It could happen any week now! But how can you tell when labour starts? There's one reliable indicator: regular contractions.

The bond between parent and child is an important psychological connection that is deeply rooted in the human psyche. This bond is crucial to a baby's survival.

Your baby's first tiny movements may feel light a slight tickle and may be quite an emotional experience for you.

You are expected to put on weight during pregnancy. It is common to gain ten to fifteen kilos. But a few kilos more or less is also completely normal, provided you are well and the baby is developing normally. If you lose a lot of weight due to nausea, get help – it's not good for either you or the baby.

It is important to exercise and eat a healthy diet during pregnancy to stay strong and replenish lost energy. But you should also practise relaxation and breathing exercises. Consider taking a yoga or birth preparation course.

"My mother has visited me once a month since Liv-Juli was born. Creating an emotional bond early on is really important to her." Parent: Frida Children: Liv-Juli, 2 1/2 years and Indi, 4 months

A doula, or labour coach, provides support, help and advice during labour. This type of female figure has existed throughout history. Modern doulas provide support for the whole family during labour, and often before the birth as well.

"There's a big difference between being the partner who's pregnant and the partner who isn't. Neither is better or worse, they're just different. We can attest to that because we've both given birth." Parents: Sanna and Lisa Children: Adrian, 3 years and Ines, 6 months

Although you are now eating for two, you shouldn't eat twice as much. Instead, you should eat larger amounts of certain foods while pregnant.

After the first stage when the cervix starts dilating, which is typically quite long drawn-out, the contractions become more powerful and frequent and you feel an urge to push, which results in the baby being expelled. In the third and final stage, the placenta is expelled.

Do you want to give birth using natural pain relief such as massage, acupuncture and sterile water injections as much as possible? Or do you know already that you are prepared to have maximum pain relief if necessary, e.g. an epidural? Don't feel you have to be a hero and go without pain relief. Ask for the help you feel you need.

One of the best contributions you can make as a partner – both for yourself and your woman – is to be present and be prepared. To help you, we have put together a three-step plan for supporting your partner during labour.