Pregnancy & Antenatal Care
Most pregnancies are straightforward, and most worries turn out to be normal. This is the largest section on the site: a month-by-month guide, the symptoms that are simply part of it, the conditions that need watching, and the signs that mean you should be seen today.
What this covers
Care from before conception through to delivery. What happens each month, which tests are offered and why, the complications that can arise and how they are managed, and practical guidance on eating, working, travelling and fasting while pregnant.
96 guides on pregnancy and antenatal care
Written and reviewed over four and a half decades. Nothing here is a summary of somewhere else — these are Dr. Layyous’s own articles.
Month by month 10
- Pregnancy Month by Month
- First Month Pregnancy - 1 month pregnant
- Second Month Pregnancy - 2 months pregnant
- Third Month Pregnancy - 3 months pregnant
- Fourth-month-pregnancy - 4 months pregnant
- Fifth Month Pregnancy - 5 months pregnant
- Sixth Month Pregnancy - 6 months pregnant
- Seventh Month Pregnancy - 7 months pregnant
- Eighth Month Pregnancy - 8 months pregnant
- Ninth Month Pregnancy - 9 months pregnant
Warning signs 7
- First Trimester Bleeding: Does It Always Mean Miscarriage?
- Decreased Fetal Movements: What Every Mother Should Know
- Fetal movement
- Numb Hands During Pregnancy: Causes, Warning Signs, and Relief
- Pregnancy Warning Signs: A Guide to Recognizing Emergencies
- Pregnancy Warning Signs: When to Go to the Emergency Room
- Sepsis in Pregnancy: Causes, Warning Signs, and Treatment
Before and early pregnancy 3
Everyday symptoms 11
- 5 Ways to Ease Back Pain During Pregnancy
- 7 Gentle Skin Care Tips for a Healthy Pregnancy Glow
- Best Sleeping Positions During Pregnancy
- Constipation During Pregnancy: Causes, Relief, and Prevention Tips
- Heartburn During Pregnancy: Causes, Symptoms, and Relief Tips
- Nausea and vomiting during pregnancy or hyperemesis gravidarum
- Oral Health During Pregnancy: Why Your Dental Care Matters
- Piles (Hemorrhoids) in Pregnancy: Causes, Symptoms & Safe Treatment
- Sleeping Problems During Pregnancy: Causes and Helpful Tips
- Swelling During Pregnancy: Causes, Normal Signs, and When to Worry
- Vision Changes During Pregnancy: Causes, Concerns, and What to Do
How your body changes 3
Conditions and complications 17
- Anemia in Pregnancy: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment
- Breast cancer in pregnancy
- Cerebral Palsy: Causes, Symptoms, Classification and Treatment Options
- Cervical Stitch (Cerclage) in Pregnancy: When It Is Needed and How It…
- Fetal Growth Restriction During Pregnancy: Causes, Diagnosis & Care
- Gestational Diabetes (Diabetes During Pregnancy)
- Group B Streptococcus (GBS) in Pregnancy: What Every Mom-to-Be Should…
- High bile salts during pregnancy- Obstetric Cholestasis
- Kidney Problems During Pregnancy
- Oligohydramnios
- Ovarian Cysts During Pregnancy
- Pre-Eclampsia and Pregnancy Hypertension
- Preterm Labor: Signs, Causes, and How It's Managed
- Rh Factor, Atypical Antibodies, and the Anti-D Injection in Pregnancy
- Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) In Pregnancy
- Thalassemia and Pregnancy: What Every Mother-to-Be Should Know
- Urinary Tract Infections During Pregnancy
Pregnancy loss 5
- Fetal Death in the Third Trimester: Causes, Diagnosis, and Support for…
- Ectopic Pregnancy: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis & Treatment Options
- Getting Pregnant Again After a Miscarriage: What to Expect
- Molar Pregnancy: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment
- Recurrent Miscarriage: Causes, Risk Factors, and What You Can Do
Higher-risk pregnancies 2
Tests and screening 5
- Amniocentesis During Pregnancy: What Every Expectant Mother Should Know
- Chromosomal Abnormalities and Pregnancy Complications: What Every…
- Consanguineous Marriage: Genetic Risks, Pregnancy Effects & Premarital…
- Steroids for fetal lung maturity
- Vaccination During Pregnancy: What Every Expecting Mother Should Know
Eating and living well 17
- 5 Tasty Breakfast Recipes to Help Ease Pregnancy Cravings Every Day
- 7 Most Common Toxins During Pregnancy that Affect your Childs Health…
- Cats and Pregnancy: Understanding Toxoplasmosis Risks and Prevention
- Coffee and Pregnancy: How Much Caffeine Is Safe?
- Fasting During Pregnancy: Is It Safe for You and Your Baby?
- Foods to Avoid in Pregnancy: A Simple, Safe Eating Guide
- Omega-3 During Pregnancy: Why It Matters for You and Your Baby
- Post-Pregnancy Diet: A Gentle, Healthy Eating Guide for New Moms
- Pregnancy and Eid: A Healthy Mom's Guide to Celebrating Safely
- Pregnancy Cravings and Food Aversions: What’s Normal and When to Seek…
- Pregnancy Diet and Lifestyle: What to Avoid and What to Eat
- Pregnancy Exercises
- Pregnancy Nutrition Guide: What to Eat at Every Stage for a Healthy Mom…
- Ramadan Nutrition for Pregnant Women: Healthy Iftar & Suhoor Ideas
- Sex During Pregnancy: What’s Safe, What to Expect, and When to Be…
- Smoking and Pregnancy: Risks and How to Quit Safely
- Weight Gain During Pregnancy: A Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy with…
Birth and delivery 5
Mind and wellbeing 3
More in this subject 8
- Cell-Free Fetal DNA Testing: Checking Your Baby's Genetic Health from a…
- Contraception - Different Birth Controls
- COVID-19 and Pregnancy: Risks, Treatment, Vaccine Safety and Side…
- Gender Selection Explained: How Sex Selection Before Pregnancy Works
- Heart Disease in Pregnancy: What Every Expecting Mother Should Know
- Interesting cases
- Pregnancy Advice: A Trimester-by-Trimester Guide to Staying Comfortable…
- Technologies in Modern Pregnancy Care
If you read four things
The finest doctor in Jordan — may God bless him and his whole medical team. A doctor in every sense of the word. I advise anyone planning a pregnancy to visit Dr. Najeeb Layyous. His manner is wonderful, always smiling, with the highest ethics; he gives every patient her due, and the patient’s comfort matters most to him. We had been to many doctors and none understood and treated my case except him. Special thanks to him and the whole team, and to Dina in particular — a lovely person. I recommend anyone considering IVF or pregnancy to visit his clinic.
Pregnancy — common questions
When should my first appointment be?
As soon as you know you are pregnant, ideally in the first eight weeks. The first visit confirms the pregnancy, dates it accurately, and picks up anything that benefits from early attention.
Which symptoms mean I should be seen urgently?
Bleeding, severe or persistent abdominal pain, a bad headache with visual changes, sudden swelling of the face or hands, fever, fluid loss, or a noticeable reduction in your baby’s movements. Do not wait for your next appointment.
How many scans will I have?
Usually a dating scan early on, a detailed anomaly scan around the middle of pregnancy, and growth scans later. More are arranged if there is a reason. Dr. Layyous will explain what each one is looking for.
Can I fast during Ramadan while pregnant?
Many women do, but it depends on how far along you are, your health, and how the pregnancy is going. It is worth discussing before Ramadan begins rather than during it, so you can plan safely either way.
Is it safe to exercise?
In an uncomplicated pregnancy, yes, and it usually helps with sleep, back pain and mood. Moderate activity you were already used to is the safest starting point. Ask before beginning anything new or strenuous.
Can I travel by air?
Usually until around 36 weeks in a straightforward single pregnancy, and earlier with twins. Airlines set their own limits and may ask for a letter. Long flights need attention to hydration and moving about.
Have a question about pregnancy and antenatal care?
Message Dr. Layyous directly. Most questions are quicker to answer than to worry about.