Your Pregnancy Checklist Week by Week
Here's one tip per week for things to do to get ready for baby during your pregnancy!
By Babylist Staff
Congratulations! You're pregnant! You know there's a lot to do before you meet your baby—from doctor's appointments to baby showers to figuring out what stuff you need and what you don't. But it doesn't have to be overwhelming.
This list breaks things down into small chunks, giving you suggestions for one thing you can do during each week of your pregnancy until your baby arrives.
Pregnancy To-Do List by Trimester
First Trimester
If you haven't been taking one already, add easy to swallow prenantal vitamins to your daily routine. Get one with 600 mcg of folic acid—it's been said folic acid can help prevent birth defects.
If you have health insurance, look into how your plan covers pregnancy and birth before you go to your first prenatal appointment.
Make your first prenatal appointment for 8 or 9 weeks. If you aren’t happy with your current provider, ask friends for a recommendation for a new OB or midwife.
Start a list of your biggest pregnancy questions that you can ask your doc at your first appointment, whether it's what tests you might need to nutrition advice to how to deal with stress. They're there to help.
Make a drugstore run to stock up on a few essentials to help your through morning sickness: ginger or lemon drops, saltine crackers, mints, lemonade, ginger ale or Gatorade could help. Keep a stash in your bedside, in your bag or at your desk.
Odors making you queasy? Swap out soaps for unscented versions, and wash your clothes often (with unscented detergent, of course).
Schedule your CVS test (between 10 and 13 weeks) and/or your nuchal translucency scan (between 11 and 14 weeks), if you’re getting either of them.
Get a pregnancy book so you can start prepping for what's to come—from pregnancy health to labor and birth to postpartum.
This may seem really early, but if you are considering daycare, call a few to see if they have waitlists. This will help you plan when you need to start looking.
Decide how and when you’ll share your good news with your work and any friends or family who don’t know yet.
Second Trimester
Start preparing for your leave from work by summarizing all your duties to be able to pass them off.
If your clothes are starting to get tight, it's time start buying maternity clothes. (Psst, leggings are your friend!) Also consider renting some maternity items.
Baby shower time is quickly approaching. First steps: figure out who is going to host and where. Pick a date and help them with the guest list. If you're having a virtual shower, here's everything you need to know.
Schedule your 20-week ultrasound appointment, and decide if you are going to find out your baby's sex.
Try to start sleeping on your side—or even better, sleep on your left side. This can help increase the amount of blood and nutrients that reach the placenta and baby.
Sign up for childbirth classes at your hospital or a local parent resource center. If they're not available in person, here are online courses that can help.
Create your baby registry! With Babylist, you can add anything from any store to your registry, and even items like help and favors for meals, dog walking and more.
You're halfway there! Celebrate by doing something special for you—whether it's a nice dinner, a new shirt or watching your favorite movie.
Make your gestational diabetes lab appointment for between 24 and 28 weeks (remember, you have to wait at the lab, so pack some reading materials or download podcasts!).
Everyone wants to know how they can help after the baby comes. Make a to-do list for family and close friends so they know exactly what you need (you also have the right to edit it after your baby is born!).
If you plan to pump, find out if you can get a free breast pump through your insurance, if you have it, and which ones you are eligible for.
Figure out what you'd like in your birth plan and make a few copies to talk over with your healthcare provider.
Do your kick counts around the same time every day to figure out your baby’s patterns.
Third Trimester
Decorate your nursery! Nesting is real, and putting together things like artwork, rugs and sweet toys can be really fun.
Anxious? That’s completely natural. Consider a regular meditation routine to calm your mind. There are even some apps specifically for pregnant people.
Starting this week your doc will want to see you every two weeks, so schedule those appointments.
Pack that hospital bag. Pack a few things for baby, as well, and remind your partner or support person that they might want to pack a bag too.
If they're being offered, go on a tour of your birthing center or the labor and delivery ward of your hospital. While you're there, find out where to park!
Schedule your Group B Strep test for 35 to 37 weeks.
Planning to breastfeed? Sign up for a class and/or read Breastfeeding Made Simple before baby gets here.
If you have insurance, check with your provider to see how to add your baby after they are born.
You are going to be really busy because starting this week your doctor will want to see you every week. Plan accordingly!
Pick a pediatrician. Ask friends, coworkers and neighbors for recommendations. Your own doctor or midwife might have some people they like as well.
Make sure everything is squared away at work so your leave can be a real leave.
Make a “Baby Watch List” of everyone who needs to know once the baby arrives. Assign that list to your BFF, sister, mom or someone else you trust so they can let everyone know the happy news.
Have someone install that car seat! You can't take baby home in a car without one.
The hospital will give you lot of basic baby care items, like diapers and a nasal aspirator. But they have postpartum care items, too, like perineum cold packs or a Velcro belly band for your abdominal muscles if you had a C-section.
