91�ȱ�

91�ȱ� > Tips and advice > Pregnancy

You don’t have to worry about asking your midwife questions during pregnancy – they’ve heard it all (and more) before.

But even so, we know there may be some you just can’t pluck up the courage to bring up. Luckily, we’ve put some common queries to a panel of NHS midwives, including some you might be embarrassed to ask.

If there’s more than one option, first think about location and which maternity unit is easiest for you to get to. Find out what kind of care is available there and whether you can have a look around before your baby is born. The NHS pregnancy and birth guide has a . Remember that even if you decide to have a home birth, it’s a good idea to know where you’d be transferred if things don’t work out as planned.

First off, bring your maternity records – either on your mobile device or the paper version. Pack items for baby – nappies, baby clothes, hats and anything they’re going to wear when they go home. Sanitary pads, nightwear, socks, hairbrush, toiletries and underwear are all essentials for mum. Snacks and energy drinks are also a good idea; energy boosts can give mum-to-be an extra something during labour.

• More on what to pack for labour

Lots of women poo during labour, but try not to worry about it: for midwives, it’s a sign that things are moving in the right direction. They will also clear it away, probably without you even noticing.

There are so many old wives’ tales swirling around this, including raspberry leaf tea, pineapple, spicy curries, warm baths, walking… we could go on. But there’s no firm evidence any of these work.

There is, however, some research that suggests sex at the very end of pregnancy when the cervix is ‘ripe’ or softened can move things along. Two other things that do have some (emphasis on the ‘some’) evidence behind them are to trick your body into thinking you’re feeding your baby, and (the first milk your body makes) before birth. Some mums-to-be with particular conditions like diabetes are encouraged to harvest and freeze colostrum, not to induce labour, but to ensure there’s a store of milk available when baby’s born.

Whatever your situation, always consult your midwife for advice before trying anything. And try not to worry; labour will usually start by itself and your healthcare team are on hand with support.

Babies swallow amniotic fluid and . But their first poo – called – doesn’t normally happen until a few days after their birth. Very rarely, something will trigger a baby to poo during or just before birth and they’ll be monitored to make sure they don’t inhale it.

This is because your body is flooded with hormones and your milk ducts are growing. Bigger boobs (and new bras) are inevitable but how much they will grow varies from mum to mum. As well as getting larger, you may notice they feel tingly and that your nipples have darkened.

Yes, it’s totally fine unless you’ve been advised not to by a healthcare professional. Some couples worry that having sex might hurt their baby but don’t worry, they’re protected by the fluid around them and a set of muscles.

In case you missed it