Many women sense that they are pregnant even as early as few days following conception, while for others, a missed period is the first indication. Whatever type of "expectant mum" you are, you will probably want to do a home pregnancy test to confirm your suspicions. Home pregnancy tests are highly accurate. However, false positives can occur if there are hormones present from other sources such as fertility drugs or a recent pregnancy. While false negatives can result if there are not yet enough pregnancy hormones in your urine (in which case, try again a few days later). As soon as you know you are pregnant, it is advisable to make an appointment with your doctor to check your overall state of health.

So what do you do now? Along with the lifestyle adjustments you may need to make such as eating a well balanced diet, limiting alcohol intake and quitting smoking, the next thing is to consider where you would like to give birth.

Birth Options
Some women have strong preferences when it comes to choosing an obstetrician; some prefer to have either a female or male, others would like to have someone who speaks their own language, while for some women, it will largely depend on the recommendations of others. Whatever your criteria, finding an obstetrician should not be a difficult task in Hong Kong. Some obstetricians offer a special payment package that covers antenatal checkups and delivery. Your obstetrician will normally be happy to recommend a paediatrician and an anaesthetist to you.

For type of birth, most women also have strong feelings about how and where they would like to give birth and who they would like to have with them at the time of delivery. Home births are rare in Hong Kong as most doctors believe in having the accessibility of hospital emergency facilities should anything go wrong, regardless of whether the mother has given birth before or whether the pregnancy is progressing normally.

However, if you have your heart set on a home birth, consider hiring a midwife for your delivery. There are some independent midwives who will carry out this service but you must meet their strict criteria.

Choosing a hospital
When choosing a hospital, ask family and friends about hospitals they would recommend, find out what they thought of the way the hospital was run, birth options, antenatal classes and general staff support. Also, ask your doctor for recommendations and the list of hospitals that he works on. Always arrange to go on a tour of the maternity unit yourself.

There are many questions to consider when choosing a hospital, whether private or government:
- What medical emergency facilities does the hospital have?
- Are there doctors living on site? Is there 24-hour emergency cover?
- How regularly is the midwifery staff updated on emergency procedures?
- Will you have one-to-one midwifery support in active labour?
- Is there an anaesthetist on hand 24 hours a day who can give an epidural anaesthetic?
- Will you be able to make your own decision about the type and quantity of pain relief you want?
- Are all mothers monitored continuously in labour?
- Will you be able to move around freely during labour?
- Will you be allowed to adopt any position you want during labour and birth? Can your partner and/or relative stay with you at all times during labour and birth?
- Should you require a Caesarean section, can your partner be present?
- Does the hospital have a policy on breastfeeding?
- Can you give instructions for your baby to be fed exclusively on breast milk?
- Will you be able to keep the baby with you at all times after birth?
- If you are choosing a private hospital, is it covered by your medical insurance?
- Do they provide maternity packages? Are there any extra expenses that are not covered in the price of the package?
- What kind of atmosphere does the hospital have?
- How friendly and helpful is the staff?
- Does the hospital provide private delivery suites?
- What other "nice-to-have" facilities are there? (For example, choice of accommodation, meals and other facilities to make your stay more comfortable.)
- Does that hospital run antenatal, parent education and postnatal classes?
- How far is the hospital from your home?
- Can the hospital provide accommodation for relatives or older children?

Note: a full stay in hospital can mean a stay of three nights starting on the day of delivery, giving first-time mothers an opportunity to learn about looking after her baby. If you have a Caesarean section, then the normal hospital stay is five nights.

Antenatal classes
Antenatal classes prepare you for labour and delivery while also giving you some practical tips on how to look after your new arrival. You generally start these classes in you 28th week of pregnancy and they usually run for six weeks.

Equally important is the social aspect of antenatal classes, particularly if you are among the first of your circle of friends to have a baby. At antenatal classes you will meet other fist-time parents who are going through the same experience as you. Many parents continue to see the friends they made at antenatal classes after the baby is born.

Antenatal classes will provide information on how to recognize the onset of labour, when to come to the hospital, medical and non-medical methods of pain relief and the role of your partner in supporting you. Most classes will also discuss positions to adopt in labour and delivery. You can expect to see videos of childbirth, how to take care of your back and also different types of delivery, for example, Caesarean section. One class will usually concentrate on breastfeeding and on "life afterwards", such as how to care for your baby, how to keep your baby safe, prevention of cot death and accidental injuries, postnatal depression and changing relationships.

While all antenatal classes usually cover the above topics, the only different is how the information is presented. The quality of classes can depend on the instructor, so ask friends and relatives for recommendations.

Most hospitals will offer antenatal classes, some are held on a regular basis while others are held according to demand. They are usually held in the evening to accommodate working couples and mainly consist of first-time parents. If your are not a Cantonese speaker, you will need to check whether the classes are available in English. Many midwifery services also provide antenatal classes and private classes.

Ideally, it is best if you attend classes at the hospital where you intend to have your baby as the information provided will be tailored to what you can expect there. The classes will also give you the opportunity to become familiar with the hospital and a chance to tour the maternity unit.

Government hospitals
Hong Kong has a good public health system. Birth options at a government hospital however may be limited to the hospital's standard delivery practice. You should also check on whether you can have your partner present at a normal delivery or in the event of a caesarean section.

All your antenatal checkups would be at one of the hospital clinics, but may not be guaranteed that you will see the same doctor or midwife each time.

Registration at the hospital must be by appointment at the Obstetrics/Gynaecology department. You must bring your doctor's referral note and a copy of your partner's HKID card. For a full list of public hospitals, visit the Health Authority website (www.ha.org.hk).

Maternal & Child Health Centres
The government also provides free family planning services, cervical screening services, and antenatal and postnatal services for women of childbearing age at its 50 Maternal and Child Health Centres (MCHCs) in Hong Kong. MCHCs also provide a free child immunization programme. On discharge from hospital, you will be informed of your local MCHC or will be notified by post. For a full list of MCHCs and opening hours, visit the Department of Health's website: www.info.gov.hk/dh/telephon/mchc_e.htm.