Clear, calm guides to help you feel prepared for pregnancy, birth and the early days with your baby. They’re free to read and there’s nothing to sign up for.
Our guides are general education, not medical advice. Wherever guidance changes over time, we point you to the NHS so you always see the latest version.
Pregnancy
Early pregnancy guide
The first 12 weeks: the appointments to expect, what’s common, when to get help, and questions to ask your midwife.
Antenatal appointments
Who you’ll see, what happens at each appointment and scan, and how to make the most of every visit.
Getting ready for the birth
Where to give birth
Home, midwife-led unit or hospital: your options, and questions to ask your midwife.
Labour explained
The three stages of labour in plain English, and when to call for help.
A guide for birth partners
How to prepare, how to help during labour, and how to look after you both afterwards.
Hospital bag checklist
A tick-off list for you, your baby and your birth partner. Save it on your phone or print it.
After your baby arrives
The first days with a newborn
What’s normal, the checks your baby will have, and when to get help.
Feeding your baby
Breast, bottle or a mix: your options and where to get support, without pressure.
Trusted NHS resources
These NHS pages are kept up to date, so they’re the best place to check current advice.
- NHS pregnancy guide: the main starting point, from finding out you’re pregnant through to labour and birth.
- Keeping well in pregnancy: food, drink, exercise, supplements and medicines.
- Your antenatal care: what appointments and checks to expect.
- Signs and symptoms of pregnancy: what’s common in the early weeks.
- Vomiting and morning sickness: what helps, and when to get support.
- Vaginal bleeding in pregnancy: when to seek help.
- The stages of labour and birth: what to expect.
- Caring for a newborn baby: feeding, newborn screening and your baby’s first weeks.
- NHS 111: for urgent advice when you’re not sure what to do.
If there’s something you’d love us to explain, let us know. We add new guides over time.
If you’d like to learn alongside other parents, our small-group antenatal classes in Ringwood are led by an NHS GP who is also a mum, and cost £150 for you and your birth partner.
Baby Steps GP provides antenatal education. Our guides are general information, not medical advice, and don’t replace advice from your midwife, GP or maternity unit. If you’re worried about yourself or your baby, contact your maternity unit or call NHS 111, or 999 in an emergency.