It's important to have a comfortable and practical nursing bra. This is partly to protect and support your breasts and partly to facilitate breastfeeding. And perhaps most important of all, a good nursing bra helps prevent complications during breastfeeding.

If you become ill during pregnancy, you may need to take medicine. But remember that some medicines must not be taken during pregnancy, including some non-prescription drugs and herbal remedies.

Two-in-one pram and pushchair, convertible pram, twin pram/pushchair, 3-wheeler, 4-wheeler, fixed wheels or swivel wheels... a pram or pushchair should meet your specific needs and be safe and practical. Buying a pram is a bit like buying a car: your choice should be based on your individual needs and requirements as well as hard facts.

Are you concerned about your blood sugar levels? All pregnant women have their blood sugar tested several times at the maternity clinic.

As a partner or father, there are various ways that you can take part in the pregnancy and get to know the baby before you get to hold the little bundle in your arms.

Really dangerous infections are very rare during pregnancy, and most bacteria and viruses cannot harm your child. If you become ill, there is usually no risk to the baby. However, there are exceptions.

Are you feeling nervous? Or are you absolutely terrified at the prospect of giving birth? There's nothing strange or unusual about fear of pregnancy. Writing a birth plan is one of many ways of dealing with it.

Forget all your ideas about frumpy maternity clothes. These days there are plenty of maternity clothes to choose from

Women with a less common Rh-negative blood group are monitored extra carefully during pregnancy. If the foetus has Rh-positive blood , the mother risks developing antibodies against the baby's blood. This known as Rhesus isoimmunisation.

Nobody knows exactly what it feels like for a baby to be born, but we know it's a tough journey. We have all been through it, but because of our limited memory, we can only imagine what it is like to squeeze through the narrow birth canal and come out into the vast and comparatively cold world.

Here you can read about different types of contractions. You will also find links to articles about pain relief, the stages of labour, how to prepare for labour, what happens when your waters break and other useful topics.

The most common symptoms of pre-eclampsia are high blood pressure and protein in the urine. These symptoms are likely to go unnoticed until your check-up at the maternity clinic.