Ali Monaghan has a master's degree in midwifery from the State University of New York. Since graduating in 2007, she has delivered over 400 babies, and has a one-year-old son.

Having a baby can be a daunting prospect, with a bewildering amount of advice and guidance to absorb. Happy, Healthy Pregnancy: 50 Things You Really Need to Know condenses it all into 50 essential pieces of information, giving you insider tips from real-life experience along the way. From breaking the happy news to creating a birth plan, getting the best from your care providers to baby-proofing your home, and how to cope with everything in between (including your own mother) - this book will tell you everything you need to know about your pregnancy in easy-to-manage, bite-sized chunks.

Introduction. THE JOURNEY BEGINS: Am I really pregnant? A changing body. A baby in the making. What can I eat? Complete no-go's. Looking after yourself. Keep it moving. A working mum. Is this normal? Happy and relaxed. Testing, testing. Surprise! Sex and loving. When things go wrong. THE HONEYMOON PERIOD: Location, location, location. Genetics. The growing bump. Extra-special mums. Aches and pains. Natural helpers. What's a birth plan? The dream team. Can I do this? Big and slow. Early babies. THE HOME STRETCH: Third trimester baby. Checking it out. Breathless and impatient. Birth prep. Shopping! Pre-birth celebrations. The waiting game. THE BIG EVENT: Labour 1-2-3. And so it begins... Keeping it natural. Asking for help. The big push. The doc steps in. You did it! The best-laid plans... HELLO BABY! The golden hour. Checking baby. Breasts and bottles. New skills. A MUM AT LAST: Newborn mum. The first few weeks. All about sleep. Baby blues. A new identity. Glossary. Index.

Subtitled, "50 Things You Really Need To Know". A companion to every stage of pregnancy, including creating a birth plan, getting the best from care providers and baby-proofing the home. In easy, bite-sized chunks.