First Trimester Pregnancy To-Do List
If you're pregnant, there are so many things to remember to do—when to schedule your first doctor's appointment, what vitamins to take, or whether you can use certain medications—the list goes on and on. But don't worry, we've got you covered with a pregnancy to-do list that will make your life much easier!
With our easy-to-use pregnancy checklist by trimester, you can stay on top of all the things you need to get done during this exciting time.
First Month Pregnancy Checklist
The first month of pregnancy is an exciting time. There’s not much that you need to do during this month; however, if you’re actively trying to get pregnant or think you might be, start on this TTC (Trying To Conceive) checklist:
- Begin taking prenatal vitamins and supplements, especially folic acid. It helps prevent neural tube defects (NTDs) and other problems in your baby’s development. NTDs are a group of birth defects that affect the brain and spinal cord. They occur when the neural tube fails to close properly during fetal development, resulting in incomplete brain and spine formation.
- Go for a preconception checkup. This is an important step toward preparing yourself for pregnancy by making sure you’re healthy and ready to start growing a new person inside of you.
- Make an appointment with your healthcare provider and get the recommended immunizations, e.g., chickenpox, German measles, tetanus, etc.
- Stop drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes, and taking recreational drugs.
- Eat healthy meals every day! Include plenty of fruits, veggies, whole grains, low-fat dairy products, lean proteins like chicken or fish, and healthy fats like olive oil or avocado oil in your diet.
- Talk to your doctor about exercise during pregnancy.
- Make sure you get enough rest in the first month—you'll need it!
- Find out how your health insurance covers prenatal care and delivery. Your insurance company should have information on its website about what’s covered by its plans. But you can also call them directly to ask questions about their services and policies.
Second Month Pregnancy Checklist
- Tell your partner the good news if you haven’t already!
- It's time to find an OB/GYN or other prenatal care provider. The best way to do this is by asking friends, family members, and coworkers who they trust with their health during pregnancy.
- Schedule your first prenatal checkup. This should happen around week eight or nine of your pregnancy; but if you have any concerns about potential problems with your pregnancy at any point before then, call your doctor immediately.
- Make sure that any medications you’re taking are safe for pregnancy. Talk to your doctor about any prescription drugs you’re taking and discuss any over-the-counter remedies you might be interested in trying.
- Remember to stock up on saltines, ginger ale, and snacks—morning sickness can be brutal!
- If you're not already saving for your child's future and education, we urge you to consider starting a savings plan. From diapers and formula to clothes and toys, babies are expensive.
Third Month Pregnancy Checklist
- First, consult your doctor about the prenatal testing that's right for you.
- Next, have your nuchal translucency screening done between weeks 10 and 12 of pregnancy. Nuchal translucency screening is a prenatal test that looks for indications of Down syndrome and other chromosomal abnormalities.
- Start buying things for yourself that will help you feel more comfortable during pregnancy and after the baby is born (i.e., maternity clothes, nursing bras, stretchy pants).
- Research different diapering options. How to choose between cloth diapers vs. disposables? Disposables are cheaper upfront; however, cloth diapers are more economical in the long run. Plus, cloth diapers can last for more than one child when properly cared for. There are also many types of cloth diapers available for different budgets and lifestyles, such as training diapers, diaper covers, prefolds, flats, all-in-one cloth diapers, etc.
- See your dentist! During pregnancy, women are more likely to develop gum problems, so make sure to make an appointment with your dentist.
- Go to your next doctor's appointment, and ask them about any new symptoms.
Second Trimester Pregnancy To-Do List
Fourth Month Pregnancy Checklist
- It’s normally around this time that most people start to share their pregnancy with the world. It's time to share your wonderful news with your friends and family!
- Bump photo! Or, if you're not into taking pictures, that's also okay! Just enjoy the fourth month with your growing baby.
- Find out the baby's sex! Finding out you’re having a boy or girl can be fun—but it’s also nice to be surprised when the baby is born, if that’s what you prefer. Talk with your partner and decide what feels right for you.
- Get started on creating a registry with all the baby essentials, like diapers, wipes, swaddle blankets, wet/dry bags, etc. (You can find some great ones on Nicki's Diapers.)
- Consider coming up with a plan for your little one's gender reveal party—are you going to have a cake, or maybe balloons? Whatever it is, make sure it's memorable! (If you want to be surprised, skip this step.)
- Look into your company's maternity leave policy. It's never too early to find out your rights, or ask a supervisor for clarification.
- Start doing kegel exercises—they're great for helping to prepare for labor and delivery!
- Go see your doctor for your regular checkup.
Fifth Month Pregnancy Checklist
- Seek out childbirth and breastfeeding classes. These classes can give you a leg up when the big day arrives.
- Research different childcare options in your area. Your baby needs someone to help care for them while you're at work, and childcare can be expensive, so make sure you know what options are available in your area before making any decisions. There are many different types of childcare options available; for instance, traditional daycare centers, nanny services, or family members who can watch over the baby while they're at work.
- Go for your mid-pregnancy ultrasound at 20 weeks! This will give you an idea of how your little one is developing, and how big or small they’re growing.
- Pick out your favorite names for your little bundle of joy. When you find one that speaks to you, write it down and keep it somewhere safe until delivery.
- Start designing the nursery of your dreams. Consider researching green nursery ideas, and talk to a professional designer about color schemes, lighting, and furniture for your baby's room.
- Go see your doctor for your regular checkup.
Sixth Month Pregnancy Checklist
- Make an appointment for your oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). This is also known as a glucose screening, a way of checking whether you have gestational diabetes. If you do have it, it's important to get treatment right away so that your baby doesn't suffer any health problems later on in life.
- Look for a good pediatrician and make an appointment with one—even if you don't have an actual birth date yet! It's important to have a pediatrician chosen before the baby arrives so that they'll be able to see them quickly after birth and provide advice on how best to care for them during those first few months.
- Update your beneficiary designations for IRAs, 401(k)s, pensions, life insurance, and other plans.
- Complete your baby registry and tell your friends and family exactly what you want at the baby shower.
- Plan or help your family/friends plan out the details of your baby shower. For example, decide on the date, host, location, number of guests, and anything else you want to include.
- See your doctor for your regular checkup.
Third Trimester Pregnancy To-Do List
Seventh Month Pregnancy Checklist
- Make the most of your baby shower celebration and write thank-you notes for your baby shower gifts.
- Prepare your birth plan! This will help the doctor and nurses know how you want things to go when you're in labor.
- See your doctor for your regular checkup twice this month. Once you’ve entered your third trimester, you’ll be seeing the doc every two weeks.
- Make your house safe for a baby. Baby-proofing the house is a great way to ensure your little one stays safe and sound while you're not looking.
- Make the transition to side-sleeping, as it will be easier on your body and baby.
- Set up the nursery! Ensure you’ve all the necessary supplies for your baby's nursery (i.e., crib, changing pads, table, etc.). Get inspired by browsing through tons of our clever and simple changing table organizing ideas.
- Think about how you want to tell people about your child's birth—by phone, email, or text message.
Eighth Month Pregnancy Checklist
- See your doctor for your regular checkup. Remember—you’ll see the doc every two weeks once you enter your third trimester, from weeks 28-36 of pregnancy.
- Have your Group B Strep (GBS) test at around 35-37 weeks of pregnancy. The Group B Strep (GBS) test is a simple test to determine whether you have this bacteria in your body. It's not usually harmful to adults, but it can cause serious infections in newborns.
- Talk with your doctor about the different medical tests that will be done on your baby at birth, and ask if there are any extras you can have done.
- Pack a first aid kit specifically for your child, containing any special medications or products.
- Get your baby's car seat and install it; then have it inspected by a certified technician. Skip this step if you already have a car seat installed for other kids.
- Don’t be shy about asking a friend or family member to help clean your house. Getting ready for the final push can be a lot of work. Wash your baby’s clothes and sheets, and don’t forget to prep cloth diapers before using them—they must be washed before use. This will make your cloth diapers more absorbent and soft.
- Do a little meal planning and cook a few meals to put in the freezer now. One less dinner to make in a hurry later!
Ninth Month Pregnancy Checklist
- See your doctor for your regular checkup. You’ll see the doc weekly from week 36 of pregnancy until delivery.
- Pack a bag with things you and your partner will need during your stay in the hospital, as well as all the baby essentials. For instance, change of clothes, cloth diapers for newborns, toiletries, snacks, cell phone chargers, etc.
- If you have other children or pets, ask a relative or friend who's available to watch them while you're in labor.
- Prepare a list of people who should be informed when your baby is coming and who will do so.
- If your doctor recommends it, take a non-stress test and do a biophysical profile.
- Take these last few days of your pregnancy to relax and enjoy the experience of carrying your baby.
The Takeaway For Our Pregnancy Checklist By Month
This isn't an exhaustive list by any means, but following these general guidelines should help give you confidence about what to expect when you're expecting. Feel free to add extra tasks to each section if they're relevant to you! Some things aren't applicable to every woman, so don't worry if something doesn't apply to you.
Pregnancy can be both a time of great joy and excitement, and a major source of stress as well. No matter which camp you find yourself in (likely both), it can be difficult to keep track of everything that needs to be done for the pregnancy. By cataloging each month's needs and providing a pregnancy checklist of steps to take, we hope to make your life easier when dealing with one of life's biggest transitions.