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Be clued up on post-birth contraception

Mum Knows Best

  1. I started getting really bad headaches when I was about 12 weeks pregnant, but forcing myself to drink two litres of water every day really helped.
    Jennifer Shepherd, London
  2. Drink ginger tea to beat morning sickness - it really works!
    Jenny, pregnant with baby no.1
  3. Before you go out and buy lots of expensive maternity clothes, have a good rummage through your wardrobe. You'll probably be surprised at how much stuff can be adapted or worn a little differently to still fit you!
    Natalie, mum to Bobby
  4. If you have trouble sleeping in pregnancy, read a baby names' book. The monotony of the list means that by the time you reach 'D', you'll be gone!
    Emily Gale, 31, from London, mum to Madeleine, 2, and 35 weeks pregnant
  5. Ditch as much of your housework as possible and don't stress because the house is a mess or there's ironing to do. Your baby will sense you're calm and, with luck, he'll be calm, too. I know it worked for me - Daniel is a chilled-out, happy baby!
  6. If you're uncomfortable in bed, or suffer backache, tuck one end of a v-shaped pillow between your knees to get your hips level, put the 'v' under your bump and cuddle the top. It was my midwife's idea - it also cured my insomnia.
    Isabelle Jacobs, 34, from Edinburgh, mum to Paul, 3 months
  7. To help beat morning sickness, as soon as you wake up - eat a piece of dry toast.
  8. If you're set on having a natural birth, read up on visualisation and breathing techniques so you feel strong when the time comes. It really helped me when I was having Honey.
    SJ Drew, Paignton
  9. I was convinced the TENS machine I used wasn't working because labour still felt very painful. However, it was only when I took it off that I realised it had been effective, as I could feel the difference. It got me through the first few hours until I got in the pool, where my baby was born. Michelle, mum to Sam, 6 weeks
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Average rating:
3 out of 5 star rating (54 ratings)
After you've had a baby, make sure you use contraception even if you're breast-feeding. You can still get pregnant – and I should know! I got pregnant by accident with baby number two when baby number one was just seven months old. I'm about to give birth to number two and although I'm looking forward to it, it wasn't how I'd have planned it in an ideal world!
Leanne Ward, 32, Portsmouth, Hampshire, mum to Shannon, 15 months

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Today's poll

How long was your labour for your first baby?


  • All done in under 5 hours 25%
  • 5 - 10 hours 18%
  • 10 - 15 hours 15%
  • 15 - 20 hours 14%
  • About a day 11%
  • About 2 days 8%
  • More than 2 days 9%

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