Water retention, or oedema, is common in the latter stages of pregnancy and although it’s not dangerous, it’s uncomfortable and can hang around a week or so after you’ve given birth.Severe swelling could be a sign of pre-eclampsia, but otherwise

There's already some debate as to whether you should eat nuts during pregnancy, and now new research suggests that they may put your unborn baby at greater risk of developing asthma.The Dutch study found that children diagnosed with asthma or asthma

You don’t have to be a gym bunny, but many forms of exercise during pregnancy promote a healthy pregnancy, and help you deal with the some of the strains of your changing body.Exercise in pregnancy also prepares your body for labour and birth

, overdoing the exercise will only make you feel worse. A moderate amount of exercise that you're comfortable with will probably give you more energy and make you feel better.Exercise in your second trimesterAs your pregnancy develops and you begin to put

For obvious reasons, the research available for the direct impact of drug use in pregnancy is patchy. What evidence there is suggests that most illegal drugs are, unsurprisingly, potentially damaging to your developing baby. Studies have shown

A miscarriage can be a deeply traumatic and emotional experience, regardless of when in your pregnancy it occurs.Common reactions to having a miscarriage are really no different to other forms of grief. You may feel:Deep shock

In the early weeks of pregnancy there is not a great deal you can actively do – you and your partner have done the job of getting pregnant! However, you will want to start acting on your exciting news, and the one thing you can do now is look after

Here are the hormones that will affect you during your pregnancy, labour and birth...ProgesteroneWhat's its function?To relax the smooth muscle in your womb and stimulate breast tissue growth.What does it affect?Pretty much everything! It’s the main

Obviously no one can prevent you from continuing your favourite activity, but here’s a round-up of sports, activities and exercise it’s recommended you avoid in pregnancy, so you can make an informed decision.Contact sportsAny sport where you risk a

?Firstly, there's plenty of evidence that couples who are generally fit and healthy will find it easier to conceive and maintain a pregnancy beyond its early stages in the first place.Secondly, if you're used to regular exercise before pregnancy then it