Pregnancy FAQs

To register with us please create a free My Pregnancy Notes account. We will contact you with a date for your first appointment with a midwife and this will be when you are around 8 weeks pregnant.

Your midwife will discuss how you will receive your antenatal care at your first appointment. You will be cared for by a midwife or specialist maternity team depending on your needs. You are also welcome to see your GP (doctor) as well as your community midwife.

Please see the Scans and appointments page for information about your first appointment including the questions your midwife may ask you.

In Leeds we have moved from paper to an electronic patient record. When you register for pregnancy care at Leeds Teaching Hospitals you will be given a “My Maternity Journey” pack to keep forever, and your maternity care will be recorded electronically. You will be able to see your notes in your online account on My Pregnancy Notes.

If you are concerned about bleeding in early pregnancy, contact your Community Midwife. If you are waiting for your first appointment please contact your GP or call 111.

For more information please see: Bleeding and pain in early pregnancy.

Bleeding during pregnancy is quite common and doesn’t always mean there’s a problem. If you have any vaginal blood loss please phone and speak to a MAC midwife.

Common causes of bleeding in later pregnancy:
-Cervical changes – pregnancy can cause changes to the cervix, and this may sometimes cause bleeding – after sex, for example.

-Vaginal infections – if you feel this may be the cause of your bleeding then please contact the Maternity Assessment Centre to discuss further

-After a vaginal examination or speculum – if you have had an examination then this sometimes cause’s some bleeding, especially if you have had a stretch and sweep. This is not harmful and should settle after a few hours.

Please wear a pad to see how much blood you have lost. Please phone MAC back if you have any further blood loss, pain, reduced fetal (baby) movements or other concerns.

You will bleed from your vagina after birth and it will be quite heavy. Change your sanitary towel frequently and wash your hands before and after changing it. The bleeding will carry on for a few weeks. It will gradually turn a brownish colour and decrease until it finally stops.

It is not a good idea to use tampons until after your 6 week postnatal check because they can increase your risk of infection.

If you are losing blood in large clots, tell your midwife or phone the Maternity Assessment Centre as you may need some treatment.

If you have had stitches after tearing or an episiotomy (cut), bathe them every day to help prevent infections. Have a bath or shower with plain water then carefully pat yourself dry. Stitches usually dissolve by the time the cut or tear has healed.

Painkillers can help. If you are breastfeeding you can take paracetamol and Ibuprofen as long as you do not have any known allergies to these medications or have previously been advised not to take Ibuprofen outside of pregnancy. For paracetamol take two 500mg tablets up to 4 times in 24 hours and for Ibuprofen the usual dose for adults is one or two 200mg tablets 3 times a day.

Everyone is different! You may start to feel movements from around 16 to 24 weeks pregnant. At first, you feel a fluttering or bubbling, or a very slight shifting movement, maybe a bit like indigestion. If you have not felt your baby move by 24 weeks, tell your midwife. You can read more about your baby’s movements on the NHS website.

An active baby is a happy baby. Your baby will have its own unique pattern of movements which you will soon get to recognise. Babies move during the day and the night time. Your midwife is trying to ensure that you are aware of your baby’s movement pattern and report immediately any change.

For more information on the importance of your baby moving please read the leaflet: Feeling your baby move is a sign that they are well. This information is available in different languages.

At around 20 weeks of pregnancy you will start to feel your baby move. Your midwife will ask you about your baby’s pattern of movements. A baby moving during pregnancy can be anything from a flutter, kick, swish or roll and these are a sign that baby is well.

When a baby is unwell, they may conserve energy by slowing down their movements. This can be the first sign of a problem.

Between 20 to 26 weeks you will start to recognise your baby’s pattern of movements, which will continue throughout the pregnancy.

If your baby’s pattern of movements changes or reduces in number, please phone the Maternity Assessment Centre to speak to a Midwife – LGI: 0113 3926731 or St James’s Hospital: 0113 2065781.

Having more vaginal discharge in pregnancy is normal and helps to prevent infections travelling from the vagina to the womb.

Towards the end of pregnancy, the amount of discharge increases further. In the last week or so of pregnancy, it may contain streaks of sticky, jelly-like pink mucus called a “show”. You find more information further down this page.

Visit the NHS website for more information: vaginal discharge

Thrush is an infection that can cause unusual vaginal discharge. If you get thrush when you’re pregnant, it can easily be treated – talk to your midwife or doctor.

Thrush can cause:

• Increased vaginal discharge which is usually white (like cottage cheese), and doesn’t usually smell
• Itching and irritation around the vagina

Always talk to your doctor, pharmacist or midwife if you think you have thrush, as there are some thrush medicines you shouldn’t use while you’re pregnant.

You can help prevent thrush by wearing loose cotton underwear, and some women find it helps to avoid perfumed soap or perfumed bath products.

During pregnancy, there’s a plug of mucus in your cervix. This plug comes away just before labour starts, or when in early labour, and you may pass it out of your vagina. This small amount of sticky, jelly-like pink mucus is called a ‘show’.

It may come away in one blob or in several pieces. It’s pink in colour because it’s bloodstained. It’s normal to lose a small amount of blood mixed with the mucus. 

If you’re losing more blood, it may be a sign something is wrong, so phone MAC straight away.

A show indicates that the cervix is starting to open/soften and labour may follow on the same day or may take a few days.

See signs that labour has begun for more information.

Group B Strep (GBS) is a common bacteria that normally causes no harm and lives in the vagina or rectum (bottom). If you carry GBS, your baby may be exposed to the bacteria during labour and birth. Most babies who are exposed to GBS remain well but there is a small chance of them becoming seriously ill.

If you’re worried about GBS, please speak to your midwife or GP for advice. Routine testing was previously offered in Leeds as part of the GBS3 research trial which has now ended. For further information see: Group B strep – NHS

Vomiting and nausea are common and usually go away after 3 to 4 months, but some people do experience this for their entire pregnancy. If you are vomiting please drink plenty of water, have small amounts of food often and do not stop eating. Try to distract yourself – the more you think about it the worse it gets.

There is a chance of developing a severe form of pregnancy sickness called hyperemesis gravidarum which might mean that you need to come into hospital. Please contact your midwife if you are worried about this.

For more information please see: Vomiting and morning sickness

Feeling faint is often due to hormonal changes. You are most likely to feel faint if you stand up too quickly from a chair or out of a bath but it can also happen when you are lying on your back.

Avoiding feeling faint

Here are some tips to help avoid feeling faint:

• Try to get up slowly after sitting or lying down
• If you feel faint when standing still, find a seat quickly and the faintness should pass, if it doesn’t, lie down on your left side
• Keep well hydrated and drink 2 to 3 litres of water per day. Try having a glass of water before getting out of bed
• Eat regularly

Headaches are most common in early pregnancy and usually improve or stop completely during the last 6 months. Headaches do not harm your baby, but they can be uncomfortable for you.

Headaches can sometimes be a symptom of pre-eclampsia which can lead to serious complications if it is not monitored and treated.

Call the Maternity Assessment Centre (MAC) immediately if you have:

• A severe headache
• Problems with vision, such as blurring or seeing flashing lights
• Pain just below your ribs
• Vomiting
• A sudden increase in swelling of your face, hands, feet or ankles

For information about pain relief and coping with headaches please see: Headaches in pregnancy

Indigestion, also called heartburn or acid reflux, is common in pregnancy. It can be caused by hormonal changes and the growing baby pressing against your stomach. 

You can help ease indigestion and heartburn by making changes to your diet and lifestyle, and there are medicines that are safe to take in pregnancy.

Contact your midwife if you need help managing your symptoms or if changes to your diet and lifestyle do not work. They may recommend medicine to ease your symptoms.

You should also see your midwife or GP if you have any of the following:

• Difficulty eating or keeping food down
• Weight loss
• Stomach pains

For more information please see: Indigestion and heartburn in pregnancy

The hormonal changes in your body may cause you to become constipated very early on in your pregnancy.

To help prevent constipation, you can:

• Eat foods that are high in fibre, such as wholemeal breads and cereals, fruit and vegetables and pulses such as beans and lentils
• Exercise regularly to keep your muscles toned
• Drink plenty of water

Varicose veins are veins that have become swollen. They can be uncomfortable but aren’t harmful. They most commonly affect leg veins.

You can also get varicose veins in the vaginal opening (vulva), although these usually get better after the birth.

Please see the NHS website for more advice and exercises: Varicose veins – common health problems in pregnancy

Some itching around the tummy is normal as your skin is stretching around your growing baby. While this is normal for most people, occasionally it’s a sign of a liver disorder, intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP, also called obstetric cholestasis). The hands and feet are usually affected, but other areas of the body may be itchy too, and the itching may be particularly bad at night. If it is diagnosed ICP can be treated.

Contact your midwife or MAC for advice. Depending on how far you are into your pregnancy, itching is investigated through a blood test to check your liver function (LFT) and measuring your bile acid levels (BA). If confirmed ICP / obstetric cholestasis your bloods will be reviewed regularly in the Antenatal Day Unit. Creams and medication may be prescribed.

• Wearing loose clothes may help prevent itching.
• You may also want to avoid clothes made from synthetic materials and choose natural ones, such as cotton, instead. These are “breathable” and allow the air to circulate close to your skin.
• A cool bath or applying lotion or moisturiser can help soothe the itching.
• Products with strong perfumes can irritate the skin, so you could try using unperfumed lotion or soap.
• Mild itching is NOT usually harmful to you or your baby.

It is very common to get backache or back pain during pregnancy, especially in the early stages.

During pregnancy, the ligaments in your body naturally become softer and stretch to prepare you for labour. This can put a strain on the joints of your lower back and pelvis, which can cause back pain.

Please see the NHS website for advice and exercises to help: Back pain in pregnancy

If you are struggling, please speak to your midwife who may be able to refer you to a specialist obstetric physiotherapist.

The hormones of pregnancy soften your muscles and ligaments to allow your body to change and adapt in pregnancy. As pregnancy continues and your baby grows your muscles stretch and more strain is put on your ligaments. Ligament pain is very common in pregnancy and although uncomfortable/painful for you, there is no harmful effect for baby. If the discomfort/pain eases when resting and after taking pain relief then ligament pain is likely to be the cause, ligament pain often worsens when moving and/or towards the end of the day.

PGP is a collection of uncomfortable symptoms caused by a stiffness of your pelvic joints or the joints moving unevenly at either the back or front of your pelvis.

You can find lots of information including what the symptoms are, advice on how to cope and the treatments available on the NHS website: Pelvic pain in pregnancy.

If you are struggling, please speak to your midwife who can advise if a referral to our physiotherapy team may help. Early diagnosis and treatment should stop symptoms from getting worse, relieve your pain and help you continue with your normal everyday activities. PGP is not something you just have to ‘put up with’ until your baby is born.

Stomach (abdominal) pain or cramps are common in pregnancy. They’re usually nothing to worry about especially if the pain is mild and goes away when you change position, have a rest, open your bowels (do a poo) or pass wind. You may also feel light period-like discomfort or cramps at the end of your pregnancy.

Harmless stomach pains that can be dull or sharp may be caused by:

• Ligament pain (often called “growing pains” as the ligaments stretch to support your growing bump) this can feel like a sharp cramp on one side of your lower tummy.
• Constipation – which is common in pregnancy
• Trapped wind
• Braxton hicks contractions

Cramp is a sudden, sharp pain, usually in your calf muscles or feet. It’s most common at night..

Regular gentle exercise in pregnancy, particularly ankle and leg movements, will improve your circulation and may help prevent cramp. Try these foot exercises:

• bend and stretch your foot vigorously up and down 30 times
• rotate your foot 8 times one way and 8 times the other way
• repeat with the other foot

It may help to ease cramp if you pull your toes hard up towards your ankle or rub the muscle hard.

Be mindful of the signs of DVT

During pregnancy it’s common to experience swelling or discomfort in your legs, so this on its own doesn’t always mean there’s a serious problem. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a serious condition where a blood clot forms in a deep vein in the body, usually in the leg.

DVT isn’t common in pregnancy. But pregnant women at any stage of pregnancy, and up to 6 weeks after the birth, are more likely to develop DVT than non-pregnant women of the same age. If you have any of the following symptoms then it is important that you contact MAC.

• Pain, swelling and tenderness in one leg, usually at the back of your lower leg (calf) – the pain may be worse when you bend your foot up towards your knee
• A heavy ache or warm skin in the affected area
• Red skin, particularly at the back of your leg below the knee

Braxton Hicks contractions are a sign that the muscles of your womb are tightening. This can happen from as early as 16 weeks, but are more common in later pregnancy. Braxton Hicks are when the womb contracts and relaxes. Sometimes they are known as false labour pains or practice pains. Not all women will have Braxton Hicks contractions. If you do, you’ll usually feel them during the second or third trimester. Braxton Hicks are completely normal and many women experience them during pregnancy.

Braxton Hicks’ contractions are:

• Irregular (more than 10 minutes apart)
• Short-lasting
• Uncomfortable more than painful.

You do not need to contact your maternity unit or midwife unless your contractions become painful and regular (less than 10 minutes apart).

They may be uncomfortable, but they are not painful. Women often describe Braxton Hicks contractions as feeling like mild/strong menstrual cramps or a tightening in a specific area of the stomach that comes and goes.

We don’t really know why you might get Braxton Hicks contractions. But we do know some of the things that trigger them, such as:

• Being very active
• Having a full bladder
• Having sex
• Being dehydrated

Unlike labour contractions, Braxton Hicks contractions:

• Vary in length and strength
• Happen infrequently, are unpredictable and non-rhythmic
• Are more uncomfortable than painful
• Do not increase in frequency, duration or intensity
• Lessen and then disappear, only to reappear at some time in the future.

Compared with Braxton Hicks, labour contractions: 

• Are noticeably, and increasingly, longer
• Are more regular
• Are more frequent
• Are painful
• Increase in intensity

Nearer the end of your pregnancy, Braxton Hicks contractions may form more of a pattern and increase in frequency and intensity. Lots of people often mistake Braxton Hicks contractions for the start of labour. But, unlike labour contractions, Braxton Hicks contractions do not cause the cervix (the entrance to the womb) to open (dilate).

There is no treatment for Braxton Hicks contractions. But there are things you can do to ease them, such as:

• Changing position
• Lying down if you’ve been very active 
• Going for a walk if you’ve been sitting down for a long time
• Relaxing, such as taking a warm bath, having a massage, or having a nap
• Drinking some water to rehydrate.

It’s always best to contact the maternity assessment centre (MAC) for advice if you are not sure whether you are having Braxton Hicks or labour contractions.

It’s also a good idea to phone if the tightenings continue, especially if you are less than 37 weeks pregnant.

Call your midwife or MAC straight away if:

• You have any vaginal bleeding
• Your waters break
• You have strong contractions every five minutes that last 30-60 seconds)
• These twinges become very painful
• You have any concerns about your baby’s movements.

It’s important to plan ahead and pack your hospital bag a few weeks before your due date. You can find a list of ideas for what to bring here: pack your bag for labour. Claire from Leeds Maternity Voices Partnership has recorded this video with her suggestions too: What to pack in your hospital bag

Your midwife will explain the different options available to you and support you with deciding where and how you would like to give birth. You can find more information here: Your choice….The birth of your baby or watch a virtual tour of Maternity Services at Leeds General Infirmary and St James’s Hospital.

Research has shown that regular perineal massage during the last few weeks of pregnancy reduces the likelihood of the need for an episiotomy and the incidence of perineal tears that require stitches. You can start any time after 34 weeks of pregnancy and should massage 3-4 times a week for 5-10 minutes each time.

For information about how to do this, please see the Antenatal Perineal Massage leaflet or Perineal Massage (Video).

Waters usually break during labour, but it can also happen before labour starts.

Your unborn baby develops and grows inside a bag of fluid called the amniotic sac. When it’s time for your baby to be born, the sac usually breaks and the amniotic fluid drains out through your vagina. This is your waters breaking.

If your waters break naturally, you may feel a slow trickle or a sudden gush of water you can’t control. Amniotic fluid can be clear, pale pink or a pale straw colour. Sometimes it’s difficult to tell amniotic fluid from urine. 

If you think your waters have broken please put a maternity pad on and phone MAC for advice.

If you notice that your waters are a green or brown colour or you have any significant bleeding please phone MAC straight away.

Before established (active) labour begins the cervix (neck of the womb) is firm, long and closed. Before active labour many people can experience contractions that are irregular, short lasting and mild in strength, this stage of labour is called the Latent phase of labour.  

During the latent phase of labour the cervix (neck of the womb) starts to soften, thin out and dilate (open up). Once the cervix starts to open more and contractions are regular and lasting around 40 seconds, labour is usually established.

The latent phase of labour can last several days before established labour starts. This is normal. Some women experience ‘period’ type cramps and backache and some will experience short periods of contractions lasting a few hours, which can stop and start up again the following day.

Remember, the latent phase of labour can last a long time, especially for first time mums, a ‘start-stop’ pattern of contractions is common in the latent phase.  Research suggests that staying calm and relaxed at home during the latent phase is linked with fewer childbirth interventions.

Find something to distract yourself from the contractions, something that you would do normally to help you feel relaxed. This might include:

• Going out for a walk
• Breathing in gently and sighing out slowly through each contraction
• Taking a nap
• Having a warm bath or shower
• Listening to a playlist of your favourite music or watching a DVD
• Try sitting on your gym ball if you have one and leaning against your bed or a chair
• Put a hot water bottle on areas that ache, such as your lower back, underneath your bump or between your thighs. Please be mindful not to use a hot water bottle directly on your skin and place it over a layer of clothing.
• Ask your birth partner to massage your back/shoulders/arms
• Remaining up and mobile can help you progress more quickly as this will allow gravity to work on your side
• Drink plenty of fluids and eat little and often. Water, energy drinks and carbohydrates such as bread, pasta, rice and cereal will help to keep you hydrated and build and store your energy supplies
• Some women find it helpful to use a TENS machine
• Taking paracetamol. If you are normally able to take paracetamol, you can have 2 (500mg total 1000mg equal to 1g) tablets every 4 to 6 hours, but not more than 8 tablets in 24hours, the same as you can if you are not pregnant.

Preparation is the key!

No two births are the same but having an understanding of what is happening to your body and knowing what you can do to help yourself will have a positive impact upon your birth experience. Have the confidence that your body is perfectly designed to birth your baby.

Over time your contractions will become longer lasting, stronger and more intense. If this is your first baby, you normally need to be experiencing a minimum of two to three contractions every ten minutes that last for 45 seconds to a minute, for a few hours, before you are in the active phase of labour. It is possible for active labour to start more suddenly, particularly if you have already had a vaginal birth. Remember every labour is different, so it is best to stay relaxed and be prepared for whatever happens.

It is a good idea to try to stay at home until your labour is established but please phone the Maternity Assessment Centre and speak to a midwife if:

• Your baby’s movements slow down
• You think you are going into labour before 37 weeks
• Your waters break
• You are bleeding vaginally
• You have a headache, fever or are generally unwell
• You are having strong, regular contractions
• You are finding it hard to cope at home and need some advice

Always telephone the Maternity Assessment Centre (MAC) before coming in, even if you are sure you are in labour and always remember to bring any hand held notes whenever you come to the hospital.

If your waters break before labour starts this is called Spontaneous Rupture of Membranes (SRoM). This means that the protective sac of fluid around your baby has gone. The water will continue to come away until your baby is born. Please phone MAC for advice if your waters have broken.

You can choose to go home and wait for the start of your labour (expectant management) or have your labour started or induced straight away in hospital using a hormone drip.

If you choose to go home and wait for labour it is important that you follow this advice to ensure the safety and wellbeing of you and your baby.

You should contact the Maternity Assessment Centre (MAC) for advice if you experience any of the following or are concerned in any way about your pregnancy or baby:

• You feel unwell or hot and feverish
• Your temperature is 37.5°C or above (see below information on taking your temperature)
• The colour of the water changes from clear, cloudy or pale pink to any other colour e.g. brown, green or red
• The smell of the water changes
• You notice that your baby is not moving as much as normal
• You experience pain or contractions, stronger or different to normal

Personal hygiene is important to prevent infection

• Change your maternity pad frequently, at least every 4 hours during the day, or whenever wet.
• Do not use tampons
• You may take a bath or shower as you wish, but do not use any bath products e.g. foams or oils
• Do not go swimming
• Do not use any perfume, deodorant or talc around the genital area
• Refrain from any form of sex as this may be a source of infection

Labour will normally start spontaneously within 24 hours. If you are not in labour 24 hours after your waters break you should attend Delivery Suite for induction of labour at the date and time provided by your midwife.

We recommend that you take your temperature at home every four hours during hours that you are awake. You will be provided with disposable thermometers to take home with you if needed and advised on how to use these. If your temperature is 37.5°C or above please telephone MAC.

We advise not sleeping on your back after 28 weeks of pregnancy, as it is safer for your baby. For more information please see: Sleep position in pregnancy Q&A or watch this video from Tommy’s: How to sleep safely during pregnancy.

There is also useful information about tiredness and sleep problems including bump friendly sleep positions on the NHS website.

Yes, it is safe to have sex during an uncomplicated pregnancy. You should be aware that sexually transmitted diseases can still be shared when you are pregnant.

Visit sex in pregnancy for further information.

Most foods are safe during pregnancy and it is important to have a healthy diet so that your baby can develop and grow. There are some things you should be careful with or avoid, including some types of cheese, meat and fish.

Visit the NHS website for a list of foods that you should not eat when pregnant.

You should also have no more than 200mg of caffeine per day. Drinking more than this amount can increase your risk of pregnancy complications.

It’s recommended that you take 400 micrograms of folic acid every day – from before you’re pregnant until you’re 12 weeks pregnant. It is also recommended that you take a daily vitamin D supplement.

Do not take cod liver oil or any supplements containing vitamin A (retinol) when you’re pregnant. Too much vitamin A could harm your baby.

Your midwife will explain if you are eligible for free vitamins through the Healthy Start scheme.

Visit vitamins, minerals and supplements in pregnancy for further advice.

Cigarettes restrict the oxygen supply to your baby, so their heart has to beat harder every time you smoke. Smoking also makes your baby at higher risk of being stillborn, premature, underweight and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). No matter what stage you are in your pregnancy, it’s not too late to give up smoking.

Your midwife will refer you to our Stop Smoking service for support and advice. Visit the NHS website for more detail: stop smoking in pregnancy

If you are pregnant or planning to have a baby you should not drink any alcohol.

When you drink, alcohol passes from your blood through the placenta to your baby. This increases your risk of miscarriage, premature birth and your baby having a low birthweight. It can also cause your baby to develop a serious life-long condition called foetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD).

If you are breastfeeding, not drinking alcohol is also the safest option.

Please speak to your midwife if you need support or have any questions.