Most people readily accept the notion that being pregnant can be a right hassle. Quite apart from the morning sickness, exhaustion, and strange cravings, there’s the endless list of things you can and can’t do; things you can and can’t wear, which varies widely depending on who’s doing the telling. But with a little common sense, and our handy guide below, you can enjoy a more chilled-out 9 months…

Drinking during pregnancy is a divisive issue, with some experts advising complete abstinence, while others say two or three units once or twice a week is unlikely to do any harm. Alcohol certainly crosses the placenta, so staying off it would seem to be the wisest course of action. But then again, how many people know they’re pregnant within the first few weeks? Many will continue to drink during this crucial early development, completely unaware that they’re carrying.

Smoking, on the other hand, is universally agreed to be a terrible idea during pregnancy. It lowers birthweight, increases premature births and birth defects, as well as making miscarriage more likely. If you want to be sure of avoiding related complications, quit the fags.

Food is a tricky one. Your cravings go haywire during pregnancy, but it’s important to avoid certain foods – essentially things with live bacterial cultures (whether intentionally grown or at risk of growing), or high toxin levels (for instance, mercury-containing marlin and other fish). So blue cheese, pate, raw eggs, raw meat, swordfish, shark and shellfish are out. Hard cheese is fine, as are other types of fish, including tuna (although this still carries a certain mercury-risk, so best to stick to twice a week). Starchy foods are excellent, especially things like wholegrains, pulses, rice, fruit and vegetables.

Knowing what to wear during pregnancy is one of those considerations you don’t want to agonize over. You want to be comfortable, first and foremost, whilst retaining your sense of style and even glamour. New Look has a pretty good range of maternity clothes – visit their website to check it out, and start enjoying your pregnancy.