Local Maternity System - Pre-conception information

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Preparing for pregnancy

Pre-conception care

Pre-conception care is an opportunity for you and your partner to improve your health before trying for a baby.

Pre-conception care can be important if:

You want to find out how a condition such as diabetes or epilepsy can affect pregnancy
You are having trouble getting pregnant
There is a risk you could pass on a genetic condition to your baby.

You will increase your chances of getting pregnant if you and your partner are in good health. A bad diet, being overweight or obese, smoking, drinking or working in unhealthy conditions may affect the production of eggs or quality of sperm and stop you getting pregnant.

Please contact your GP if you need advice around pre-conception care.

For information for diabetics planning a pregnancy click here .

For information if you have epilepsy and are planning a pregnancy click here.

Week 4

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Your baby is now officially an embryo and is about the size of a poppy seed.

Please visit www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/4-weeks-pregnant/ for more information.

Week 8

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Your baby is now the size of a kidney bean and weighs 1g.

Please visit www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/8-weeks-pregnant/ for more information.

Week 12

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Welcome to the second trimester!

Your baby is about the size of a small lime and weighs approximately 14g.

You have hopefully seen your midwife for your 'booking in' appointment, if you have not yet seen a midwife please make an appointment quickly, so you can have all of your choices about screening tests explained and offered to you.

Please visit www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/12-weeks-pregnant/ for more information. You can also link to the 'Pregnancy Journey' area here.

Week 16

2019-07-03

Your baby is about the size of an avocado and weighs approximately 100g.

Please visit www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/16-weeks-pregnant/ for more information.

Week 20

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Your baby has grown in length and is now the length of a small banana and weighs approximately 300g. Around this time you will be offered your '20 week' scan, also known as the 'anatomy' or 'anomaly' scan.Click here for more information about screening.

This is a also a good time to talk and sing to your bump as your baby can now hear sounds. This is great way for you and your partner/family to bond with your baby.

Please visit www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/20-weeks-pregnant/ for more information.

Week 24

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Your baby has grown again to the approximate length of an ear of sweetcorn and weighs about 600g.

Please visit www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/24-weeks-pregnant/ for more information.

Week 28

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Welcome to the third trimester!

Your baby is now approximately the weight of an aubergine; about 1kg and approximately 37cm in length.

Please visit www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/28-weeks-pregnant/ for more information.

Week 32

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Your baby now weighs approximately the same as a coconut; around 1.5kg.

Please visit www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/32-weeks-pregnant/ for more information.

Week 36

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Your baby is now around the same size as a lettuce, approximately 47cm long and weighs around 2.6kg.

Please visit www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/36-weeks-pregnant/ for more information.

Week 40

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Your baby is now the weight of a small watermelon which is approximately 3.3kg and around 50cm in length.

Please visit www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/40-weeks-pregnant/ for more information.