It’s safe to use paracetamol to control mild to moderate pain during pregnancy. Avoid non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen and aspirin while pregnant.

Some types of prescription pain medication cannot be taken during pregnancy, and others should be used carefully. Consult your doctor about whether it’s safe to continue using prescription pain relief while you are pregnant.

Most mothers gain between 11.5kg and 16kg during pregnancy. The amount of weight you should expect to gain depends on how much you weighed before your pregnancy:

• If you were underweight, you should gain 5-18kg
• If you were a healthy weight, you should gain 5-16kg
• If you were overweight, you should gain 7-11.5kg

It’s normal and healthy to gain some weight while pregnant. Gaining more weight than is recommended can increase the risk of complications during pregnancy. Consult your doctor to find out how much weight gain is normal for you.

Daily exercise is an important part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle while pregnant. You should aim to do 30 minutes per day of moderate aerobic and strength training exercise. The goal is to maintain a good level of fitness, rather than trying to achieve peak performance.

If you don’t already have an exercise routine then it’s a good idea to start slow, with 10-15 minutes of exercise per day. You can add 5 minutes at a time and work your way up. Our pregnancy classes includes plenty of exercises you can do to improve your health during pregnancy.

Strenuous sports and exercises should be avoided while pregnant, especially if there’s a risk of falling or injuring your abdomen. Avoid activities such as gymnastics, skiing, mountain biking, and contact sports like soccer, football and basketball.

It’s normal to feel emotional before, during and after pregnancy, and it’s common to experience concerns or anxiety about your baby. Because of this, it’s important to monitor your mental health and wellbeing. Take note of symptoms like:

• Feeling consistently sad or worried for weeks at a time
• A loss of interest in activities you enjoy
• Negative thoughts that impact your ability to function normally
• Feeling anxious or worried most of the time
• Panic attacks or obsessive compulsive behaviours

If you are concerned about your mental health then help is available. You can also support your mental wellbeing with regular, healthy meals, 30 minutes per day of exercise, and by making connections with other expectant parents.

If you need support you can talk to your partner, doctor, or foundations such as Beyond Blue and PANDA (Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia).