There are steps you can take to improve your chances of getting pregnant and having a healthy pregnancy.
NHS advice on planning your pregnancy
If you’re trying to get pregnant it’s important to take folic acid every day, eat a healthy diet and drink no more than 1 to 2 units of alcohol once or twice a week. This will help your baby develop healthily.
Vitamins are needed for growth and development. In the UK, it is quite common for people to be low in vitamin D and folic acid. These are important in pregnancy and you can boost your levels by taking a supplement. Supplements of other vitamins are not usually routinely advised and Vitamin A may actually be harmful in pregnancy.
Folic acid supplements are recommended for all people planning a pregnancy. Folic acid reduces the chance of your baby having a neural tube defect, such as spina bifida. A 400 microgram supplement of folic acid is recommended every day before becoming pregnant and every day afterwards until you are 12 weeks pregnant. If your BMI is over 30 or if you have additional risk factors you will need a higher dose of folic acid. This will need to be prescribed by your GP or consultant.
We recommend all women take at least a 10mcg vitamin D supplement daily during September to March to reduce the risk of bone density complications for you and your baby. Do not take more than 100 micrograms (4,000 IU) of vitamin D a day as it could be harmful.
A varied and balanced vegetarian diet should provide enough nutrients for you and your baby during pregnancy but you might find it more difficult to get enough iron and vitamin B12. Talk to your midwife or doctor about how to make sure you're getting enough of these important nutrients. If you're vegan or follow a restricted diet because of a food intolerance (for example, a gluten-free diet for coeliac disease) or for religious reasons, talk to your midwife or GP.
Routine supplements of vitamin C are not specifically recommended when you are pregnant but this vitamin helps iron to be absorbed. This may help you because while pregnant you are at risk of becoming anaemic.
Too much vitamin A can harm the development of your baby’s nervous system. During pregnancy, avoid supplements containing more than 700 micrograms (µg) of vitamin A and don’t eat foods such as liver, liver products (pâté) or fish liver oils that may contain this vitamin in high levels.
The Healthy Start scheme may be able to help you buy food and milk if you're pregnant or have a child under 4 years old and receive certain benefits, or you’re pregnant and under 18. If you're eligible, you'll be sent a Healthy Start card which you can use to buy certain types of milk, infant formula, fruit and vegetables, and get free vitamins.
NHS information on vitamins, minerals and supplements in pregnancy
If you have a pre-existing medical condition and need to take medication, it is important you consult a doctor who can tell you if it's safer for you to continue this medication, change your dose or consider an alternative when you are pregnant.
Do not stop taking medication without consulting a professional.
During your pregnancy you will be offered some vaccinations and your midwife will discuss these with you during your antenatal appointments.
You will be offered whooping cough, RSV and depending on the time of year, the flu vaccine. These are recommended and deemed safe for all pregnant women following robust clinical trials.
Your midwife will advise on the best way to book these.
The UK Health Security Agency has produced a whooping cough and pregnancy guide.
COVID-19 vaccines are also strongly recommended in pregnancy. The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists have produced COVID-19 vaccination information from breastfeeding and pregnant parents.
Once your baby is born, they may be eligible for a BCG vaccination to protect against tuberculosis (TB).
Not every pregnant person will notice the same early pregnancy signs and symptoms and the severity of each symptom will differ too.
If you have a regular monthly menstrual cycle, the earliest and most reliable sign of pregnancy is a missed period.
In the first few weeks of pregnancy you may have a bleed similar to a very light period, with some spotting or only losing a little blood. This is called implantation bleeding.
You may feel sick or be sick. Although commonly known as "morning sickness", vomiting and morning sickness can happen at any time of the day or night. Symptoms usually start when you’re around 4 to 6 weeks pregnant.
It's common to feel tired, or even exhausted, during pregnancy, especially during the first 12 weeks or so. Hormonal changes in your body at this time can make you feel tired, sick, emotional and upset.
Your breasts may become larger and feel tender, just as they might do before your period. They may also tingle.
Other signs of pregnancy you may notice are:
You can carry out most home pregnancy tests from the first day of a missed period. If you don't know when your next period is due, do the test at least 21 days after you last had unprotected sex.
If you do a home pregnancy test, a positive result is almost certainly correct, as long as you have followed the instructions correctly.
A negative result is less reliable. If you get a negative result and still think you may be pregnant, wait a week and try again.
If you're pregnant, use the pregnancy due date calculator to work out when your baby is due.