Pregnancy Guides
Longer-form guidance on the questions that come up most during pregnancy — from which supplements to take, to managing morning sickness, to how to eat safely at home and out. Each guide draws on NHS recommendations and current evidence.
"Eating for Two": What You Actually Need, Calorie-Wise The old advice to eat double is a myth — here's what extra calorie intake actually looks like at each stage of pregnancy, and why quality matters more than quantity.
→ Air Travel During Pregnancy When it's safe to fly during pregnancy, airline restrictions by trimester, and how to reduce the risk of blood clots on longer flights.
→ Alcohol While Breastfeeding How alcohol passes into breast milk, what 'pump and dump' actually does and doesn't achieve, and practical ways to time a drink safely around feeds.
→ Breastfeeding and Returning to Work Practical guidance on pumping at work, storing expressed milk safely, and your legal rights as a breastfeeding employee returning to work in the UK.
→ Caffeine During Pregnancy: The 200mg Guide How much caffeine is actually safe during pregnancy, what counts toward your daily limit, and where caffeine hides in foods and drinks you might not expect.
→ Caffeine While Breastfeeding How much caffeine is generally considered fine while breastfeeding, how it can affect a baby's sleep and fussiness, and where it hides in food and drink.
→ Cat Litter, Gardening Soil & Toxoplasmosis Why cat litter and soil carry a toxoplasmosis risk in pregnancy, and the simple precautions that make both perfectly manageable.
→ Common Breastfeeding Problems and What Helps Practical guidance on engorgement, sore nipples, blocked ducts, and mastitis — what's normal in the early weeks, and when to get help.
→ Constipation During Pregnancy: How Fibre and Fluids Help Why constipation is so common in pregnancy, and the dietary changes that make the biggest practical difference.
→ Dental Care & X-Rays During Pregnancy Why dental care matters more during pregnancy, whether dental X-rays and local anaesthetic are safe, and what free NHS dental care you're entitled to.
→ Eating Out During Pregnancy How to navigate restaurants, cafés, and takeaways safely during pregnancy — what to order, what questions to ask, and how to enjoy eating out without anxiety.
→ Eating Well in Pregnancy as a Vegetarian or Vegan How to meet the increased nutritional demands of pregnancy on a vegetarian or vegan diet — the nutrients to pay close attention to, the best plant-based sources, and when supplementation is essential.
→ Eating with Gestational Diabetes A practical guide to eating well after a gestational diabetes diagnosis — what changes, what stays the same, and how to keep blood sugar steady.
→ Essential Oils & Aromatherapy During Pregnancy Which essential oils to avoid during pregnancy, which are generally considered fine in moderation, and how to use aromatherapy safely.
→ Fish and Mercury During Pregnancy: How Much Is Safe Fish is one of the best foods for pregnancy nutrition, but mercury content means portion limits matter. A clear breakdown of what to eat freely, what to limit, and what to avoid entirely.
→ Folate vs Folic Acid: What's the Difference and Why Both Matter Folate and folic acid are often used interchangeably, but they're not quite the same thing. Here's what each one is and why pregnancy guidance focuses so heavily on both.
→ Food Safety at Home During Pregnancy How to reduce your risk from Listeria, Salmonella, and Toxoplasma through safe food handling, storage, and cooking — practical guidance for everyday home cooking during pregnancy.
→ Foods to Avoid During Pregnancy: The Complete List The full, NHS-aligned list of foods to avoid or limit during pregnancy in one place — soft cheeses, certain fish, undercooked meat, liver, alcohol, and more.
→ Hair Dye, Nail Polish & Salon Treatments During Pregnancy Whether hair dye, gel manicures, and other salon treatments are safe during pregnancy, and the practical precautions worth knowing.
→ Heartburn During Pregnancy: Diet Changes That Actually Help Why heartburn is so common in pregnancy, and the practical dietary and meal-timing changes that make the biggest difference.
→ Hot Tubs, Saunas & Steam Rooms During Pregnancy Why hot tubs, saunas, and steam rooms are generally advised against during pregnancy, and what temperature and time limits actually matter.
→ Household Cleaning Products & Chemicals During Pregnancy Which household cleaning products and chemical exposures are worth extra caution during pregnancy, and simple steps that reduce any risk.
→ Hydration During Pregnancy: How Much and Why It Matters More Why fluid needs increase in pregnancy, how much to aim for, and practical ways to stay hydrated when plain water feels unappealing.
→ Iron-Rich Foods for Pregnancy Why iron needs increase so much during pregnancy, the best food sources, and simple ways to boost how much your body actually absorbs.
→ Listeria in Pregnancy: Why It's the Main Food Safety Concern What Listeria is, why it matters so much more in pregnancy than other bacteria, and the practical steps that reduce your risk day to day.
→ Medications and Breastfeeding Why most common medications are compatible with breastfeeding despite cautious packaging warnings, which specific ones need more care, and how to check anything new.
→ Medications During Pregnancy: Paracetamol, Ibuprofen & Common OTC Drugs A plain-English overview of common over-the-counter medications during pregnancy — paracetamol, ibuprofen, antihistamines, and cold remedies — and when to check with a pharmacist or GP.
→ Morning Sickness: What to Eat When Nothing Sounds Appealing Practical food advice for managing nausea and vomiting in pregnancy — what helps, what to avoid, and how to keep eating well when your appetite has disappeared.
→ Pregnancy Supplements: What You Need and What You Don't A clear guide to which supplements are recommended during pregnancy in the UK, which are optional, and which to avoid — including folic acid, vitamin D, iron, and omega-3.
→ Skincare & Cosmetic Ingredients During Pregnancy Which skincare and cosmetic ingredients to avoid during pregnancy — retinoids, salicylic acid, and more — and what's genuinely fine to keep using.
→ Trimester-by-Trimester Nutrition: What Changes and When How your nutritional priorities shift across the first, second, and third trimesters — what matters most at each stage and why.
→ Vaping & E-Cigarettes During Pregnancy What's known about vaping and e-cigarettes during pregnancy, how it compares to smoking, and NHS-recommended support for quitting either.
→ Vitamin A in Pregnancy: Why Liver Is the Exception, Not Vitamin A Itself Vitamin A is essential in pregnancy — so why is liver on the avoid list? The difference between retinol and beta-carotene explained.
→ Weight Gain During Pregnancy: What's Normal and What to Expect A clear guide to healthy weight gain ranges during pregnancy, what affects them, and how to approach eating well without obsessing over the scales.
→ What to Drink During Pregnancy: The Complete Guide A full rundown of what's safe to drink during pregnancy — water, caffeine limits, herbal teas, alcohol-free alternatives, and what to avoid entirely.
→ What to Eat While Breastfeeding How your nutritional needs change once you're breastfeeding, which foods and drinks still need care, and what actually affects your milk and your baby.
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