Did you know that some women have regular periods in pregnancy? This may mean you don't know you're pregnant until later than usual. But if you've been hot off the mark with a pregnancy test, it may also mean you realise you're having a bleed a

the counselling service Relate. To find your nearest Relate, call 0300 100 1234 or visit relate.org.uk. EAT CHOCOLATE It’s true! A 2004 Finnish study found that mums who ate chocolate during pregnancy had happier, more active babies. Scientists suggest

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

the procedure.Step 5: fertilising the eggsYour eggs are mixed with your partner's or the donor's sperm and cultured in the laboratory for 16-20 hours. They are then checked to see if any have been fertilised.If the sperm are few or weak, each egg may need

clothes, so go shopping for a few must-haves. Have your hair cut, and make the most of this time to get on top of the less glamorous ‘personal admin’, like dental and eye check-ups and smear tests. You won’t want to take time off work

to have enough sex to conceive, or have only got time to have sex around ovulation and might not always get this right,' says Dr Marilyn Glenville, a nutritional therapist and author of Natural Solutions To Infertility (£12.99, Piatkus).Take a holiday

. You're most at risk if you're overweight, or have a family history of Type 2 diabetes.  It can be controlled by diet, but 10-30% of pregnant women with it need to take insulin. If you've had it once, you're more likely to get it again. But you can cut

periods can also make his sperm too warm, so he should get out every couple of hours and have a 10-15 minute walk. Avoid using a laptop balanced on his knees as it can increase scrotal temperature and reduce fertility.6. Get him to consult his GP about

from 11-13 weeks.What to expect if you're having a multiple birth Multiple-birth pregnancies are automatically considered high risk, but that doesn't mean you should start panicking. While each pregnancy is different, these are common: Weight gain of 10

the first 12 weeks of pregnancy (an early miscarriage), it's often due to a one-off genetic problem that stops the baby from developing. A late miscarriage - between 14 and 24 weeks - could also be due to infection or problems with the shape of the uterus