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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.

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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 →

Guides & explainers

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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