Pregnancy and women's health
A missed period, tender breasts, tiredness and morning sickness can be the first signs of pregnancy. A home pregnancy test tells you more, and a health worker can confirm it and start your prenatal care.
Prenatal check-ups protect you and your baby. PhilHealth's maternity benefit covers them at accredited facilities, including many rural health units, so start as early as you can and bring your PhilHealth details. Urinary infections are common in women and in pregnancy, and they are easy to treat once found.
The guides below explain the early signs, testing, your prenatal visits and the warning signs. Go to the emergency room straight away for heavy bleeding, severe belly pain, a bad headache with blurred vision, fits, or a baby that moves much less than usual.
3 guidesUpdated November 1, 2026
In an emergency, go to the nearest emergency room or call 911. Call 911
Guides on this topic
UTI symptoms: burning when you pee and when to see a doctor
A urinary tract infection (UTI) happens when bacteria get into the bladder or the tubes that carry urine. Common UTI symptoms are burning or pain when you pee, needing to pee often, and cloudy or bloody urine. Fever, chills and pain in the back or side can mean the infection has reached the kidneys, which needs a doctor quickly. A urine test confirms a UTI, and antibiotics need a doctor's prescription.
Early signs of pregnancy and when to take a test
The early signs of pregnancy usually start at about 4 to 6 weeks: a missed period, light spotting, nausea, tiredness, sore breasts and peeing more often. These signs can have other causes, so a pregnancy test (PT) is the way to know. Most home tests work from the first day of a missed period. If yours is positive, book your first prenatal check-up early, within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. In the Philippines, PhilHealth covers 8 prenatal check-ups and basic tests at accredited facilities.
Prenatal care in the Philippines: check-up schedule and free services
Prenatal care means regular check-ups with a midwife, nurse or doctor while you are pregnant. Start within the first 12 weeks and have at least 8 check-ups before birth. They find problems like high blood pressure, anaemia, diabetes and infections early, often before you feel anything. As of November 2026, PhilHealth covers check-ups, routine tests, two ultrasounds and supplements at no cost at accredited health centers, RHUs, lying-in and YAKAP clinics, including barangay midwife visits.
Common questions
Each answer is in the guide it links to.
Questions about your own situation?
Ligaya, our Pregnancy companion, answers in your language, free, any time. Ligaya is an AI agent, not a person: in an emergency, call 911.