In the lead-up to my pregnancy and during the full nine-months, my first point of call for any ache, niggle or strain was Dr. Google.

This probably wasn’t the best idea as it usually sent me into a full-blown flurry of chaotic panic. But I know I’m not alone. In fact, Google has told us that expecting parents google twice as much as non-parents.

So we’ve put together a list of the top questions googled before and during pregnancy. Some of them may even make you giggle.

1) Am I pregnant?

This is the most searched question by prospective mums. When we were ‘trying’ to get pregnant, I spent the day (and night) analysing every feeling and sensation and then jumping onto Google to see if other women had felt the same way and what it could possibly mean. Of course, buying a home pregnancy test and making an appointment with your GP is probably the more recommended route to go, but I reckon those super early signs will keep preggie hopefuls hooked to Google for many years to come.

2) Pregnancy symptoms & Early signs of pregnancy

These questions always pop up in the top five searched terms for pregnancy. It’s no wonder though, given the weird and wonderful things that women experience when they first become pregnant. Besides the more obvious morning sickness, some women get an aversion to spicy food, they get overly warm, they’re more prone to getting a cold or they experience a weird metallic taste in their mouth.

3) How many weeks pregnant am I?

Knowing how pregnant you actually are, is quite an important nugget of information. So many women turn to Google to see if it has the answers. Most search results reveal a week by week breakdown of what is happening to your body and to bub during your pregnancy. However, a blood test and ultrasound will give you a more definitive (and personalised) answer to this question.

4) Clothes For Baby & Me

Prospective mums love googling for baby clothes. The most popular searches are around when and where to buy and what’s on sale. We personally love the Bonds brand as it offers a great range of top quality clothes. Big W’s Dymples range is our pick for best value-for-money and we especially love the Dymples organic selection, which are crafted from a soft cotton blend that is organically grown.

Budget-conscious mums are also curious about cleaning and re-using baby clothes.

Most searches around maternity wear are about where to get good quality maternity clothes on a budget

5) Nappies

It’s no surprise that babies (especially newborns) can go through around 10 nappies a day. This is obviously a big expense for new parents so they’re often googling where to get the best quality and economical nappies.

6) Keeping Safe

I was a bit of a worrier during my pregnancy and pretty much researched every action I did before doing it, just to make sure I was being safe.

Some of the more popular Google queries that mums stress about are:

Can I sleep on my back?
Can I wear high heels?
Can I fly during pregnancy?
Can I ride a horse while pregnant?
Can I go on a rollercoaster?

7) Cravings

Delving into google searches identifies some rather odd cravings that women experience during pregnancy.

The most common cravings for Aussie pregnant women are: Salt ; Chocolate ; Ice ; Apples ; Avocado and Spicy Food.

8) Food

There is quite a long list of foods to stay away from while you’re pregnant so it’s no wonder that women are crazily googling what they can and can’t eat.

The most popular food-related searches are:

Can I eat cream cheese when pregnant?
Can pregnant women eat prawns?
Can pregnant women eat bacon?
Is it safe to eat sour cream during pregnancy?
Can pregnant women eat feta cheese?

and a few more unusual ones:

Can I eat cheesecake during pregnancy?
Can pregnant women eat egg?
Is it safe to eat Indian Mango pickle when I’m pregnant?
Can I eat Ferrero Rocher during pregnancy?

9) Stretchmarks

Preventing and avoiding stretch marks are top of mind of pregnant women all over the world. This is always one of the top Google searches on pregnancy.

Stretchmarks are generally part and parcel of baking another human being in your body. Don’t expect your body to immediately ‘bounce back’ after delivery but you can use a variety of specialised creams that can help minimise stretch marks. Even if your body does go back to its pre-pregnancy shape, most women will still have stretch marks that may not fade. Celebrate these changes and don’t be shy to wear them like a supermum badge.

10) Did my waters break?

During one of my pregnancies, my waters did actually break and I was one of those women reaching for my phone at 2am in the morning hoping that the all-knowing Dr. Google would give me the answers. This is consistently a top search term for pregnant mums and it’s no wonder, given what generally happens next after your waters break (ie giving birth). My advice – put down that phone, call your doctor, midwife or hospital and get ready to meet your precious little one.

What did you Google while you were pregnant? Tell us in the comments below.

This article is proudly brought to you in partnership with Big W, the one-stop-shop for everything Baby, new Mums and their homes.