Ready Steady Baby!

Pregnancy

How COVID-19 will affect your maternity care and how to reduce the risk to your baby

Including the first signs of pregnancy and how your baby develops week to week

Including how to eat well, keep active and prevent illness in pregnancy

Including tests, scans and checks and who'll be looking after you and your baby

Including common ailments and conditions that occur before and during pregnancy

Including benefits, housing support and your rights at work during and after pregnancy

Including looking after your mental wellbeing and bonding with baby during pregnancy

Including making a birth plan and deciding where to give birth

Including signs that labour has started and options for pain relief during labour and birth

Including assisted birth by forceps or ventouse delivery, or caesarean section

Including what happens during the birth at full term and if your labour's premature

Including newborn tests and examination and help for babies born sick or premature

Including having skin-to-skin contact with your baby and the first feeds

Including keeping your baby safe at home and how to help them sleep safely

Including how to bathe your baby, change their nappies and soothe them when they cry

Including how to bond with your baby and talk, sing and read to them

Including looking after your mental health and helping your body recover after the birth

Including how and when to introduce your baby to friends and family

When to see your GP or pharmacist, or phone 999 if your baby's unwell

Your baby will develop many new skills in its first year

Ready Steady Baby information in Easy Read

Ready Steady Baby information in other languages