Checking your vaginal mucus
Observing your mucus daily can help you to compare differences and identify the various stages of your menstrual cycle, as well as your most fertile days.
Physical signs of ovulation
Each month, women experience ovulation - the phase of the menstrual cycle that involves one of the ovaries releasing an egg (ovum). It generally occurs about two weeks before your period starts. If that ovum meets a sperm on its path along the fallopian tube, your journey to motherhood has begun.
Detecting the fertile days
By starting from day one (the first day of a menstrual period) you can record your findings on a fertility chart to assist with conceiving a baby.
The mini pill
The minipill contains small amounts of progesterone hormone and is taken by the woman every day.
How to sleep well through pregnancy
It’s hard work growing a baby and when you’re pregnant your under-stress body needs to get a decent nights sleep more than ever.
Early symptom: dizziness
Dizziness can be common in early pregnancy, though fainting - also known as syncope - tends to be rare.
Intrauterine device – IUD
Discover what an IUD is, including any risks taken when using one and what the advantages are.
Common pregnancy niggles and their treatments
Here are seven of the most common, often unpleasant, ailments during pregnancy and tips on how you can treat them and when they might require some medical intervention.
Early symptom: frequent urination
Many women will complain of needing to pass more urine during early pregnancy.
Bleeding after birth
The amount of bleeding after delivery can be quite frightening, but it’s completely normal and – if you think about it – expected.
Risks of drinking alcohol while pregnant
Most pregnant women will receive confusing and conflicted advice about drinking alcohol during pregnancy. So what are pregnant women risking if they drink alcohol?
Early symptom: blood flow
Pregnancy requires dramatic changes in blood flow, the most obvious being that which occurs in the uterus and the development of the placenta to make a baby grow.
Early symptom: constipation
Stomach bloating, constipation, or both are common first trimester pregnancy symptom, which tends to reappear again in the last trimester.
Early symptom: cramp, backache and bloating
Many women experience bloating, mild cramping and slight backache as a pre-menstrual physical symptom, and the same thing happens in early pregnancy as the uterus grows.
Early changes to libido
Sex drive or libido - the very cause of conception - often undergoes either positive or negative changes in the early weeks after conception.
Early changes to breasts and nipples
A woman's breasts undergo massive changes within two to four weeks after conceiving a baby.
Benefits of pregnancy exercise
You can minimise the bad effects of some pregnancy symptoms by maintaining a regular exercise routine, and there are many benefits to take advantage of.
Preventing stretch marks
Nearly 9 out of 10 pregnant women develop stretch marks on their breasts, tummy, hips buttocks and/or arms. Stretch marks may appear early or later in your pregnancy.
Varicose veins in pregnancy
Varicose veins occur to some degree in most pregnant women. Varicose veins are blood vessels that are engorged with blood. They occur primarily in the legs but may also be present in the vulva and rectum.
Haemorrhoids during pregnancy
Pregnant women most often develop haemorrhoids during the second and third trimester. Hormone changes and the growing foetus are contributing factors.
Labour signs and braxton hicks
Do you know how to tell the difference between Braxton Hicks and real labour pains?
Rhesus disease
Rhesus disease can occur in pregnancy when there’s a Rhesus incompatibility between mother and baby. The condition is unusual but serious when it occurs.
Pre eclampsia
Find out about pre eclampsia the most common complication of pregnancy with 5-10% of pregnancies being affected by the condition.
Obstetric cholestasis
Obstetric cholestasis is a rare condition that occurs in pregnancy and affects both the liver and the flow of bile from that organ.
Miscarriage and stillbirth
The loss of a baby during pregnancy is just as devastating no matter what it is termed, but technically a miscarriage describes the loss of a baby before 20 weeks of pregnancy and stillbirth describes the loss of a baby after 20 weeks.
Gestational Diabetes
Gestational diabetes effects 3 -10% of pregnant women and those who suffer the condition have an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus after pregnancy.
Early symptom: increased saliva
Many women notice they produce more saliva. Some women find excessive salivation during pregnancy makes morning sickness and nausea more unpleasant.
Ectopic pregnancies
An ectopic pregnancy occurs when a fertilised egg implants inside the fallopian tube instead of the uterus. It is a non viable pregnancy and an extremely serious condition that needs urgent attention.
Ovulation phase of menstrual cycle
When a woman ovulates, she releases a mature egg from one ovary (or two eggs if she is having twins). The egg is released into the adjacent fallopian tube and can survive in the woman's body for around 12 to 24 hours. Sperm needs to reach the egg before this time lapses. When a woman ovulates, she releases a mature egg from one ovary (or two eggs if she is having twins). The egg is released into the adjacent fallopian tube and can survive in the woman's body for around 12 to 24 hours. Sperm needs to reach the egg before this time lapses.An egg is most likely to be fertilised to conceive a baby if the sperm are already present, waiting in the fallopian tube, so they reach the egg soon after it is released.
Bleeding phase of the menstrual cycle
The start of the bleeding phase (or period) is Day 1 of the menstrual cycle. Bleeding patterns are very individual for each woman and can last from 2 to 8 days but on average are 4 to 6 days.