{"id":494,"date":"2026-10-07T11:11:00","date_gmt":"2026-10-07T10:11:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/thinking-of-having-a-baby\/"},"modified":"2026-10-07T13:17:27","modified_gmt":"2026-10-07T12:17:27","slug":"thinking-of-having-a-baby","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/thinking-of-having-a-baby\/","title":{"rendered":"Thinking of Having a Baby"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-getwid-section alignfull getwid-section-content-full-width caringcover gowide\"><div class=\"wp-block-getwid-section__wrapper getwid-padding-left-medium getwid-padding-right-medium getwid-margin-left-none getwid-margin-right-none\" style=\"min-height:550px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:0px\"><div class=\"wp-block-getwid-section__inner-wrapper\"><div class=\"wp-block-getwid-section__background-holder\"><div class=\"wp-block-getwid-section__background has-background\" style=\"background-color:#954B6A;background-image:url(&apos;https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2022\/08\/thinking.jpg&apos;);background-position:center center\"><div class=\"wp-block-getwid-section__background-image-wrapper\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-block-getwid-section__background-image\" src=\"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2022\/08\/thinking.jpg\" alt=\"Woman in the park\" \/><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-getwid-section__foreground\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-getwid-section__content\"><div class=\"wp-block-getwid-section__inner-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns alignwide are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-7387b849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:45%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group caringbox2 has-background\" style=\"background-color:#954B6A\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<h1 id=\"thinking-of-having-a-baby\" class=\"wp-block-heading has-white-color has-text-color\">Thinking of Having a Baby<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Thinking about having a baby can mean different things to different people.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns alignwide are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-7387b849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"gb-container gb-container-19f27c37\">\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-style-default\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"555\" src=\"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2025\/11\/YogaLivingRoom.png\" alt=\"Woman doing yoga in living room\" class=\"wp-image-5013\" srcset=\"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2025\/11\/YogaLivingRoom.png 600w, https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2025\/11\/YogaLivingRoom-300x278.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n<style>.kb-image494_d9c793-04 .kb-image-has-overlay:after{opacity:0.3;}<\/style>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-kadence-image kb-image494_d9c793-04 size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2022\/08\/yoga.jpg\" alt=\"Women doing Yoga\" class=\"kb-img wp-image-680\" srcset=\"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2022\/08\/yoga.jpg 600w, https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2022\/08\/yoga-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:50%\">\n<h2 id=\"while-this-is-an-exciting-joyful-time-for-many-there-can-be-challenges-along-the-way\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">While this is an exciting, joyful time for many, there can be challenges along the way.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These pages are designed to help you through this phase of your life.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-9fc99b2c\">\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One of the important things you can do at this stage is to start taking a&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/folic-acid\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"496\">folic acid&nbsp;<\/a>supplement. Maintaining a&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/diet-weight-and-exercise\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"497\">healthy lifestyle, diet, and healthy weight<\/a>&nbsp;are other issues to consider.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-8f3b5b11\">\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You may need help with things you can do to promote fertility and&nbsp;further information can be found on our&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/edinburghfertilitycentre\">Edinburgh Fertility Centre<\/a>&nbsp;page.&nbsp;There are also&nbsp;headings below with more information to help you through this phase of life.<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull lightbluegroup\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\">The information presented on this site is for general use only and is not intended for people living with any medical conditions who are seeking personal medical advice; it is not a substitute for the advice of your doctor or midwife. If you have any questions or concerns about individual health matters or the management of your condition, please consult your local GP or midwife. For general information on planning a pregnancy, see <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tommys.org\/pregnancy-information\/planning-a-pregnancy\">Planning a pregnancy | Tommy&#8217;s<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-d85d9088 fsb-style-show-front\"><div class=\"gb-inside-container\">\n<div class=\"gb-grid-wrapper gb-grid-wrapper-f51514ec\">\n<div class=\"gb-grid-column gb-grid-column-6c4b488c\"><div class=\"gb-container gb-container-6c4b488c\"><div class=\"gb-inside-container\">\n<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-e9483237\">\n\n<h2 class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-b83b069f gb-headline-text\">Healthy Lifestyles<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-fafa9082 gb-headline-text\">Advice on folic acid, diet, stopping smoking etc&#8230;<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-space-between is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-5723d6ea wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-fill\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-regular-font-size has-custom-font-size wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/healthy-lifestyles-to-promote-fertility\/\">Healthy Lifestyles to Promote Fertility<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"gb-grid-column gb-grid-column-6529f5d4\"><div class=\"gb-container gb-container-6529f5d4\"><div class=\"gb-inside-container\">\n\n<h2 class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-37d8d135 gb-headline-text\">Sexual Health<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-7342888e gb-headline-text\">There are lots of things that men and women can do to improve&nbsp;a woman&#8217;s chance of becoming pregnant.<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-3e41869c wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div style=\"--wp--block-button--width: 100;\" class=\"wp-block-button is-style-fill has-custom-width wp-block-button__width wp-block-button__width-100\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/sexual-health\/\">Sexual                       Health                                           Information<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"gb-grid-column gb-grid-column-b0968363\"><div class=\"gb-container gb-container-b0968363\"><div class=\"gb-inside-container\">\n\n<h2 class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-dadf0725 gb-headline-text\">Struggling to Conceive?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-d633cad1 gb-headline-text\">We can provide help if you are struggling to conceive. You can also speak to your GP about help if you are struggling to get pregnant.<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-3e41869c wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div style=\"--wp--block-button--width: 100;\" class=\"wp-block-button is-style-fill has-custom-width wp-block-button__width wp-block-button__width-100\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/help-if-you-are-struggling-to-conceive\/\">Help if you are Struggling to Conceive<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>While this is an exciting, joyful time for many, there can be challenges along the way. These pages are designed to help you through this phase of your life. One of the important things you can do at this stage is to start taking a&nbsp;folic acid&nbsp;supplement. Maintaining a&nbsp;healthy lifestyle, diet, and healthy weight&nbsp;are other issues<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":6279,"parent":0,"menu_order":1,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-templates\/widefeaturednoicons.php","meta":{"_gspb_post_css":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"class_list":["post-494","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"rttpg_featured_image_url":{"full":["https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2026\/08\/Planning-for-Pregnancy-with-Confidence-1-1.jpg",1920,1080,false],"landscape":["https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2026\/08\/Planning-for-Pregnancy-with-Confidence-1-1.jpg",1920,1080,false],"portraits":["https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2026\/08\/Planning-for-Pregnancy-with-Confidence-1-1.jpg",1920,1080,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2026\/08\/Planning-for-Pregnancy-with-Confidence-1-1-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2026\/08\/Planning-for-Pregnancy-with-Confidence-1-1-300x169.jpg",300,169,true],"large":["https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2026\/08\/Planning-for-Pregnancy-with-Confidence-1-1-1024x576.jpg",1024,576,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2026\/08\/Planning-for-Pregnancy-with-Confidence-1-1-1536x864.jpg",1536,864,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2026\/08\/Planning-for-Pregnancy-with-Confidence-1-1.jpg",1920,1080,false],"post_slider_thumbnail":["https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2026\/08\/Planning-for-Pregnancy-with-Confidence-1-1-1520x855.jpg",1520,855,true]},"rttpg_author":{"display_name":"NHS Lothian","author_link":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/author\/nhs-lothian\/"},"rttpg_comment":0,"rttpg_category":false,"rttpg_excerpt":"While this is an exciting, joyful time for many, there can be challenges along the way. These pages are designed to help you through this phase of your life. One of the important things you can do at this stage is to start taking a&nbsp;folic acid&nbsp;supplement. Maintaining a&nbsp;healthy lifestyle, diet, and healthy weight&nbsp;are other issues","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/494","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=494"}],"version-history":[{"count":31,"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/494\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6658,"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/494\/revisions\/6658"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=494"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=494"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}