እርግዝና፣ ከወር ወደ ወር
እርግዝና በሶስት ደረጃዎች ውስጥ ምን እንደሚያልፍ፣ ቀደም ብሎ የቅድመ-ወሊድ ክትትል ማድረግ ለምን አስፈላጊ እንደሆነ፣ እና ወደ ሀኪም መሄድ የሚያስፈልጋቸው የአደጋ ምልክቶች ላይ የሚያተኩር ቀላል መመሪያ።
Finding out you're pregnant can bring a lot of feelings at once. You may be happy, worried, unsure, or all three. Whatever you're feeling is normal, and you don't have to figure everything out today. Pregnancy usually lasts about nine months, and doctors think of it in three parts called trimesters. Knowing roughly what happens in each part can help you feel steadier and know when to reach out for care.
The first trimester (roughly the first three months)
This is when your body begins to change, often before anyone can see anything. Many people feel very tired, notice sore breasts, or feel sick to their stomach, sometimes called morning sickness even though it can happen any time of day. A missed period is often the first sign. Some people feel almost nothing, and that's fine too.
This is also the most important time to start antenatal care, which means the regular check-ups you have during pregnancy. The World Health Organization advises that your first check-up happen early, within the first three months, ideally before you're 12 weeks along. Starting early lets a clinician confirm the pregnancy, work out your due date, and check that you and the baby are healthy. Ethiopia now follows the WHO plan of at least eight check-ups across the pregnancy, so beginning early gives you time to attend them all.
The second trimester (roughly months four to six)
For many people this is the most comfortable stretch. The early sickness often eases, energy tends to return, and the pregnancy starts to show. Around the middle of pregnancy many people begin to feel the baby move. Your check-ups continue, with contacts around 20 and 26 weeks. At your visits a clinician checks your blood pressure and does simple blood and urine tests, and early in pregnancy you are offered blood tests for HIV and syphilis so that anything found can be treated to protect you and the baby. The WHO also advises one ultrasound scan before 24 weeks, which is a painless way of seeing the baby with sound waves. It confirms your due date, shows how the baby is growing, and checks whether you're carrying more than one baby.
The third trimester (roughly months seven to nine)
The baby grows quickly now, and your body works hard. You may feel short of breath, have back pain, swollen feet, or trouble sleeping. Check-ups become more frequent so a clinician can keep a close eye on you and the baby and help you prepare for birth. This is a good time to talk through where you plan to give birth and what to expect.
Healthy habits through all three
A few simple things help across the whole pregnancy. Eat a balanced range of foods when you can, and drink enough water. Rest when your body asks for it. Attend every antenatal visit, even if you feel well. Avoid alcohol, cigarettes, and khat, and don't take any medicine, including traditional remedies, without checking with a clinician first. The WHO advises a daily iron and folic acid tablet through pregnancy, started as early as possible, to keep your blood strong and help the baby grow well. In Ethiopia these tablets are given free at antenatal visits. Take them each day as your clinician advises, even on days you feel fine.
Warning signs that mean see a clinician
Most pregnancies go well, but some signs need quick attention. Go to a health facility without waiting if you have any of these:
- Bleeding from the vagina
- Severe stomach or belly pain
- A strong or constant headache, or blurred or spotty vision
- Fever
- Sudden swelling of your face or hands
- Fluid leaking from the vagina before your due date
- The baby moving much less than usual, or not at all, in later pregnancy
- Trouble breathing, or feeling very weak or faint
- Fits or convulsions
You don't need to be certain something is wrong to ask for help. If something feels off, it's always okay to check.
A gentle word
However you feel about this pregnancy, you deserve calm, private support and clear answers. If you're unsure about anything, including whether to continue the pregnancy, you can talk it through in private with no pressure and no judgement.
You can ask our doctors about your own situation, and you can start without giving your name if that feels easier. It's free and private, and you'll hear back within a few hours. Message on WhatsApp at https://wa.me/251908182838, on Telegram at https://t.me/LetenaEthBot, or send a written question at https://letena.letena.et/ask/.