There are things you can do, and things you can avoid, to keep you and your baby as healthy as possible in pregnancy.
Go to your pregnancy (antenatal) appointments
It's important not to miss any of your antenatal appointments. These appointments are part of your NHS pregnancy journey.
The tests, scans and checks you'll have help look after the health of you and your baby.
Some of the tests and measurements that can find potential problems have to be done at specific times of pregnancy, which is why you have appointments at certain weeks.
There are also things you can do to keep you and your baby as healthy as possible in pregnancy.
Food
- have a healthy pregnancy diet
- know which foods to avoid in pregnancy
Alcohol
Not smoking
- if you smoke, stop smoking
Vitamins
- take a folic acid supplement and think about taking a vitamin D supplement
Medicines
Not all medicines are safe to take when you're pregnant. This includes prescribed medicines and medicines you can buy in a pharmacy or shop.
Check with a doctor, pharmacist or midwife before you take any medicines when you're pregnant.
If you're already taking prescribed medicine, do not stop taking your medicine without talking to your doctor first.
• find out about medicines in pregnancy
Exercise
- do some safe pregnancy exercise
Protect against getting ill
- know how to avoid infections that may harm your baby and symptoms to look out for
- have the flu vaccination (offered between September and March, and it's free if you're pregnant)
- have the whooping cough vaccination, free if you're pregnant
Baby movements
- know about baby movements in pregnancy, and when to seek help
Your mental wellbeing
- know how to cope with feelings, worries and relationships in pregnancy
- mental health issues in pregnancy
Your dental health
You're entitled to free NHS dental treatment if you're pregnant when you start your treatment and for 12 months after your baby is born. To get free NHS dental treatment, you must have:
- a MATB1 certificate issued by your midwife or GP
- a valid prescription maternity exemption certificate (MatEx)
Sleeping well
- get tips on sleeping well in pregnancy
Travel
- travelling safely in pregnancy, including flying, long journeys and travel vaccinations
DVT (blood clots)
X-rays during pregnancy
For all X-rays, you should let the hospital know if you're pregnant.
X-rays are not usually recommended for pregnant people unless it's an emergency
Cervical screening during pregnancy
You will not usually need to have cervical screening if you're pregnant, or could be pregnant, until at least 12 weeks after you've given birth. This is because pregnancy can make it harder to get clear results.
If you're already pregnant and due for a cervical screening test then tell the GP or clinic.
You will usually be advised to reschedule the test for a date around 12 weeks after your baby is born.
If you've previously had an abnormal result from a cervical screening test, you may need to be screened while you're pregnant. Your GP or midwife may ask you to have a cervical screening test at your first antenatal appointment. This test will not affect your pregnancy.
What if I have a health condition?
If you have a health condition, for example diabetes or asthma, these can affect your pregnancy. Pregnancy can also affect any conditions you have.
Don't stop taking your medicine until you've talked with your doctor.
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