You can read every pregnancy book, attend antenatal classes and know exactly what happens during labour. But have you thought about how you're going to physically prepare for it? Preparing your body for labour involves staying active, practising comfortable birth positions and knowing when to use them, learning how to use your breath and understanding how movement can support you during contractions. Making labour & birth easier by using positioning to help your baby travel through the...

If you’re wondering when to pack your hospital bag, you definitely don’t need a suitcase sitting by the front door from 20 weeks pregnant. But you probably don’t want to be looking for maternity pads and baby clothes between contractions either. For most pregnancies, 32–34 weeks is a good time to start getting your hospital bag together, with the aim of having it packed and ready by around 36 weeks. You can start preparing some things much earlier — and there are situations where it makes...

If you’re having your first baby, it can feel as though you need to buy an entire shop before they arrive. A bassinet. A cot. A changing table. Bottles. A steriliser. A breast pump. Swaddles. Sleepsuits. A baby bath. A monitor. A pram. A carrier. Ten different creams you’re not quite sure what to do with. The good news? Newborn babies actually need surprisingly little. For those first few weeks, the genuine essentials are somewhere safe to sleep, suitable clothing, nappies, a safe way to...