Planning Your Pregnancy
The more you know about your pregnancy and your options, the more you are likely to feel in control. The information given here is based on The Pregnancy Book, which your midwife should give you at your first appointment.
Before You are Pregnant
Your Pregnancy and Labour
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- How the baby develops
- 0-8 weeks pregnant
- 9-12 weeks pregnant
- 13-16 weeks pregnant
- 17-20 weeks pregnant
- 21-24 weeks pregnant
- 25-28 weeks pregnant
- 29-32 weeks pregnant
- 33-36 weeks pregnant
- 37-40 weeks pregnant
- 40+ weeks pregnant
- Your health in pregnancy
- Common health problems
- Antenatal care and classes
- Choosing where to have your baby
- Labour and birth
- When pregnancy goes wrong
You and Your Baby
General Pregnancy Topics
Child Health 0-5 Years
Children’s Immunisation Schedule
Here’s a checklist of the vaccines that are routinely offered to everyone in the UK for free on the NHS, and the age at which you should ideally have them.
Routine Childhood Immunisations
| When to immunise | Diseases protected against | Vaccine given | Site** |
| Two months old | Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) | DTaP/IPV/Hib (Pediacel) | Thigh |
| Pneumococcal disease | PCV (Prevenar 13) | Thigh | |
| Rotavirus | Rotavirus (Rotarix) | By mouth | |
| Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio and Hib | DTaP/IPV/Hib (Pediacel) | Thigh | |
| Three months old | Meningococcal group C disease (MenC) | Men C (NeisVac-C or Menjugate) | Thigh |
| Rotavirus | Rotavirus (Rotarix) | By mouth | |
| Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio and Hib | DTaP/IPV/Hib (Pediacel) | Thigh | |
| Four months old | Pneumococcal disease | PCV (Prevenar 13) | Thigh |
| Hib/MenC | Hib/MenC (Menitorix) | Upper arm/thigh | |
| Between 12 and 13 months old – within a month of the first birthday | Pneumococcal disease | PCV (Prevenar 13) | Upper arm/thigh |
| Measles, mumpsand rubella (German measles) | MMR(Priorix or MMR VaxPRO) | Upper arm/thigh | |
| Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and polio | dTaP/IPV (Repevax) or DTaP/IPV(Infanrix-IPV) | Upper arm | |
| Three years four months old or soon after | Measles, mumpsand rubella | MMR (Priorix or MMR VaxPRO)(check first dose has been given) | Upper arm |
Please Note
** Where two or more injections are required at once, these should ideally be given in different limbs. Where this is not possible, injections in the same limb should be given 2.5cm apart.
Immunisations for At-risk Children
| When to immunise | Diseases protected against | Vaccine given | Site |
| At birth, 1 month old, 2 months old and 12 months old | Hepatitis B | Hep B | Thigh |
| At birth | Tuberculosis | BCG | Upper arm (intradermal) |
Childrens Health
There is a good guide on the NHS website which describes various conditions affecting children. There is advice on how to diagnose them, how to treat them and if further advice should be consulted.
NHS childhood illness slideshow
When Should I Worry?
Having an ill child can be a very scary experience for parents. If you understand more about the illness it can help you to feel more in control. This booklet is for parents (and older children) and deals with common infections in children who are normally healthy.
NHS Choices Conditions and Treatments
See the NHS Choices Conditions and Treatments browser for an in-depth description of many common health issues.
These links all come from trusted resources but if you are unsure about these or any other medical matters please contact your doctor or pharmacist for advice.
Child Health 6 to 15 Years
Routine Childhood immunisations
| Girls aged 12 to 13 years old | Cervical cancer caused by human papillomavirus types 16 and 18 (and genital warts caused by types 6 and 11) | HPV (Gardasil) | Upper arm |
| Tetanus, diphtheria and polio | Td/IPV (Revaxis), and check MMR status | Upper arm | |
| Around 14 years old | Meningitis C | (Meningite c, Menjugate or NeisVac-C) | Upper arm |
Please Note
** Where two or more injections are required at once, these should ideally be given in different limbs. Where this is not possible, injections in the same limb should be given 2.5cm apart.
The Meningitis C vaccination will be introduced during the 2013/14 academic year and the vaccine supplied will depend on the brands available at the time of ordering.
When Should I Worry?
Having an ill child can be a very scary experience for parents. If you understand more about the illness it can help you to feel more in control. This booklet is for parents (and older children) and deals with common infections in children who are normally healthy.
There is a good guide on the NHS website which describes various conditions affecting children. There is advice on how to diagnose them, how to treat them and if further advice should be consulted.
NHS childhood illness slideshow
Fevers
Most symptoms of a fever in young children can be managed at home with infant paracetamol. If the fever is very high, they may have an infection that needs treating with antibiotics.
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Head Lice
Head lice are insects that live on the scalp and neck. They may make your head feel itchy. Although head lice may be embarrassing and sometimes uncomfortable, they don’t usually cause illness. However, they won’t clear up on their own and you need to treat them promptly
Nosebleeds
Nosebleeds (also known as epistaxis) are fairly common, especially in children, and can generally be easily treated.
NHS Choices Conditions and Treatments
See the NHS Choices Conditions and Treatments browser for an in-depth description of many common health issues.
These links all come from trusted resources but if you are unsure about these or any other medical matters please contact your doctor or pharmacist for advice.
Men
Mens’ Health
Five health symptoms men should not ignore:
“British men are paying the price for neglecting their health: more than 100,000 men a year die prematurely.
On average, men go to their GP half as often as women. It’s important to be aware of changes to your health, and to see your GP immediately if you notice something that’s not right.” Find out more.
Prostate Cancer
Each year about 36,000 men in the UK are diagnosed with prostate cancer, making it the most common cancer in men. It mainly affects men aged over 50.
Symptoms
- Difficulty in starting to pass urine,
- A weak, sometimes intermittent flow of urine,
- Dribbling of urine before and after urinating,
- A frequent or urgent need to pass urine,
- Rarely, blood in your urine or semen and pain when passing urine.
These symptoms aren’t always caused by prostate cancer but if you have them, see your GP.
Find out more about the symptoms, causes and diagnosis of prostate cancer by using the resources below.
Resources
Testicular Cancer
Testicular cancer, though the most common cancer in young men, it is still quite rare. With 2000 new cases being diagnosed each year, this makes it the biggest cause of cancer related death in 15 – 35-year-old males. It accounts for around 70 deaths a year within the UK alone.
What to Look Out For
The most common symptom of testicular cancer is swelling or a pea-sized lump in one of the testes (balls). There is no current screening test therefore it is important that you look out for the following signs and symptoms.
- A dull ache, or sharp pain, in your testicles, or scrotum, which may come and go.
- A feeling of heaviness in your scrotum.
- A dull ache in your lower abdomen.
- A sudden collection of fluid in your scrotum.
- Fatigue, and generally feeling unwell.
Resources
NHS – Information on Testicular Cancer
Sexual Problems
It’s estimated that one man in 10 has a problem related to having sex, such as premature ejaculation or erectile dysfunction. Dr John Tomlinson of The Sexual Advice Association explains some of the causes, and where to seek help.
NHS Choices Conditions and Treatments
See the NHS Choices Conditions and Treatments browser for an in-depth description of many common health issues.
Women
HPV Vaccination
Since September 2008 there has been a national programme to vaccinate girls aged 12-13 against human papilloma virus (HPV). There is also a three-year catch up campaign that will offer the HPV vaccine (also known as the cervical cancer jab) to 13-18 year old girls.
The programme is delivered largely through secondary schools, and consists of three injections that are given over a six-month period. In the UK, more than 1.4 million doses have been given since the vaccination programme started.
What is Human papilloma virus (HPV)?
Human papilloma virus (HPV) is the name of a family of viruses that affect the skin and the moist membranes that line your body, such as those in your cervix, anus, mouth and throat. These membranes are called the mucosa.
There are more than 100 different types of HPV viruses, with about 40 types affecting the genital area. These are classed as high risk and low risk.
How you get HPV?
Types of HPV that affect the skin can be passed on by skin contact with an affected person. The types of HPV that affect the mouth and throat can be passed on through kissing. Genital HPV is usually spread through intimate, skin to skin, contact during sex. You can have the genital HPV virus for years and not have any sign of it.
How HPV can cause cervical cancer?
Most HPV infections are harmless or cause genital warts, however some types can cause cervical cancer. Most HPV infections clear up by themselves, but in some people the infection can last a long time. HPV infects the cells of the surface of the cervix where it can stay for many years without you knowing.
The HPV virus can damage these cells leading to changes in their appearance. Over time, these changes can develop into cervical cancer. The purpose of cervical screening (testing) is to detect these changes, which, if picked up early enough, can be treated to prevent cancer happening. If they are left untreated, cancer can develop and may lead to serious illness and death.
Cancer Research UK
HPV Facts and information.
NHS Choices – HPV Vaccination
Why, how and when is the vaccination given and what are the side effects.
HPV Vaccine
This factsheet is for people who would like information about the human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine.
Breast Cancer
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK. About 46,000 women get breast cancer in the UK each year. Most of them (8 out of 10) are over 50, but younger women, and in rare cases men, can also get breast cancer.
The NHS Breast Screening Programme invites over 2 million women for screening every year, and detects over 14,000 cancers. Dr Emma Pennery of Breast Cancer Care says: “Breast X-rays, called mammograms, can detect tumours at a very early stage, before you’d feel a lump. The earlier it’s treated, the higher the survival rate.”
Find out more about breast cancer screening.
Macmillan Cancer Research
The causes and symptoms of breast cancer in women and explains how it is diagnosed and treated.
NHS Choices
Symtpoms, diagnosis, treatment, prevention & screening information.
NHS Choices Conditions and Treatments
See the NHS Choices Conditions and Treatments browser for an in-depth description of many common health issues.
These links all come from trusted resources but if you are unsure about these or any other medical matters please contact your doctor or pharmacist for advice.
Seniors
Seasonal Flu Vaccination
Influenza – flu – is a highly infectious and potentially serious illness caused by influenza viruses. Each year the make-up of the seasonal flu vaccine is designed to protect against the influenza viruses that the World Health Organisation decide are most likely to be circulating in the coming winter.
Regular immunisation (vaccination) is given free of charge to the following at-risk people, to protect them from seasonal flu:
- People aged 65 or over,
- People with a serious medical condition,
- If you are pregnant,
- People living in a residential or nursing home,
- The main carers for an elderly or disabled person whose welfare may be at risk if the carer becomes ill,
- Healthcare or social care professionals directly involved in patient care.
For more information on flu immunisation, including background information on the vaccine and how you can get the jab, see
Eating Well & Exercise – Helping you Maintain a Healthy Body
We’re bombarded with scare stories about weight, from size zero to the obesity ‘epidemic’. But a healthy body is determined by different factors for each of us.
NHS – Good Food Guide
Information on a healthy diet and ways to make it work for you.
NHS – Why be active?
Even a little bit of exercise will make you feel better about yourself, boost your confidence and cut your risk of developing a serious illness.
These links all come from trusted resources but if you are unsure about these or any other medical matters please contact your doctor or pharmacist for advice.
Cervical Screening
Cervical Screening (Smear Tests)
C
Most women’s test results show that everything is normal. But for one in 20 women, the test will show some changes in the cells of the cervix. Most of these changes will not lead to cervical cancer and the cells will go back to normal on their own. In some cases, the abnormal cells need to be treated to prevent them becoming a problem later.
NHS Choices – Cervical Screening
The why, when & how guide to cervical screening.
Cervical Screening Factsheet
This factsheet is for women who would like information about having a cervical smear test for screening. This means having the test when you don’t have any symptoms.
Cervical Screening – smear test film
Easy Read – Having a Smear Test
Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust is the only UK charity dedicated to women and their families affected by cervical cancer and cervical abnormalities. We offer a range of information and support both online and face to face 24 hours a day and at every step of the journey. We also raise awareness about how cervical cancer can be prevented and campaign for best care and treatment.
Information – We provide comprehensive, easy to understand information about cervical cancer, cervical abnormalities and their subsequent treatments all of which is accredited by the Information Standard and reviewed regularly by relevant medical experts.
Support – Our services include:
- An online forum offering women the chance to build friendships and build mutual support.
- An Ask The Expert service allowing people to submit questions to our panel of medical professionals.
- Local support groups which enable women to meet face to face with others also diagnosed with cervical cancer.
- A free helpline providing a listening ear to anyone seeking support or information.
We aim to help you understand every step of what you’re going through.
Find out more about how we support those with cervical abnormalities and cervical cancer.
Friendship – Through our work we aim to reduce the feelings of isolation through enabling our online community to build friendships wherever they live.
– See more at: www.jostrust.org.uk