Pregnancy

Early pregnancy is the first trimester, which starts on the first day of your last period and lasts until the end of week 12. During early pregnancy your baby grows faster than during any other trimester. If you want to work out how far along you are and when your expected due date, use our Due Date Calculator. This calculator depends on your periods being a regular 28 day cycle. If your cycles are longer, shorter or irregular your doctor will need to confirm your days after a dating scan.

Which scans and tests should I have when?

There are a number of different antenatal tests to confirm that the pregnancy and the baby’s development are progressing well:

Ultrasound scans: These are the most common ways to check your baby in early pregnancy. As well as being able to calculate your due date, ultrasounds can also see the exact location, the number of babies and the baby’s growth. Depending on the stage of the pregnancy, the scan will tell you different things. Often at around 6 weeks, ladies like to have a viability scan, this confirms the heartbeat, size and location of the pregnancy.

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What signs and symptoms should I expect? Do these change throughout pregnancy?

Pregnancy symptoms vary widely from one women to another and are thought to be related to the changing hormones experienced in early pregnancy. Many women experience symptoms such as sore breasts, nausea and vomiting, being tired and having strange cravings. Pregnancy symptoms such as nausea and vomiting usually subside as the pregnancy advances.

About 7 in 10 women experience nausea and vomiting in early pregnancy, but in most cases these symptoms disappear by 12 to 14 weeks.

What red flag symptoms should I be aware of?

What is considered as recurrent miscarriages?

Recurrent miscarriage is defined as a woman having a history of three or more consecutive miscarriages. Some people choose to be investigated after 2 miscarriages. Recurrent miscarriage testing may provide vital information for future conceiving reassurance and answers. However as random chromosomal abnormalities may play a major role, the investigations may be normal. Our recurrent miscarriage testing package includes all the key tests to help identify the reasons for miscarriage.

Should you change your diet when you are pregnant?

There are certain foods which are advised for pregnant women to avoid because they can be risky to the development of your baby especially in early pregnancy, these include:

Unpasteurised dairy products such as undercooked meat, fish and eggs as these can cause food poisoning.
Caffeine should be limited to 200mg a day which is equal to one strong cup of coffee or 2 cups of tea.
Vitamin A can be damaging to the baby, so it is best to avoid consuming lots of liver or a cod liver oil capsule.
The safest approach to alcohol would be to completely avoid it during pregnancy.

Should I take supplements during my pregnancy?

Certain nutrients are essential in pregnancy to help the developing baby. The key ones are folic acid, omega 3, and vitamin D.

Folic acid is essential in the early stages of pregnancy to help prevent conditions such as Spina Bifida and cleft palate. 400mcg should be taken daily until 14 weeks gestation and ideally should be started 2-3 months pre-conception if possible. If you have had a baby with a neural tube defect or elevated risk factors your doctor may recommend a higher dose of folic acid.
Omega 3 is important for the baby’s developing brain, whilst it is found in oily fish a supplement can also be beneficial throughout pregnancy
Vitamin D deficiency is very common in pregnancy and it is one reason why many mums may feel very tried. It is also required to support bones in women and fetal bone development. Therefore it is recommended to take vitamin D supplements during pregnancy which may be included in a pregnancy multi-vitamin.

What happens if I bleed or experience spotting in early pregnancy?

Is it okay to take off the shelf pain killers in early pregnancy?

Book your Early Pregnancy Care appointment online

Our Early Pregnancy Care Package provides support and care in those early months.

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Pregnancy Care Packages

We offer early pregnancy care as well as scanning throughout your pregnncy and post natal checks. If you would like to book an appointment or have any further questions please give us a call on 0207 10 11 700.

Pre-Pregnancy Health Check

Our pre-pregnancy check is for women wanting to start trying for a family.

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Post Natal Check

Our post natal care package ensures that mum is healthy post birth.

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Worried about Miscarriage?

Miscarriage is sadly more common than many people realise, yet it’s often not openly talked about. It can be an incredibly distressing experience, and for some, it may happen more than once. If you're worried you may be experiencing a miscarriage, or are concerned about recurrent losses, our team of consultant gynaecologists is here to support you with expert care and understanding.