In order to ensure that you and your baby are fit and that the baby is developing as she should, throughout your pregnancy you will have regular check-ups under the care of either a hospital antenatal clinic, or your GP or a community midwife. Who looks after you depends largely on where you are going to have the baby. If the baby is going to be born in hospital, your antenatal appointments are likely to be split between the hospital antenatal clinic and your GP or community midwife (this is known as ‘shared care’). If you are having the baby at home or in a community or GP unit, your GP and community midwife will look after you throughout your pregnancy, although you may be asked to go to the hospital for a scan.

Your first major antenatal appointment – the `booking in’ appointment – is done at home, at the health centre or at the hospital antenatal clinic, usually when you are between 8 and 14 weeks pregnant. You will be asked questions about your general health, your family history, any medical problems, any previous pregnancies and how you feel that this pregnancy is going. You will be asked the elate of your last period so that the baby’s due date can be worked out (see chart above). Your heart will be listened to for signs of its overall health and your blood pressure may he measured. Routine internal examinations are no longer common, unless there are doubts about the duration of your pregnancy, but you will have a cervical smear if you have not had one in the last three years.

You will be asked to give a blood sample, which is then sent to the lab for testing. The lab identifies your blood group; checks your hemoglobin levels (to make sure you are not anemic); looks for signs of immunity to rubella; and checks whether you have been exposed to hepatitis B or syphilis. If you live in a high-risk area (usually classed as the metropolitan areas, and in particular London and Glasgow), you may be asked if you wish your blood sample to be tested for HIV antibodies. This is done routinely and anonymously at certain hospitals which are part of a national programme to measure how widespread HIV is in the community – if your hospital is part of the scheme, you will be told. If you are not asked, but would like an HIV test, request it.

If your pregnancy is going well, the usual routine is for your antenatal checks to take place every month until you are 28 weeks pregnant, then every two weeks until 36 weeks, and once a week thereafter. Local practices vary, however, so you may be seen less frequently; you will be seen more often if you have problems, if you have had a previous pregnancy that was complicated, or if your GP or anyone at the clinic feels that it is appropriate for you.

The same checks are made at each appointment, wherever the appointment takes place including the following.

1. Urine

You will be asked either to bring a sample with you or to produce one at the time. This will he checked on the spot for signs of infection, diabetes and pre- eclampsia.

2. Blood pressure

Raised blood pressure is one of the telltale signs of pre-eclampsia.

3. Weight

Research has shown that monitoring your weight is an inefficient way to tell whether the baby is growing as she should and is a poor indicator of your general health. As a result, you may not be weighed, although it is still common practice in many areas.

4. Abdomen

The midwife may measure your girth and she will check (by feeling) the position of the baby and the height of your uterus.

5. The baby’s heartbeat

This will be felt using a stethoscope, or – depending on hospital policy – using a foetal monitor.

6. Your legs, feet and hands

For swelling (another sign of pre-eclampsia) or varicose veins. It is a good idea to use your appointments to bring up any questions or problems you have (write them down in advance so that you cover everything you want to). If you prefer, sit up so that you can talk to your doctor or midwife face to face – having a conversation is difficult when you are lying down and someone is feeling your tummy. If you have something sensitive to talk about, ask if you can have time after your examination to do so when you have your clothes back on.

After a tiring day of constant packing, what my pregnant body needs is a good, solid rest. I’m am really particular about mattresses. My preference is that is should feel comfortable lying in it. I think a soft mattress is what the doctor will order, so I can sleep fitfully all through the night and thus contribute to the wellness of the baby inside me. Not too soft, though, just soft enough for cushion, but firm enough to support my hips and spine. As my needs throughout pregnancy changes, I will just ask my husband to adjust our mattress according to how my body feels about it.

But generally, I think most people would agree that comfort should be the foremost criteria of a mattress, as how you feel first thing in the morning would depend on how fitful a sleep you got, and your bed is one of the major contributing factors to that. As with any purchase for our home, the “best mattress” for us does not need to mean the most expensive, and as much as possible we try to find balance in all our house expenses. Bottom line is, mattresses need to be picked because they feel comfortable, and not because they would look good in the bedroom, or because your friends would be impressed by its price upon mention.