Folic acid supplements are now well proven to help prevent neural tube defects, such as spina bifida and anencephaly. The dose needed is 400 micrograms per day, or 5mg per day if you have had a previously affected child or are taking medication for epilepsy. This is best taken for 3 months prior to pregnancy or at least as soon as you think you are pregnant - most of its useful effect will be before you even realise you are pregnant, so taking it beforehand is preferable.

Putting a pound-value on parenting might seem a bit hard headed but it does help to have at least a rough idea of how much more money you might need. That way, if your budget is tight, you will be better equipped to spread the burden or cut your spending. First there are the new clothes you'll need as your bump swells. How much you spend will depend on how soon you need or want to buy bigger clothes and whether you opt for maternity clothes or just larger sizes.

There are thousands of UK women who cannot have a child of their own because either their ovaries have never developed properly or because of surgery or chemotherapy. In my case, I suffered a premature menopause, which was very hard to cope with at 30 years old. Women like me can be helped by receiving eggs donated by other fertile women. Read on for more.

BabyJourney, a company that helps mothers and mums-to-be overcome emotional issues related to conception, pregnancy and birth, has introduced two new relaxation CDs to aid natural conception and enable calmer pregnancies. They are the first in a series of CDs designed to deeply relax listeners during every stage of motherhood. Read for more.

Some couples have found that deliberately trying to forget about conceiving for two or three months really helps their relationship. When sex has been something that symbolises and enhances your love for one another, allowing it to be 'just a job' can cause resentment and distress...and drive you further apart. The chances are you will conceive in time - most couples, even the ones still trying after more than a year, do manage to succeed - and it's important, for your future family, that you're united, and loving, as a couple.

Even for a normal, fertile couple, the 'per month' success rate is around 20%, so it is not at all uncommon for it to take some months to conceive. Overall, around 70% of couples will have conceived by 6 months, 85% by 12 months and 95% will be pregnant after 2 years of trying. Although for a normally fertile couple, the 'per month' rate is around 20%, as you might expect for couples where there actually is a problem, this rate is lower.