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What can I do if my child is very overweight?

If your child is very overweight, there's lots you can do to help them become a healthy weight as they grow. Very overweight children tend to grow up to be very overweight adults, which can lead to health problems such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease and…

What happens during labour and birth

First stage of labour When to contact your midwives Second stage of labour Third stage of labour First stage of labour During the first stage of labour, contractions make your cervix gradually open up (dilate). This is usually the longest stage of labour. At the…

What happens if your baby is breech?

Babies often twist and turn during pregnancy, but most will have moved into the head-down (also known as head-first) position by the time labour begins. However, that doesn't always happen, and a baby may be: bottom first or feet first (breech position) lying sideways (transverse position) Bottom first or feet first (breech…

What happens straight after the birth?

It's natural to focus on your baby's birth while you are pregnant. But it's a good idea to also know what to expect after labour. Skin-to-skin contact really helps with bonding. It's a good idea to have your baby lifted onto you as soon as…

What happens to teen smokers?

If you start smoking when you're in your teens, get ready for stained teeth, wrinkly skin and a one-in-two chance of dying early. Effects of smoking at age 20 Nobody smokes their first fag thinking they'll be a smoker, but if you're experimenting it's easy…

What is a learning disability?

A learning disability affects the way a person learns new things in any area of life, not just at school. Find out how a learning disability can affect someone, and where you can find support. A learning disability affects the way a person understands information and how they communicate. Around 1.5m…

What is a Mediterranean diet?

A Mediterranean diet incorporates the traditional healthy living habits of people from countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea, including France, Greece, Italy and Spain. The Mediterranean diet varies by country and region, so it has a range of definitions. But in general, it's high in vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts, beans, cereals,…

What Is The Local Offer?

What is a Local Offer? In response to concerns from parents and others that they find it hard to access information about what support is available, the Children and Families Act 2014 requires every local authority in England to publish a ‘Local Offer’. The Special…

What services do contraception clinics offer?

Contraception clinics offer free and confidential advice and information about contraception and sexual health. You can get details of your nearest contraception clinic (sometimes called family planning clinic) using the sexual health services near you postcode search. Most types of contraception are free through the NHS. You can…

What should I do if I miss a pill (progestogen-only pill)?

This advice is about the progestogen-only pill (POP), or mini pill. For advice about the combined contraceptive pill, see What should I do if I miss a pill (combined pill)? The advice for a missed POP depends on whether your pill contains desogestrel or not. You can…
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