Produced in conjunction with Britain's best-read mother and baby magazine Practical Parenting, the book contains expert advice on antenatal care, diet and exercise plus readers' experiences, questions and answers.

Foreword and Introduction; PART 1: HEALTH AND WELLBEING 6; Becoming Pregnant: Preconceptual care - Trying to conceive - Trying for a girl or boy - Fertilization - Genes - How twins are formed - Causes of infertility - Assisted reproduction techniques; Diet and Exercise: Nutritional needs and what to avoid - Cravings - Special diets - Exercise; Emotional Wellbeing: Rest and relaxation - Common fears - Stress-busting techniques - Massage - Complementary therapies and self-help treatments - Relationship with partner and feelings about fatherhood - Sex - Single parent - Friends and family; Health: Health advice and avoiding risks - Working pregnancy - Travel - Special conditions - Rhesus factor - Baby's life support system - Common complaints - Medical emergencies; Antenatal Care: - Pregnancy tests - Routine checks and hospital notes - Birth plans - Ultrasound scans - Special tests - Care of twins during pregnancy - Checking position of baby - Getting ready for birth; PART 2: YOUR PREGNANCY GUIDE WEEK BY WEEK 116; 1st Trimester; Baby's development week by week; Mother's wellbeing at weeks 1-8, 9-12; In the womb, including life-size illustrations at weeks 8 and 12; 2nd Trimester; Baby's development week by week; Mother's wellbeing at weeks 13-16, 17-20, 21-24, 25-28; In the womb, including life-size illustrations at weeks 16, 20, 24, 28; 3rd Trimester; Baby's development week by week; Mother's wellbeing at weeks 29-32, 33-36, 37-40; In the womb, including life-size illustrations at weeks 32, 36, 40; PART 3: BIRTH AND YOUR FIRST FEW DAYS TOGETHER 216; Labour and Birth: Overdue - Stages of labour and birth - Positions for labour and birth - How birth partners can help - Hospital birth - Water birth - Home birth - Sudden and fast birth - Prolonged labour - Back ache labour - Drugs to induce and speed labour - Pain relief including natural alternatives - Forceps and ventouse delivery - Episiotomy and tears - Caesarean - Breech - Twins - Premature baby; First Few Days: Baby's appearance - Feeding your baby - Leaving hospital - Your physical and emotional wellbeing - Pelvic floor exercises; Index 284.