Keeping well in pregnancy

Healthy diet and supplements

A healthy diet is an important part of a healthy lifestyle at any time, but it’s especially important if you’re pregnant or planning a pregnancy.

As well as a healthy diet you will also need to take a folic acid supplement. It’s recommended that you take 400 micrograms of folic acid each day while you are trying to get pregnant and until you are 12 weeks pregnant. The Department of Health also recommend that pregnant women consider taking a vitamin D supplement.

Read our ‘healthy eating during pregnancy’ article for more information.

Smoking and alcohol

Being pregnant is one of the best reasons for you and your partner to stop smoking. Visit our smoking and pregnancy page for more information and support to stop smoking.

Experts are still unsure exactly how much - if any - alcohol is completely safe to drink during pregnancy, so the safest approach is not to drink at all. Visit our drinking and pregnancy page for more information.

Vaccinations

Flu vaccine

It’s recommended that all pregnant women have the flu vaccine, whatever stage of pregnancy they are at.

Whooping cough vaccine

Pregnant women can help protect their babies against whooping cough by getting vaccinated. The ideal time is when you are 16-32 weeks pregnant. However, if you can still have the vaccine at any time until you go into labour.