomnia

• Information from NHS inform about what insomnia is, and advice on how to improve your sleep.

How can I improve my sleep?

• Information from Rethink Mental Illness explaining why sleep is important to mental health and how you can improve your sleep. 

You can use this online form to record key points and questions you want to discuss with your midwife, health visitor, family nurse or other healthcare professional. Once completed, you can save it or print it off. Click on the icon below to access the form.