Didn't we do well?
There are lots of ways to save money when it comes to buying new equipment for your baby. For a start, you don't need to buy everything in one go. Items such as highchairs and even full-size cots can be left until later.
Babies need clothes to wear and nappies to keep them dry. They need somewhere warm and clean to sleep, plus some form of safe and flexible transport, and a source of food. If you meet these basic requirements, you'll cover all bases.

What your baby needs
Clothing - four or five full outfits should be enough to start with. Don't feel compelled to buy all new clothes: considering how long each item will fit your baby, your might want to consider hand-me-downs.
Nappies - you have a choice between disposable and reusable. If you choose the latter, you'll need at least 12 and perhaps even 24. Babies get through six to eight nappies a day in the early weeks.
Pram or pushchair - useful extras you may want to consider include: a raincover, cat net, shopping basket and tray attachment.
Car safety seat - many of these double as carriers.
Somewhere to sleep - a crib, cot or pram top, plus bedding (but not pillows, as they're not safe until your baby's one year old).
Feeding equipment - if you're bottlefeeding you'll need bottles, formula and sterilising equipment. If you're breastfeeding and plan to express milk, you'll need bottles and teats, and a breast pump if you're not doing it by hand.

It should get better...
It's important to realise that 'morning sickness' can occur at any time of the day, although early morning is a common time. It's not unusual for a woman in early pregnancy to wake up feeling sick.
Feeling ill can start before you miss your first period, but it tends to get better over time and it's typical to feel much better after three months. Not everyone is so lucky, however: a very small number experience it throughout pregnancy.
It's believed that pregnancy hormones cause the sickness. These circulate in the body, affecting all your organs and preparing your body to sustain new life. One of the effects is nausea. While it's a nuisance, and at worst a severely uncomfortable condition that can lead to undernourishment and constant tiredness and weakness, there could be a good reason for it to happen.
Is Mother Nature intervening?
One theory is that your body's protecting the foetus from harmful substances. Women who suffer bad sickness, including vomiting, are less likely to miscarry, and the sickness generally stops when the growing baby's major organs have developed.
Another theory is that the body's 'starving' the mother, so more nutrients go into the development of the placenta, giving the baby a better chance of being well-nourished later on.

When am I due?
The length of your pregnancy is dated from the first day of your last period, even though you actually conceive two weeks or so after this date (depending on the length of your cycle). Your baby is likely to be born two weeks either side of the due date.
Check your due date and what's happening within your body week by week with our Pregnancy calendar. All you need to know is the first day of your last period.
Most women see their family doctor to arrange antenatal care, but you can book directly with a community midwife if you prefer.
Does the doctor need to confirm my pregnancy?
Not usually. If you've had a positive home test, you just need to tell your doctor. They're unlikely to test you again, although if you're very unsure of your dates a 'dating' scan may be suggested. This is an ultrasound scan done in early pregnancy to find out the size of your uterus and the embryo, to help work out how pregnant you are. This scan is sometimes done internally. If you're healthy and not experiencing any problems, you may feel that the scan is unnecessary; an estimate of your dates can always be made later.

Testing, testing...
So, you've done the fun bit. Now it's time to find out if you're having a baby.
Home pregnancy tests can be used two to three weeks after you think you may have conceived or on the first day of your missed period. Use one sooner than this and you may not get a reliable result.
The tests work by detecting the hormone human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) in your urine. A chemical in the plastic stick changes colour when it comes into contact with this hormone, so the usual way of testing is to wee on the end of the stick and watch for the result in the little window.
Pregnancy tests are very accurate as long as you use them properly. It's possible to have a 'false negative', when the test says you aren't pregnant when you are. If your period still doesn't arrive, repeat the test or check with your doctor.
It's also possible that a first pregnancy test will show a positive result, but a later one doesn't. Or the test may show a positive but then your period arrives. Your period may be heavier than you're used to, which may mean your pregnancy has been lost. This is a very early miscarriage, and is probably a way of protecting the body from hanging on to a damaged embryo. It doesn't mean you won't conceive again.
You can buy home pregnancy tests online, in the supermarket or at your local chemist.

The best known sign of pregnancy is a missed period, but there are other symptoms that can let you know you're pregnant even before this time.
Many women don't suspect they're pregnant until their period doesn't arrive. But there are other symptoms to look out for:
sickness and/or feelings of nausea
a strange taste in your mouth, sometimes described as 'metallic'
breast tenderness, tingling and enlargement
stomach pains
tiredness
constipation
needing to wee more often
going off certain things, such as coffee and fatty foods
increased vaginal discharge
Some women experience very light bleeding (called 'spotting'). This can make you feel as though you haven't missed your period.