Some women will approach pregnancy and birth with enormous trepidation and fear, while others will breeze through, loving their changing bodies and the prospect of becoming a parent.
Some women face enormous physical, mental and social challenges during their pregnancy and on their journey to parenthood. We are all different and have different needs for information and support. This section offers a range of quality health information drawing on highly specialised expertise and experience from Australia's largest public maternity hospital.
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Preparing for pregnancyFor many women and their partners, there is no opportunity to prepare for pregnancy. Others will think and talk about pregnancy long before it happens. There are many things you can do to prepare for pregnancy and parenting; see this section for ideas.
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Now you are pregnantHow you feel about your early pregnancy will depend on so many things. How old you are, your circumstances, whether you were planning to be pregnant, how prepared you feel for pregnancy and parenting and how your pregnancy came about.
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Pregnancy, drugs & alcoholIf you are a drug and alcohol user and you find you are pregnant - and you want to be pregnant - there are very important things that you need to know for your baby's health and safety.
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A healthy pregnancyEven the most healthy woman can have pregnancy problems but taking steps towards a reasonably healthy lifestyle will increase your chances of having a healthy pregnancy.
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Mental health & pregnancyThere are many reasons why we are more vulnerable to depression during pregnancy and in the post-natal period. Depression can be triggered by an accumulation of stresses in our social, physical and emotional lives.
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Pregnancy problemsMore often than not, your journey through pregnancy will be smooth and problem free. Occasionally though things will go wrong. Any problems that you experience should be seen to immediately.
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Labour & birthAt around 30 weeks you will probably start thinking in earnest about your pending labour and birth. Your doctor or midwife will also start the discussions about what to expect, how to prepare and how to recognise the signs of labour.
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After your baby is bornThere is not right or wrong way to feel after the birth of a baby. Some women will feel exhilarated and others will worry that they are not feeling as happy or excited as they should.
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Your health after birth Learn more -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander WomenThe resources on these pages are for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and their families
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Disclaimer
The Women’s does not accept any liability to any person for the information or advice (or use of such information or advice) which is provided on the Website or incorporated into it by reference. The Women’s provide this information on the understanding that all persons accessing it take responsibility for assessing its relevance and accuracy. Women are encouraged to discuss their health needs with a health practitioner. If you have concerns about your health, you should seek advice from your health care provider or if you require urgent care you should go to the nearest Emergency Dept.