Pregnancy: from the first weeks to the birth

Pregnancy is about 40 weeks of change, questions and advice from every side. Here you can work out your due date and your week, see when checkups usually happen, learn the warning signs that mean going to hospital now, and make a birth plan card the whole family can use. Guides written for Bangladeshi families are on the way.

Due date calculator Birth plan and emergency card

What to do now

Work out your due date and how many weeks pregnant you are.
Plan your checkups: at least 4 in Bangladesh, at about 16, 24–28, 32 and 36 weeks. Many doctors advise 8. Your doctor sets your schedule.
Ask at your checkup about the tablets pregnant women are given in Bangladesh.
Learn the warning signs, and save 999 and your hospital’s number in both your phones.
Make your birth plan card by 28 weeks: the hospital, transport at night, two blood donors and money set aside.
Sleep on your side from 28 weeks.
Have the hospital bag ready by 34–36 weeks.

Tools for this stage

Due date calculator
Your due date, your week, checkup windows and the Bangla date, with a calendar file.
Birth plan and emergency card
The hospital, night transport, blood donors and the warning signs on one card for the family.
Baby names
Girl and boy names loved in Bangladesh and around the world, with meanings and Bangla spelling.

Warning signs in pregnancy

If you notice any of these, act now: don’t wait for the next checkup.

Call 999 and go to hospital now

Call 999

Heavy bleeding from the vagina, or any bleeding with pain, dizziness or fainting
A fit (convulsion)
Trouble breathing, chest pain, collapse

Go to hospital now

Any other bleeding or spotting
Severe headache, blurred vision or flashing lights, or sudden swelling of the face or hands
Severe belly pain, or pain that doesn't go away; in early pregnancy, pain on one side, or pain at the tip of the shouldercall 999 if she faints
Fever of 38 °C or more, or shivering
Fluid leaking from the vagina before 37 weeks, or green, brown or bad-smelling fluid at any time
The baby moving less than usual, or not at all, from about 24 weeksdon't wait until tomorrow
Regular tightenings or pains, pressure low down, or a backache that comes in waves, before 37 weeks
One leg painful, red or swollencall 999 if she is also short of breath

See a doctor today

Being sick so much she can't keep fluids down for a day, or passing very little urine
Itching on the hands and feet in later pregnancy
Burning or pain when passing urine

Get help the same day

Thoughts of harming herself, or of not wanting to livecall 999 if she is in danger now; otherwise see a doctor the same day
Someone at home is hurting her or threatening herif she is in danger now, call 999