First Pregnancy Checklist | What To Do Week By Week

You’ve got a positive test, a late period, or that unmistakable feeling that something’s changed. Now what? A first pregnancy can feel like you’re supposed to know a hundred rules you’ve never heard before. This checklist keeps the early weeks simple: confirm pregnancy, set up care, tighten the daily basics, track what matters, and know when to call for help.

This isn’t a substitute for medical care. It’s a practical, step-by-step list you can use to stay organized between visits, ask better questions, and avoid the most common early missteps.

First Steps In The First 72 Hours

Start with the items that remove the most uncertainty. These steps give you a clean baseline for dates, meds, and next actions.

Confirm Dates And Start A Simple Log

Write down the first day of your last period and the date you got a positive test. Put it in your phone notes. If your cycles aren’t regular, note that too. This helps your clinician estimate how far along you are and choose the right timing for tests and an ultrasound.

Pick A Prenatal Care Clinician And Book The First Visit

Call an OB-GYN office, midwife practice, or family medicine clinic that provides prenatal care. Ask what week they like to see new pregnancies and what they want you to bring. If you need a quick overview of what prenatal visits usually include, see ACOG’s prenatal care overview.

Review Meds, Supplements, And Common “Quick Fix” Products

Make a list of everything you take: prescription meds, over-the-counter pills, teas, gummies, protein powders, skin creams, and herbal drops. Don’t stop prescription meds on your own. Put the list in your wallet or phone so you can share it at the first visit.

Start Folic Acid Right Away

Folic acid is one of the few early steps with a clear, widely used dose target. CDC notes a common recommendation of 400 mcg daily for people who can become pregnant, with higher dosing in some higher-risk situations under medical direction. Read the details at CDC’s folic acid guidance so you understand the numbers and the timing.

Cut The Easy Risks Without Turning Life Into A Rulebook

If you drink alcohol, stop now. If you smoke or vape, this is a good time to ask your clinic about quitting options that fit you. If you use any recreational drugs, tell your clinician so they can plan safer care. Keep caffeine moderate if that’s already part of your routine, and bring your usual intake up at the visit.

First Pregnancy Checklist For The First Trimester

The first trimester is mostly about laying track: visits, labs, daily habits, and a few smart boundaries. You’re not trying to “win” pregnancy. You’re trying to keep the basics steady so your body can do its work.

Set Up Your “Pregnancy Folder” In Five Minutes

Create one place for the stuff that always gets asked for:

• Insurance card photos
• Medication and supplement list
• Past conditions and surgeries
• Allergies
• Family history notes you know (twins, genetic conditions, clotting issues)
• Questions you want to ask at the next visit

Know What Usually Happens At The First Visit

Many first visits include a health history review, a baseline exam, and early lab work. Some clinics also schedule an early ultrasound based on your dates and symptoms. It’s normal to feel awkward asking questions. Bring them anyway. A calm, clear visit is easier when your questions are written down.

Build A Daily Routine That’s Easy To Repeat

A steady routine beats a perfect routine. Aim for simple repeats you can still do on tired days:

• Take your prenatal vitamin (or folic acid + clinician-approved supplement plan).
• Drink water across the day, not all at once.
• Eat small meals if nausea hits. Plain carbs and protein often sit better than big mixed plates.
• Sleep when you can. Early pregnancy fatigue can feel like jet lag.
• Take a short walk if you feel up to it.

Track Symptoms With A Light Touch

Tracking helps you spot patterns, not obsess over every twinge. Use a note app and keep it short:

• Nausea timing and triggers
• Food aversions
• Headaches
• Cramping type and timing
• Spotting (color, amount, and when)
• Sleep and energy

If you’re bleeding like a period, have severe pain, feel faint, or get one-sided pain that doesn’t ease, call your clinic promptly.

What To Bring And Ask At The First Appointment

Walking into the first visit prepared can save you a lot of back-and-forth later. This section is built so you can skim it on the way out the door.

Bring These Items

• Your medication and supplement list (names and doses)
• Any prior pregnancy records if you have them
• Family history notes you know
• Insurance card and ID
• A short list of questions

Ask These Questions

• When should I schedule the next visit?
• Which symptoms should trigger a same-day call?
• Which over-the-counter meds are OK for pain, reflux, allergies, and nausea?
• What lab tests will you order early?
• What are your options for genetic screening, and when do those happen?
• What weight gain range do you usually target for my starting BMI?

Also ask how they handle after-hours calls and what number to use. That tiny detail can be a relief later.

Week-By-Week Tasks You Can Actually Follow

People often want a calendar. Here’s a clean version that keeps you moving without turning every week into a checklist marathon. Use it as a guide, then match it to your clinic’s schedule.

Timing	Main Tasks	Notes To Record
Week 4–5	Confirm pregnancy, start folic acid or prenatal vitamin, list all meds	Last period date, test date, cycle length
Week 6–7	Book first prenatal visit, ask about early ultrasound timing	Nausea pattern, cramping, spotting
Week 8–10	First visit prep: questions, records, insurance, family history notes	Blood pressure history, past conditions
Week 10–12	Ask about screening test options and timing	Any prior genetic results in family
Week 12–14	Plan food basics: protein, iron sources, hydration plan	Foods that trigger nausea
Week 14–20	Plan activity routine you can repeat, check dental visit timing	Pelvic discomfort, sleep changes
Week 20–28	Ask about glucose screening timing and travel guidance	Swelling, reflux, baby movement timing
Week 27–36	Plan Tdap timing, prep hospital/birth paperwork list	Vaccine dates, clinic instructions
Week 36+	Confirm labor call plan, pack a simple bag, set newborn visit plan	After-hours numbers, pediatrician info

Food And Drink Checks That Keep You Confident

You don’t need fear around food. You do need a few guardrails. Focus on safety and steady nutrition, then eat what you can tolerate.

Fish Choices Without Guesswork

Seafood can be part of a pregnancy diet, but mercury levels vary by fish type. Use the FDA’s chart for practical picks and frequency at FDA advice about eating fish. It’s written for the public and it’s easy to follow.

Basic Food Safety Moves

• Heat leftovers until steaming hot.
• Wash produce under running water.
• Keep raw meat separate from ready-to-eat foods.
• Check labels on deli meats and soft cheeses if you’re unsure, then ask your clinician what they prefer you do.

Nausea-Friendly Eating

If nausea is running the show, you’re not failing. Try small, frequent bites. Keep bland snacks near the bed for mornings. Add protein where you can tolerate it: yogurt, eggs, beans, or nut butter. If vomiting is frequent or you can’t keep fluids down, call your clinic.

Tests, Screening, And Vaccines To Put On Your Radar

Every clinic has its own flow, and local standards vary. Still, most prenatal care includes a mix of labs, optional screening tests, and vaccines. The goal is to spot risks early and plan around them.

Common Early Lab Work

Many first visits include blood type and Rh status, a blood count, infectious disease screening, and urine testing. Your clinician will explain what they order and why, then follow up if anything needs action.

Genetic Screening Choices

Screening tests estimate chance; diagnostic tests aim for a clearer answer. Your clinician can walk you through what’s offered, when it’s done, and what the results can and can’t tell you. If you feel rushed, say so. You can ask for a follow-up call or a second visit focused on screening choices.

Tdap Timing

CDC notes that Tdap is recommended during each pregnancy, commonly during weeks 27 through 36, with timing that helps protect the baby early in life. Read the timing notes at CDC’s Tdap pregnancy page so you know what to expect when your clinic brings it up.

Symptom	What It Can Mean	What To Do
Heavy bleeding	Needs prompt medical review	Call your clinic now or go to urgent care per their instructions
Severe belly pain	Can signal a problem that needs evaluation	Call same day; don’t wait it out
One-sided pain with dizziness	Can be urgent in early pregnancy	Seek emergency care if your clinic can’t see you quickly
Fever	Infection risk	Call for guidance on meds and next steps
Can’t keep fluids down	Dehydration risk	Call same day for nausea management options
Sudden swelling, severe headache, vision changes	Needs urgent evaluation later in pregnancy	Call immediately; follow urgent instructions
Less baby movement after it becomes regular	Needs timely check	Call labor and delivery or your clinic per their plan

Home Setup That Makes The Next Months Easier

You don’t need a nursery right now. A few small changes can make day-to-day life smoother when energy dips or nausea flares.

Create A “Safe Staples” Shelf

Pick foods you can eat on rough days and keep them stocked: crackers, rice, oats, soups, yogurt, frozen fruit, peanut butter, eggs, beans, and electrolyte drinks. The goal is fewer last-minute runs to the store.

Set Up A Simple Appointment Rhythm

After the first visit, many clinics schedule follow-ups on a set cadence that changes as pregnancy progresses. Put appointments on your calendar the moment you book them. Add reminders a day before so you can bring questions and records.

Plan Your “Call List”

Save these contacts in your phone:

• Prenatal clinic main line
• After-hours nurse or triage line
• Nearest hospital or labor and delivery line (if your clinic uses one)
• Pharmacy

Body Changes That Are Normal And Still Annoying

Some early symptoms are common and still disruptive. It helps to know what’s typical so you don’t spiral, and it helps to know what crosses the line into “call the clinic.”

Fatigue

Early fatigue can hit hard. If you can, shift demanding tasks to times of day when you feel better. Short naps can help. Iron levels and thyroid levels may be checked if fatigue feels out of proportion, so mention it at your visit.

Nausea And Smell Sensitivity

Try small meals, bland snacks, and steady fluids. Ginger, cold foods, and salty snacks help some people. If nausea is severe or you’re losing weight, call your clinic. There are treatment options.

Cramping

Mild cramping can happen as the uterus changes. Severe pain, one-sided pain, fainting, or heavy bleeding needs prompt medical review.

How To Use This Checklist Without Getting Overwhelmed

Print this page or paste it into a note. Then follow a simple rhythm:

1. Each week, scan the “Week-By-Week Tasks” table and pick one action.
2. Keep your symptom log short and factual.
3. Before each visit, add three questions to your list.
4. After each visit, write down the next test, the next appointment date, and any new instructions.

If you only do three things this week, make them these: take folic acid or your prenatal vitamin, book or confirm prenatal care, and keep a short list of meds and symptoms for your clinician.