Excitement, joy, anticipation, and anxiety – these are just a couple of feelings you experience during pregnancy. It’s a beautiful time, but you may feel overwhelmed because you need to do many things before your little bundle of joy arrives. This is where a pregnancy checklist comes in handy!
To help you stay organized and ensure you don’t miss anything crucial during pregnancy, here is a month-by-month checklist to let you know what’s coming next!
Month 1
- Tell your partner the good news if he was not with you during the pregnancy test.
- Schedule your first prenatal appointment.
- Let your Gynecologist know about all medications you’re taking, including herbal or over-the-counter.
- Limit your caffeine intake to no more than 200 milligrams per day. Embrace a healthy lifestyle.
- Calculate your due date by adding 40 weeks to the start of your last menstrual period.
- You may feel exhausted in the early weeks of your pregnancy. So try to get plenty of rest and sleep to restore your energy.
- Stock up on saltine crackers and ginger ale as you might have to deal with morning sickness.
- Drink eight or more glasses of water every day to stay well-hydrated.
- Take a picture if you want to see the changes your body will make month by month.
- If you’re a smoker, try to quit immediately.
- Cut out foods you shouldn’t eat during pregnancy, like fish containing mercury, deli meat, and soft cheeses.
Month 2
- Start taking your prenatal vitamins. Nutrients like calcium, iron, vitamin D, and folic acid play a vital role in keeping your and your baby’s health in top shape at all times.
- Start avoiding hot baths and saunas because they can harm your baby.
- Take folic acid supplements. They are known to minimize the risk of congenital disabilities in your baby.
- Figure out what your health insurance covers.
- Say goodbye to alcohol for the next several months.
- Aim for at least half an hour of exercise 4-5 days a week.
- Sign up for an online club if you need support from other moms-to-be.
- If morning sickness has you down, try eating ginger ale, saltines, and Gatorade.
Month 3
- Stop lying flat on your back when exercising or sleeping.
- Having a baby costs a pretty penny. So sit down with your partner and plan your baby budget.
- Start researching baby products and nursery furniture.
- Shop for a couple of supportive maternity bras to keep your rapidly changing breasts in utmost comfort all the time.
- Decide how you will announce your pregnancy to family members, friends, and colleagues.
- Talk to your employer about how much time you can take off post-delivery.
- Schedule a checkup and cleaning with your dentist. Pregnancy can make your gums irritated and inflamed.
Month 4
- You’re probably starting to develop a little bump! Buy comfortable maternity wear online to accommodate your growing belly.
- Continue taking care of your body. Drink plenty of water, eat nutritious foods, and exercise regularly.
- Try organizing the nursery if you can.
- Decide if you want to know your baby’s gender.
- Start doing Kegel exercises if you aren’t already.
- Treat yourself to a prenatal massage.
- Make a list of your favorite baby names and share it with your partner.
- Make an appointment for your 20-week ultrasound.
- Get used to sleeping on your left side.
- If you’re a working pregnant woman, tell your boss about your pregnancy and know what maternity leaves involve.
- If you decide to know the baby’s gender before delivery, plan a gender reveal party.
- Create your baby shower registry.
Month 5
- Schedule your gestational diabetes test.
- Decide if you want to take breastfeeding or childbirth classes.
- Decide where the newborn will sleep and start preparing the place accordingly. You can either share your room with your baby or choose to set up a nursery.
- Finish all the pending errands and get organized.
- Decide whether you will breastfeed or formula feed your infant. It is highly recommended that you choose the first option and purchase a couple of easy access nursing wear during pregnancy. You’ll need them from day one of breastfeeding.
- Avoid sitting or standing for long periods.
- Begin baby-proofing your home.
- Start establishing a relationship with the person who will be delivering your baby. This will help you feel comfortable during labor and delivery.
- Decide where you want to give birth, whether at your home, hospital, or birthing center.
- Look for childbirth classes you can sign up for.
- Start decorating the nursery.
Month 6
- Decide how you would like to announce the birth of your baby.
- Hire a doula if you want to use one during labor.
- Create a birth plan so that everyone knows your preferences on the day of delivery.
- Examine your daycare options after delivery.
- If your feet have started swelling, go up about half a size on your footwear.
- Research the pediatricians in your area.
- Even though you’re getting bigger, stay active!
- Make plans to wrap up travel since you’ll have to stay at home during the last trimester. Consider taking a long weekend or mini-vacation.
Month 7
- Eat a fiber- and iron-rich diet to minimize the risk of constipation and hemorrhoids.
- Put your birth plan in writing. You cannot remember everything!
- Pack your hospital bag in case you go into preterm labor.
- Put the final touches on your nursery.
- Get everything set up in your nursery. You’re not going to do anything in the next two months.
- Take care of your pre-registration at your hospital.
- Write thank-you notes for your baby shower gifts.
- Arrange childcare for the day you go into labor if you have older children.
Month 8
- Figure out the shortest route to the hospital. Decide a backup route in case of a delay.
- Hire someone to clean your house.
- Wash all your baby’s sheets, clothes, and blankets.
- Install your baby’s car seat in case you deliver early.
- Start reading about newborn care.
- Cook a few meals to put in the freezer.
- Start counting your baby’s kicks. Tell your doctor if the kick count changes on a particular day.
Month 9
- Buy any last-minute baby items you don’t already have.
- Relax and wait for the big day! Enjoy every single moment of your pregnancy with gratitude and optimism.
- Stock up on non-perishable snacks and get some freezer meals prepared.
- Choose your baby’s name from the list you have.
- Enjoy as many quiet dinners with your spouse as you can.
- Enjoy the last few days of your baby being inside of you!
