body a single sperm cell penetrated the outer covering of the egg produced by her ovary. For some reason, that one sperm out of the many millions upon millions our father had previously produced succeeded -- and that particular egg became you.

Until the mother feels the first motion, pregnancy may be more of a nuisance than anything else. All sorts of changes take place within her body; the mother is tired and nauseated and the breasts grow tender as they prepare for nursing.

The pregnancy may have been planned or perhaps is a real surprise. No matter what, it changes the woman's life as nothing else could. The father only knows what the mother tells him about the pregnancy; his physical preparation in the development was limited to one brief moment in time.

Their relationship may have been sweet, steady, strained or stagnant, but they are the parents just the same. Pregnancy requires an adjustment of priorities, adequate rest, regular meals and suitable working hours. Safe exercises become important ingredients in promoting the mother's health and growth of the child within her.

The quality of the mother's pregnancy can be improved by eating and drinking that which will provide her baby with the nutrients needed for optimal development. Overeating, skipping meals, smoking cigarettes etc. all can place strains on the developing baby.

It is best if the mother can discuss with her spouse the changes needed to be made and they can both learn about the special needs of pregnancy together. In this way the spouse can help the mother to take care of herself, encourage her to follow whatever plan she has adapted for herself and protect her from undue stress and overwork. Hopefully the positive changes made during pregnancy will be permanent so the child will learn sound habits by example as he or she grows up.

Pregnancy should be, and usually is, a time of happy expectancy and good health -- a joyful, fearless acceptance on the mother's part. The months of pregnancy are a period of training and preparation for labour and all that follows.

This means acquiring an understanding of what to expect; how babies are conceived, develop and are born; how different men and women think, feel and act when their babies are coming; how the mother's body adapts day by day to the presence of the developing baby within her and what fathers and mothers can do together to promote family health.

It is common nowadays for the expectant mother to stay at work much longer and it is therefore very important that early in her pregnancy, an expectant woman has information about diet, basic breathing and posture at work and at leisure. Later in her pregnancy she will be able to attend relaxation classes.

The mother should visit her doctor or clinic regularly where her confidence develops and instructions are given for her to follow throughout her pregnancy and labour. It is also important to have a clear understanding about one's desire to have natural childbirth.

Preparation for natural childbirth means daily practises of relaxation exercise so that the mother can prepare her body for labour, and learn to breathe and relax at the proper time during labour in order to help, and not hinder the natural process of childbirth. Jacqueline Lightbourne Chief Nursing Officer Department of Health.