Pregnancy Clinic

Did your pregnancy dreams include visions of a neat rounded belly, and little kicks that made your heart flutter? While it's true that pregnancy has its share of wonderful moments and experiences to cherish, it also has a raft of less than fabulous pregnancy symptoms - including many you'd rather not discuss in public and many you'd probably like to forget (which you will, by the way, since forgetfulness is another symptom).

There are pregnancy symptoms you expected (like morning sickness – which also arrives in the evening) and symptoms you almost definitely didn't (like constipation, nosebleeds and bleeding gums). It's probably reassuring to know that you're not alone suffering these ailments - you're actually joining millions of other expectant women who are also wading their way through a different selection of pregnancy complaints. But it also helps to have some tried and true remedies at your (swollen) fingertips that will allow you to navigate around the majority of pregnancy grumbles.

Labour & Birth

Premature babies Everyone hopes their pregnancy will be uncomplicated and free from emergency. Few people consider the possibility that their baby could be born many weeks before the due date and need to be given special care for the first few days, weeks or months after birth. However, the reality is that around 82,000 babies are born sick or premature each year in the UK.

Pregnancy Health

Morning sickness
Nausea, especially in the early weeks of pregnancy...

Travel

Car, train, boat, plane: safe pregnancy travel
Using the time before your baby arrives to visit&n...

Pregnancy Life

Top pregnancy books
You may feel overwhelmed by the number of pregnanc...

Parties & Celebrations

Baby showers second time around
Just because you might already have one or two chi...

Professional care

Selecting a maternity nurse
Some women find the support of a maternity nurse, through the earliest weeks of parenthood, makes an important contribution to the care of their baby. But is also helps ease the mother’s own recovery and helps them feel more confident as a new parent at a time usually filled with questions.

Work

Returning to Work
If you take your full leave entitlement and the date you confirmed with your employer for returning has not changed, you do not need to give any further notice. However it is good practice to get in touch towards the last two months of your leave just to reconfirm your intention. If you decide you do not wish to return to work, your period of notice will be as stated in your regular contract (usually one or three months).