Pregnancy To-Do List Week by Week: Your Trimester Checklist
Reviewed by Safi Allah Khan
Medically reviewed by: Safi Allah Khan · Written by the Momi team · Last updated 20 October 2026
Quick answer: A pregnancy to-do list week by week starts with folic acid and booking your first appointment, moves on to screening, the anatomy scan and vaccines in the middle months, and ends with your birth plan, hospital bag (packed by about 37 weeks) and getting home ready. Your provider's schedule comes first; use this checklist around it.
The list follows the three trimesters. Find your week with How Many Weeks Pregnant Am I?, then tick off what applies to you. Appointment timings are typical NHS and ACOG schedules and vary by provider.
Your pregnancy checklist at a glance
| Week | To-do |
|---|---|
| 4–6 | Positive test; start or continue folic acid; work out your due date |
| 6–8 | Book your first prenatal or midwife appointment |
| 8–12 | First (booking) appointment; blood tests |
| 10–14 | Dating scan; decide about screening |
| 16–20 | Whooping cough (pertussis) vaccine window opens (NHS: from 16 weeks) |
| 18–21 | Anatomy (20-week) scan |
| 24–28 | Glucose test if offered |
| 28 | Start sleeping on your side; get to know your baby's movements; RSV vaccine (NHS) |
| 30–34 | Antenatal classes; birth plan; car seat |
| 34–37 | Pack your hospital bag; ask when to call in labor |
| 37–40 | Rest, final checks, know the signs of labor |
First trimester to-dos (weeks 1–13)
As soon as you know:
- Folic acid. The NHS recommends 400 micrograms a day, ideally from before conception until 12 weeks. Some people need a higher dose; ask your doctor.
- Vitamin D. The NHS advises 10 micrograms a day in pregnancy.
- Stop smoking, vaping and alcohol, and ask for support if you need it.
- Check your medicines with a pharmacist or doctor before stopping or starting anything.
- Find your due date with the due date calculator.
Weeks 6 to 13:
- Book your first appointment. ACOG suggests your first prenatal visit before about 10 weeks after your last period. In England the NHS booking appointment is usually at 8 to 12 weeks.
- Have your blood tests and talk about screening. See first trimester screening.
- Have your dating scan, usually at 10 to 14 weeks.
- Rest. The NHS says tiredness is common, especially in the first 12 weeks.
Second trimester to-dos (weeks 14–27)
- Tell your employer in time for your local rules. In the UK, that's at least 15 weeks before the week your baby is due.
- Anatomy scan at around 18 to 21 weeks.
- Vaccines. The NHS offers the whooping cough vaccine from 16 weeks (usually around 20 weeks) and the flu vaccine in season. In the US, the CDC recommends a Tdap dose in every pregnancy, ideally early in the 27 to 36 week window. Vaccine advice can change, so ask your provider what's currently recommended where you live.
- Glucose test for gestational diabetes at 24 to 28 weeks if offered.
- Start a pregnancy journal or bump photos. See how to write a pregnancy journal.
- Book antenatal or childbirth classes, which often fill up early.
- Plan your budget and leave, and research childcare if you'll need it.
- Notice your baby's first movements, usually between 16 and 24 weeks.
Third trimester to-dos (weeks 28–40)
Weeks 28 to 32:
- Go to sleep on your side. The NHS says falling asleep on your back after 28 weeks is linked to a higher risk of stillbirth.
- Get to know your baby's movements. Call your maternity unit straight away if they slow down, stop or change. See kick counts.
- RSV vaccine if offered (NHS: around your 28-week appointment).
- Write a birth plan and talk it through with your midwife or doctor.
Weeks 32 to 36:
- Fit a car seat if you'll drive home.
- Set up a safe sleep space for your baby.
- Practise timing contractions with the contraction timer.
- Ask exactly when to call or come in during labor. See when to go to the hospital for contractions.
Weeks 36 to 40:
- Hospital bag packed (see below).
- Batch-cook or arrange help for the first weeks.
- Know the signs of labor and what to do if your waters break.
- Rest. Tiredness often returns in late pregnancy.
Hospital bag timing
The NHS suggests having your hospital bag packed at least 3 weeks before your due date, because only about 1 in 20 babies arrive on their due date. That means by about 37 weeks. If you're having twins, or have been told you may give birth early, pack sooner.
| For you | For your baby | For your birth partner |
|---|---|---|
| Birth plan and maternity notes | Vests and sleepsuits | Snacks and drinks |
| Loose, comfortable clothes | A hat and socks | Phone charger |
| Dressing gown and slippers | Nappies or diapers | Change of clothes |
| Comfortable bras, breast pads | A blanket | Any medicines they need |
| Maternity pads | Car seat for the journey home | Contact numbers |
| Toiletries, lip balm, hair ties | Muslin cloths | Money for parking |
This follows the NHS hospital bag checklist. Hospitals sometimes have their own list, so ask yours.
Keep your to-do list in Momi
Momi follows your pregnancy week by week with tips and to-dos for each stage. Add appointments with medicine reminders, log your weight, and use the kick counter and contraction timer when you need them. The diary and weekly bump photo journal help you keep the memories, too.
Download Momi free on the App Store or Google Play. Free with ads; optional Premium.
Related: pregnancy appointment schedule · pregnancy week by week · 36 weeks pregnant
Sources
- NHS, Pregnancy vitamins and supplements
- NHS, Your antenatal appointments
- NHS, Vaccinations in pregnancy
- CDC, Tdap Vaccination for Pregnant Women
- ACOG, Prenatal Care
- NHS Best Start in Life, Hospital bag checklist
- NHS, Tiredness and sleep problems
Medical disclaimer: Momi and this website provide general information, not medical advice. Always talk to your doctor or midwife; in an emergency call your local emergency number.
FAQ
What should I do first when I find out I'm pregnant?
Start taking 400 micrograms of folic acid a day if you aren't already, stop smoking and drinking alcohol, check any medicines with a pharmacist or doctor, and book your first prenatal or midwife appointment. Work out your due date so you know which week you're in.
When should I pack my hospital bag?
The NHS suggests having it packed at least 3 weeks before your due date, so around 37 weeks. Many people start gathering things from about 34 weeks. Pack earlier if you're expecting twins or have been told you might give birth early.
What should be on a third trimester to do list?
Learn your baby's usual movements and who to call if they change, go to sleep on your side, have any vaccines you're offered, write a birth plan, ask when to call or come in during labor, pack your hospital bag, fit a car seat if you'll drive home, and arrange help for the first weeks.
When should I tell my employer I'm pregnant?
It depends on your country's rules. In the UK, you need to tell your employer at least 15 weeks before the week your baby is due to get statutory maternity rights. In other countries, check your local employment rules or HR policy.
When should I start buying baby things?
There's no right time. Many people start in the second trimester, when nausea has eased and energy is better. Focus on essentials first: a safe place for the baby to sleep, a car seat if you'll travel by car, nappies or diapers, and a few clothes.
Related guides
Track this in Momi
Momi is a free pregnancy tracker app for iPhone and Android that follows pregnancy week by week, estimates the due date, and keeps a pregnancy journal, weight log, kick counter and contraction timer in one place.
