Week 1 & 2

Your pregnancy is calculated from the first day of your last period and lasts around 40 weeks.

Fertilisation of the egg is generally considered to be around 2 weeks after the first day of your last period - so you are likely to actually fall pregnant around the beginning of the official ‘week 3’.

Check your estimated date of delivery

The 40-week pregnancy cycle is broken down into 3 ‘trimesters’

• First trimester = the first 12 weeks
• Second trimester = from week 13 to week 27
• Third trimester = from week 28 until birth

If you are hoping to become pregnant, or suspect you may be pregnant, remember to take a daily 400mcg folic acid supplement (and continue it until you are 12 weeks pregnant). Folic acid helps to reduce the risk of neural tube defects such as spina bifida

Click here for foods which are a good source of folic acid.

Are you taking any medication?

It is important that you check any medications that you are taking with your doctor, to ensure they are safe to take during pregnancy.

If you smoke, the best thing that you can do is to give up and encourage your partner (if they smoke) to do the same! For more information on stopping smoking during pregnancy visit www.givingupsmoking.co.uk, or alternatively contact the NHS Pregnancy Smoking Helpline on 0800 169 9 169 (lines are open Monday to Friday 9am to 8pm, Saturday and Sunday 11am to 5pm).

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