The first three weeks of pregnancy

You have to take different steps according to the age of your unborn child. So at the beginning I am discussing how to do this calculation.

From the first day of your last menstrual period your gestation period i.e. how long you have been pregnant will be calculated. Suppose your period started on the 5th of last month and ended on the 10th. After that you did not menstruate anymore. Then your gestation period will be calculated from the 5th of last month.

What to do in the first to third week

One of the first things that women notice is that their period stops.

The most reliable way to find out if you are pregnant is to get a pregnancy test. You can find out if you are pregnant by checking the urine through the strip while sitting at home. This strip is available in almost all pharmacies. You can also be sure to have a blood test at your nearest clinic or health center.

During this time some physical changes or symptoms may occur. Such as:

There may be tingling or discomfort in the breast, especially in the nipple. This is due to increased blood supply to the breast during pregnancy.
Increased blood supply to the vagina, or menstrual canal, can cause darkening or darkening of the vaginal opening; It is usually pale pink in color.
The amount of white discharge may be more than normal, there is nothing to worry about.
In 2-3 weeks of pregnancy there may be light or a few drops of bleeding from the vagina or menstrual passage.
During this time there may be some noticeable changes in appetite or eating habits, such as a sudden strong desire to eat a food or a sudden reluctance to eat a favorite food. Pregnant mothers usually have an increased interest in spicy foods or an aversion to eggs, fried foods or caffeinated beverages (tea, coffee, etc.).
You may feel very tired or exhausted at this time. This is because of the extra energy that is being expended by the body for the growth of your unborn baby. So you should take adequate rest at this time.

Contact a doctor or health worker at your nearest health center as soon as possible to begin your pregnancy care once you are sure you are pregnant.

Where can I contact for a checkup?

You can contact any of the following places:

In the gynecology or obstetrics department of the departmental hospital
At a maternity clinic in your district or city
No known gynecologist in the doctor’s chambers
Also nearby community clinics and health workers from NGOs like BRAC and Sun Smile will be able to guide you.

What are the things to keep in mind?

At the very beginning of pregnancy (a few days or a few weeks) you may not know that you are pregnant.

Here are some things to keep in mind:

You can take 400 micrograms of folic acid tablets daily from the beginning of pregnancy till the 12th week of pregnancy i.e. in the first three months. Folic acid will protect your unborn baby from other problems with the spinal bifida, including the neural tube (which later forms the brain, spinal cord and nervous system).
You can take 10 micrograms of vitamin-D tablets daily. Vitamin D will play a role in building baby’s bones and teeth.
Some foods should be avoided to protect against infection. The doctor will advise you on this.
Smoking and drinking must be avoided to maintain the health of the fetus.

If you want to take a multivitamin tablet to meet the needs of vitamin D or folic acid, make sure that it does not contain vitamin A or retinol. This is because excess vitamin A intake during pregnancy can lead to birth defects in the fetus.

You can get free folic acid from a government hospital during pregnancy.