# Pregnancy Advice UK | Clever Mum > Week-by-week pregnancy advice for UK parents — what to buy (and skip), hospital bag checklists, maternity rights and getting ready for birth, with every health * [ Home ](/) * › Pregnancy From positive test to birth plan # Pregnancy Week-by-week pregnancy advice for UK parents — what to buy (and skip), hospital bag checklists, maternity rights and getting ready for birth, with every health point sourced to NHS guidance. Quick answer — What should I pack in my hospital bag? Most couples conceive within a year of trying — about 1 in 3 in the first month, roughly 84% within 12 months. The single biggest lever is timing: your fertile window is the 5 days before ovulation plus ovulation day itself. Start 400mcg folic acid before conceiving, and see your GP after a year trying (6 months if you are 36 or over) or sooner if you have a known reproductive health condition. [ Week by week Follow your pregnancy week by week Baby size, symptoms and what to focus on, from 4 to 41 weeks. Explore the weeks → ](/pregnancy/week/) ## Guides & explainers [ Pregnancy ### Trying to Conceive: How to Improve Your Chances A practical guide to trying to conceive — timing your fertile window, what to prepare before you start trying, and when it is worth seeing a GP. ](/pregnancy/trying-to-conceive-improving-your-chances/)[ Pregnancy ### Early Pregnancy Symptoms: What You Might Notice Before You Test The early pregnancy symptoms some people notice before a missed period, why they overlap heavily with PMS, and why a test is the only reliable way to know. ](/pregnancy/early-pregnancy-symptoms-before-a-test/)[ Pregnancy ### How Long Does It Take to Get Pregnant? What's Normal Realistic statistics on how long it typically takes to conceive, what affects the timeline, and clear NHS guidance on when it is worth seeking help. ](/pregnancy/how-long-does-it-take-to-get-pregnant/)[ Pregnancy ### Hospital Bag Checklist UK: What to Pack (and When) UK hospital bag checklist: pack by 36 weeks. What to take for labour, you and baby, what NHS wards provide, and who can skip this list. ](/pregnancy/hospital-bag-checklist-uk/)[ Pregnancy ### Pregnancy To-Do List: What to Sort Each Trimester A calm, trimester-by-trimester UK pregnancy checklist — appointments, paperwork, buying decisions and the things everyone forgets until week 39. ](/pregnancy/pregnancy-to-do-list-by-trimester/)[ Pregnancy ### Maternity Leave and Pay in the UK, Explained Simply UK maternity leave and pay: 52 weeks leave, 39 weeks SMP (90% then £194.32 in 2026/27), Maternity Allowance, Shared Parental Leave, and who should skip this. ](/pregnancy/maternity-leave-and-pay-uk/)[ Pregnancy ### Signs of Labour: What to Expect and When to Call Your Midwife How to recognise the signs that labour has started, the difference between early and established labour, and exactly when the NHS says to call your midwife. ](/pregnancy/signs-of-labour-what-to-expect/)[ Pregnancy ### Return to Work After Maternity Leave: Your Rights, KIT Days and Flexible Working A practical UK guide to returning to work after maternity leave — Keeping in Touch days, your right to request flexible working, and what your employer must do. ](/pregnancy/return-to-work-after-maternity-leave/)[ Pregnancy ### Antenatal Anxiety: Coping With Worry During Pregnancy Antenatal anxiety is common and treatable — what it looks like, how it differs from everyday worry, and the real NHS support available. ](/pregnancy/antenatal-anxiety-coping-during-pregnancy/)[ Pregnancy ### Miscarriage: What to Expect, and Where to Get Support A gentle, accurate guide to miscarriage — how common it is, what the signs and next steps look like, and where to find real UK support if it happens to you. ](/pregnancy/miscarriage-what-to-expect-and-support/)[ Pregnancy ### Baby Name Trends UK: What’s Rising, Falling and Timeless UK baby name trends explained — what’s rising, what’s fading, where the official statistics come from, and how to choose a name you’ll still love in a decade. ](/pregnancy/baby-name-trends-uk/)[ Pregnancy ### The First Trimester Survival Guide: Symptoms, Dates and What Comes When Everything the first trimester throws at you — dating the pregnancy, sickness and fatigue, bleeding worries, appointments, and what to do (and avoid) in weeks 4–13. ](/pregnancy/first-trimester-pregnancy-guide/) ## Buying guides for this stage [ Best-of guide ### Best Bedside Cribs UK Best next-to-me cribs in the UK — SnuzPod, CoZee, Chicco and budget picks compared for room-sharing, height range and safer sleep. ](/best/best-bedside-cribs-uk/)[ Best-of guide ### Best Cots and Cotbeds UK Best cots and cotbeds in the UK — SnuzKot, Tutti Bambini, Obaby and the IKEA Sniglar compared for size, conversion and BS EN 716 safety. ](/best/best-cots-cotbeds-uk/)[ Best-of guide ### Best Pushchairs & Prams UK The best prams and pushchairs in the UK compared — all-terrain, city, budget and travel options from birth to toddler. ](/best/best-pushchairs-uk/)[ Best-of guide ### Best Car Seats UK — i-Size & R129 The best i-Size (R129) car seats in the UK — rotating toddler seats, infant carriers and budget picks compared, with fitting guidance. ](/best/best-car-seats-uk/)[ Best-of guide ### Best Breast Pumps UK The best breast pumps in the UK — wearable, double electric, hospital-grade and manual pumps compared for every feeding pattern. ](/best/best-breast-pumps-uk/)[ Best-of guide ### Best Pregnancy Skincare UK Best pregnancy-safe skincare in the UK — moisturisers, stretch-mark oils and bump care compared, with NHS-aligned ingredients to skip. ](/best/best-pregnancy-skincare-uk/)[ Best-of guide ### Best Baby Shower Gifts UK The best baby shower and newborn gifts in the UK — genuinely useful presents parents keep using, from a beloved sleep aid to a premium activity gym, compared on price and staying power. ](/best/best-baby-shower-gifts-uk/)