1st month / Make sure you take care of your health during your first trimester:
- If you go to your GP to have your pregnancy confirmed, make sure you are also in tip-top condition yourself.
- Consider starting a form of regular gentle exercise such as yoga, to ensure that you are as fit and healthy as possible. Many women who practice yoga throughout pregnancy, find that labour pains are not as severe as they had expected and that they are more mentally prepared for the birth. Keeping active also makes it easier for you to regain your figure after you have had your baby.
- You will have your first ultrasound scan between 6 and 8 weeks, when your baby will be checked for any abnormalities, to make sure he is growing properly. You also get to see him for the first time!
- Make sure you are eating healthily and getting five portions of fresh fruit and vegetables a day - it has never been more important! You should also carry on taking folic acid supplements up until your 12th week, to guard against spinal and brain defects. / Now is the time to make sure you have all the forms you need to claim the benefits you are entitled to as a mum-to-be:
Make sure you ask your doctor or midwife to complete form MAT B1 as soon as possible, to show that you are pregnant. You will need this certificate to claim any benefits that you may be entitled to during your pregnancy (see 'State Benefits'), including Satutory Maternity Pay and Maternity Allowance.
You are entitled to free prescription medicines and NHS dental care during your pregnancy and for the twelve months following the birth of your baby. Once you have your certificate of pregnancy (form MAT B1), ask your doctor or midwife for form FW8, which you must complete and send off for a Maternity Exemption Certificate.
2nd month / - Start thinking about how and where you want to give birth. The earlier you start planning for your big day, the more comfortable you will feel!
- If you are considering hiring a nanny or arranging another form of childcare for your newborn baby, start finding out about it now, as it can be difficult to find places in some areas.
3rd month / - If you work, think about telling your employer, so you can start making arrangements for your maternity leave. / - Start think about antenatal classes later in your pregnancy, to help you prepare for the birth. Remember that you are entitled to paid time off work, as they count as antenatal care, and may be eligible for refunds on your travel costs if you receive Income Support or JSA. Your local hospital or health authority will run free classes, or you can try organisations like the National Childbirth Trust for other classes in your area.
4th month / - If you are still feeling terrible, discuss your symptoms with your doctor or midwife at your antenatal appointments. They will be able to advise you on ways to cope with the side effects of being pregnant.
- You will have your second scan soon, normally by the 16th week. / - If you haven't felt like it up until now, make sure you have the forms you need and are claiming the benefits you are entitled to. Every little will help, with another mouth to feed!
5th month / - Make sure you keep your antenatal appointments. If you need any extra tests, such as an amniocentesis, it will probably be done round about this time. / - Get form MAT B1 if you haven't already, as 'proof' you are pregnant. Remember also that if you receive JSA or Income Support, you are entitled to free vitamins and milk right through your pregnancy and whilst you are breastfeeding. / - You may be starting your antenatal or parentcraft classes soon, they are a great place to meet other expectant Mums, to chat about what you are all going through.
6th month / - You may have another scan around this time, to check everything is going smoothly in there. Don't forget that you can ask to listen to your baby's heartbeat at your antenatal appointments, too. / - If you have any questions about your rights as a pregnant woman, contact the Maternity Alliance. For questions about childbirth, try the National Childbirth Trust. / - Where is your baby going to sleep? Put all the things he needs together, to start making a special little place for him. If he is going to have his own nursery, leave the hard work to your partner. You could probably manage a little light painting though, make the most of your nesting instinct!
7th month / - At your antenatal appointments, make sure you mention any swelling of the hands and feet when having your blood pressure taken, so the doctor can rule out pre-eclampsia. A certain amount of swelling is normal, try keeping your feet up as much as possible from now on. / - If you are working, you qualify for Satutory Maternity pay and Maternity Leave in your 26th week. If not, you may be eligible for Maternity Allowance. / - Who do you want to be present at the birth? If you are giving birth in a hospital, some maternity units put a limit on numbers, so find out now. When push comes to shove, you may not feel comfortable with too many people around you.
8th month / - Use your antenatal appointments as a chance to discuss the problems associated with later pregnancy. You may be feeling tired and emotional and are likely to have indigestion, backache and possibly insomnia. Not much longer now!
- If your blood group is Rhesus negative, your doctor may test it for antibodies this month, to make sure you do not need any treatment.
- You may have a third ultrasound around this time.
- Now would be good time to discuss your pain relief options with your doctor or midwife. / - If you are still working, make sure your employer knows when you are going to start your maternity leave. If you qualify for Additional Maternity Leave, they should presume that you will be taking it, but make sure they are aware of the details anyway.
9th month / - You should have your last antenatal check-up this month, take the chance to ask any last questions on anything you're not sure about. / - If you are planning on giving birth in a hospital, make sure you have a bag packed two weeks before your due date, with everything you might need. Some hospitals will give you a tour of the labour ward if you ask, it will help you to feel more comfortable in your surroundings on the day..
1st month after the birth / - Make sure you register your child with a GP, as soon as possible once you have his birth certificate / - Remember to register the birth at your local register office within 42 days.
- Make sure you have a claim pack,so you can start claiming child benefit as soon as your baby is born. You will find one in your Bounty Pack if you gave birth in hospital.
- Let your employer know if you decide to take more time off work or of your plans change, otherwise you may lose your entitlement to benefits.
2nd month after the birth / - Your baby will have a check-up at 6 weeks, normally at the same time as your post-natal examination. Don't be nervous, it is a good time to discuss any problems you are having, however small.
- You will have a post-natal examination round about the same time, to make sure you are fit and healthy after the birth.
- Have a careful think over the next few months, about returning to work. If you decide to stay at home, you may be entitled to state benefits. / If you have to stop work to look after your baby, there may be financial help available to you, such as Child Benefit and Income Support. If you stop work because you are ill or unable to work any longer, you can claim Incapacity Benefit, providing you have evidence to support your claim. There are many other benefits and grants available, especially for single mothers and people in special circumstances, contact your local Social Security Office to find out exactly what you are entitled to.
It is worth remembering that if you carry on working at least 16 hours a week, you may be entitled to tax credits which will go some way to helping with the costs associated with your new family. Also, think about working part-time or job-sharing as a compromise. Don't be afraid to try negotiating with your employer.
Extra Information
At the Doctor’s…
Most women choose to have their pregnancy confirmed by a doctor, who will also be able to explain which forms they need to claim the help they are entitled to. You will have regular antenatal appointments until the birth of your baby, normally once a month until 28 weeks, then more frequently during the final stages.
Aside from a general examination to check you are in good health, the doctor or midwife will do a series of regular tests which will help them monitor your baby's progress. These may include:
Urine Tests to measure your glucose levels in case you develop diabetes, or monitor an existing condition. The doctor will also monitor the levels of protein in your urine, to test for pre-eclampsia.
Blood Tests to identify your blood group and monitor your haemoglobin level in case you become anaemic. You will also be checked for any diseases that may harm your baby, such as syphillis, rubella and HIV.
You will have your Blood Pressure taken regularly, in case you develop pre-eclampsia, which can be dangerous if left untreated. The doctor will also be able to listen to the foetal heartbeat.
Later on in your pregnancy, you may also be offered other tests for conditions like spina bifida and genetic abnormalities, which may include an amniocentesis to test for Down's syndrome. There is a very small risk of miscarriage associated with amniocenteses, they are normally only offered to high-risk pregnancies or older women.
Birth options
You will probably want to start thinking about the birth as soon as possible. 'Too posh to push' arguments aside, the vast majority of babies born in the UK are delivered naturally, so it is worth considering your options early. Think about any previous experiences you may have had, talk to other Mums and read up on your options. Your doctor may suggest a caesarean section before or during labour if you are ill, or if your baby or the placenta is in a awkward position, but here are some points to consider if you are expecting a natural birth.
If you choose to have your baby in hospital, think about how close the hospital to where you live, plus the standard of labour and postnatal care for both you and your new baby. Also think about little things, like whether or not you can have music in the birthing suite, or any other comforts to help you to feel at home. For a more relaxed environment, find out from your midwife if there are any birth centres in your area, which aim for the feel of a home birth, with medical technology on hand in case you need it. There is no medical evidence to suggest that home births are any less safe than hospital births, providing you haven't had any major problems during pregnancy, you can always change your mind at the last minute and be taken to hospital if there is one nearby.
When drawing up your birth plan with the midwife, think also about how you want to give birth. Consider what position you might feel most comfortable in, you may prefer to stand or squat, or want acces to a birthing pool. Not all maternity units allow women to move about during labour, but your midwife will be able to tell you what the options are in your area, both private and NHS.
Do I have to tell my Employer?
You are not legally obliged to inform your employer that you are pregnant, but they will need to know when you are planning to take your Maternity Leave. Remember that you cannot be dismissed, or treated unfairly at work for any reason connected to your pregnancy and they will need to know if you have to make special health and safety arrangements.
You also have the right to paid time off for your antenatal appointments and classes. If you receive JSA or Income Support, you may also be entitled to your travel costs to and from all your appointments. Make your claim at the hospital when you go for your appointment with proof that you are claiming benefits and your travel tickets or receipts for petrol, or up to three months afterwards, using an HC5 form, available from your local Social Security office.
Maternity Leave
Although you are legally obliged to stay at home for the two weeks following the birth of your baby, how much Maternity Leave you get depends on when you became pregnant and how long you have worked for your employer.
Ordinary Maternity Leave
/ Additional Maternity LeaveEmployees who have not worked for the same company for 26 weeks by Qualifying Week / 26 weeks / No
26 weeks / 26 weeks
You can start your Maternity Leave up to 11 weeks before your baby is due and you must give notice to your employer by the qualifying week (15th week before your due date). If you have the right to Additional Maternity Leave, your employer should presume you will be taking it straight after your OML.
State Benefits
There is a lot of help available to you, during and after your pregnancy, whether you work or not.
Everyone who works is entitled to Statutory Maternity Pay, whilst they are on maternity leave, providing they have made National Insurance contributions, have been employed by their present employer for 26 weeks by the Qualifying Week and earn more than £79 a week. To qualify, you must show your Maternity Certificate (see 'Forms MAT B1 & FW8') to your employer by your 20th week and give at least 28 days' notice. You will be paid 90% of your salary for the first 6 weeks, after that most people get a basic rate of £102.80. Paternity Pay, for fathers on Paternity Leave, follows the same principles.
If you do not qualify for SMP, then you may be eligible for Maternity Allowance, which is for women who have changed jobs during pregnancy, or who are self-employed or unemployed.
Everyone who has children is entitled to Child Benefit as soon as they have a baby, low-income families and single mothers may also have the right to extra help and tax credits. Don't forget that if you receive Income Support of JSA you can claim free vitamins and milk during pregnancy and whilst you are breastfeeding, so give your child the best start you can. Contact your Social Security office for more details.
Registering the Birth
You must register your baby within 42 days of the birth, at the nearest Register Office to the place he was born. If you are not sure where that is, contact your County Council to find out where you should go. Apart from being a legal obligation, you need a birth certificate for your child with the names of at least one person who has legal responsibility for him, usually the natural parents. With your birth certificate, you will also get a pink form, which will enable you to register your baby with a GP.
If you are married, either parent may register the baby. You will be asked for both parents' details, (this may include the marriage certificate) the names you have chosen for your child and the time, date and place of birth.
If you are not married, the mother must register the birth. The father can also come, if he wants his particulars to appear on the certificate, if not they can be added at a later date if both parties aggree.
If one or both parents are not British, the relevant Embassy or Consul must be informed.
Parental Leave and Time off Work
Along with your Maternity Leave, your partner is also entitled to Paternity Leave of up to 2 weeks, to be taken after the birth of your new baby, with Paternity Pay along the same lines as Maternity Pay. This is an excellent chance for you both to get to know your child.
As long as you have been working for your present employer for at least a year, you also have the right to 13 weeks of unpaid leave, to be taken by the child's fifth birthday. If you have parental responsibility for a disabled child, you can take up to 18 weeks. This is called Parental Leave and is intended to help you to balance your work and family life, by giving you the chance to take time off in blocks of a week, to care for your child. Remember to give 21 days notice beforehand.