Your Pregnancy
Congratulations on your pregnancy!
Being pregnant can be exciting, overwhelming and everything in between! There’s a lot to take in, and it’s not always easy to know where to start.
This page covers looking after your health and wellbeing, finding support, and getting ready for your baby’s arrival.
You’re pregnant! Here’s what to do next
- Book your antenatal care
As soon as you find out you’re pregnant, book your pregnancy care through your local Best Start Family Hub or by self-referral.
- Understand your rights and benefits
Looking after yourself during pregnancy
- Stop smoking and drinking alcohol
Quitting smoking helps your baby’s growth and reduces risks. Alcohol can increase the risk of miscarriage and other problems, so it’s best to avoid it. If you would like the support of the Healthy Pregnancy team to support you with quitting smoking while pregnant, you can self-refer through the Healthy Sandwell team, or through your midwife.
- Take vitamins
Folic acid should be taken until you are 13 weeks pregnant – this reduces the risk of your baby having certain conditions that affect the spine. It is also advised that you take vitamin D throughout your pregnancy to help your baby’s bones to develop.
- Stay active
Gentle exercise like walking, swimming or pregnancy-friendly classes can help you feel better and prepare your body for birth. Find and join your free, local classes through our Changes programme.
- Eat well
Eat a balanced diet and avoid foods that aren’t safe in pregnancy. Healthy Start may also be able to help with food support – check your eligibility on the Healthy Start website.
Important health checks and vaccinations
- Book your screening tests
You’ll be offered scans and blood tests to check your baby’s health and to screen for conditions early. It’s very important that you attend your screening tests.
- Get recommended vaccines
- See the dentist
You’re entitled to free NHS dental treatment if you’re pregnant when you start your treatment and for 12 months after your baby is born.
To get free NHS dental treatment, you must have a valid maternity exemption certificate (MatEx) issued by your midwife or GP.
Getting ready for birth
- Book your free pregnancy and parenting classes
Changes help you learn about pregnancy, birth and early parenting and connect you with others expecting a baby. Find out more about the classes you can access through Sandwell Family Hubs.
- Start your birth plan
Think about where you’d like to give birth and any preferences you have for labour or who’ll support you. The NHS outline the different options you may be able to choose from to give birth.
- Pack your hospital bag
Get your bag ready before you go into labour with everything you and your baby will need. The NHS have put together a handy checklist to make sure you don’t forget anything in your bag!
- Expressing your milk
Did you know that from 36–37 weeks, you can begin expressing and storing colostrum (your baby’s first milk)? This is a wonderful way to get comfortable with the process and have a “safety net” of milk ready for those first few days.
How to Express & Store Milk – A step-by-step guide from the Breastfeeding Network.
Feeding Your Baby – Essential NHS advice to help you explore your options.
Need additional support?
- Meet local groups and sessions
Sandwell Best Start Family Hubs offer free activities — from prenatal exercise, breastfeeding workshops and Bump and Beyond sessions — to help you feel supported and meet other expectant parents. Find out more about the sessions and book them on the Sandwell Family Hubs website.
- Health visiting support
Before your baby arrives, you can meet your health visitor and learn how they’ll support you and your baby after birth.