Your Pregnancy Map: A Checklist of Prenatal Essentials
There are new things to do each month of your pregnancy and a lot of various prenatal care items. With so much to do it can be hard to know when to do what. Our list below covers the practical prenatal care visits with your provider, planning for your financial future, getting the nursery and baby gear ready, and planning your transition back to work again.
Want to add a bit of fun to each milestone? Sign up for Baby Center to see what fruit or vegetable size your baby is each week.
Helpful Things To Do Before You’re Pregnant
Ask your relatives about family medical history including birth defects, miscarriages, genetic disorders, and childbirth history
Start taking prenatal vitamins
Cut out alcohol, processed foods, and caffeine
If you’re self employed, apply for a private disability policy
First Trimester
Weeks 1-4
Confirm pregnancy
Share the good news with your partner
Begin looking for a care provider -- OB, or midwife (hospital, birth center, or home)
Interview providers and schedule your first visit
Check your health insurance coverage
Take care of your body!
Continue to take prenatal vitamins, consider taking a probiotic, get plenty of rest, stay hydrated, and eat plenty of protein and vegetables.
Weeks 4-8
Make sure your partner has short and long term disability
Make financial plans and map out the next year
Create a budget to start saving if you haven’t already
Weeks 8-12
Attend your first prenatal care checkup. Hear the heartbeat!
Decide on genetic testing
If needed: Chorionic villus sampling
Nuchal translucency screening (week 10-12)
Second Trimester
Weeks 12-16
Start planning maternity leave and postpartum work schedule, especially if you’re self-employed
Tell your boss about the pregnancy
Have a prenatal visit with care provider
Begin to feel better after the first trimester <3
Weeks 16-20
Start planning nursery and decluttering house to make room for baby gear
Research childcare options
Have a prenatal visit with care provider
20 week anatomy ultrasound
If needed: Amniocentesis and triple screen (week 15-18)
Weeks 20-24
Research and sign up for childbirth education classes
Prenatal visit with care provider
Weeks 24-28
Update or write will, including directions for child's inheritance and guardianship
Purchase life insurance
Update 401K and retirement account beneficiaries
Begin interviews with birth doulas
If returning to work soon after giving birth, start childcare interviews
Create your baby registry
Make sure you register for things that you can use as well. Download our guide: Make Your Baby Registry a Mommy Registry TooPrenatal visit with care provider
Third Trimester
Weeks 28-32
Interview pediatricians
Not sure where to start? Read our guide: Hiring a Pediatrician
Prepare your “birth preferences”
Cook and freeze meals for after delivery
Attend a childbirth education and Breastfeeding Class
Prenatal visit with care provider
First visit with birth doulas
Let us set up your doula interviews for you. Check out our services page to schedule a consult.
Weeks 32-36
Baby shower
Finish putting nursery together
Get car seat installed (or ready for taxi)
Pack hospital bag
Take the guessing game out! Download our guide: What to Pack in Your Hospital BagSecond prenatal visit with birth doulas
Buy any baby items still needed
Prenatal visit with your care provider (every other week)
Group B strep test (week 35-37)
Take infant CPR class
Send thank-you notes for gifts (start one week after shower)
Weeks 36-delivery
Weekly visits with your care provider
If needed: Non-stress test
If needed: biophysical profile
Rest and stay hydrated
Last day of work!
Happy Birthing Day!
Month 1
Pediatrician visit within first week of the birth
Schedule visits with daytime or overnight postpartum doula