such as listeria or rubella (German measles), pre-eclampsia or eclampsia (toxaemia of pregnancy), illness or injury in the mother, ante-partum haemorrhage (bleeding from the uterus) or extreme prematurity. In some instances, the baby is stillborn because of severe
. It sounds as if you have a shorter menstrual cycle and you should start testing on day 10. The signs of ovulations include an increase in cervical mucus which is often stringy. Your temperature will rise by 0.5 1% after ovulation. You may also have some
, sudden swelling, severe headaches or pain in the top of your abdomen (these can be signs of pre-eclampsia).Contractions. From 20 weeks onwards, many mums-to-be experience Braxton Hicks 'practice' contractions, when the womb seems to harden for a minute
in the last 20 years. Almost 27,000 babies were born to mothers over 40 last year. But doctors wrote the report to make sure women are aware of the lifecycle of their fertility. Doctors say that the most 'secure' age for childbearing remains 20 to 35. Women
brushingWhat's safe: Bonjela and AnbesolAvoid: Betadine MouthwashHeadachesWhat you can do: Drink enough water, and don't get too stressed. Get checked out if paracetamol isn't helping orif your vision is affected, as this may be a sign of pre-eclampsia
from the day she was born and I was at my wits' end,' she says. ‘I'd had pre-eclampsia at 34 weeks and she had been delivered by Caesarean at 37 weeks. From the start she wanted to be breastfed constantly or she'd scream. Neither of us was sleeping
or 200g lighter than normal - with an increased risk of complications after birth, too. If you need help giving up, call the NHS Pregnancy Smoking Helpline on 0800 169 9169 for support and advice.Lorna Bird is the Prima Baby/Mamas & Papas Midwife
. 'This is because there's an increased risk to the baby of health problems, or even stillbirth.'Induction may also be offered if your baby is in distress or if you have a condition such as pre-eclampsia or gestational diabetes, or if your baby isn
is the baby's sucking helps your uterus contract, so your tummy shrinks back quickly. But sometimes you hang onto an extra half stone until you stop.Weeks 0-13In the first few weeks you may not feel like eating proper meals. This may mean you don't gain any
