Month-by-Month Pregnancy Timeline & To Do List

Today I want to share a few things you should be doing each month of your pregnancy to be ready for your delivery by month nine. This will probably take a “medical” slant (although I hope to offer some tips on a few other things as well) — since I am The Pregnancy Nurse® — but I hope you find it helpful. AND if you feel like I’ve missed something, please tell us in the comments!

A note on months vs weeks: We mostly count pregnancy by WEEKS, but as humans it’s much more easy to track by months…. so I’ll include your basic weeks with each month as well. Each month counts as about 4.5 weeks — in case you’re keeping track

AND, if you’re not sure how many weeks you are — I have a handy calculator in my pregnancy calendar post << that one also has some dates to keep in mind with testing, etc.

I also have a pregnancy planner/memory book that you might find helpful as well. It has checklists for a lot of these things too!

I also have a video option of this post as well:

Month 1-2

(up to week 9)

You may not know this, but your “pregnancy” starts on the date of your last menstrual period (and you’re clearly not pregnant on that day). Most people get pregnant at about week 2, and don’t find out until closer to 4-6 weeks of pregnancy — which is why I combined these.

And yes, that does mean you’re really only “pregnant” for about 38 weeks — in case that helps.

During this month your main goal will be survival and getting prenatal vitamins down. Anything else you do is a bonus. And feel free to send that to your partner.

Honestly, most people don’t feel sick or tired in that first month — but as the baby and placenta start to get bigger you start to feel it…. Fun fact though, I felt tired, but I never felt all that nauseated. You may get lucky!

Your placenta is building and it just takes a LOT of energy these first few months.

Tasks:

• Pick your obstetrics provider (I’m a HUGE fan of midwives — CNM’s, so don’t count them out)
• Get a prenatal vitamin, and start taking it (ideally you’re taking prenatal vitamins anytime you’re of a childbearing age and you could get pregnant)

Not sure which one to take — Feed your Zest has a GREAT prenatal guide here.

Month 3

(9-13 weeks)

Ok, you may be in the very trenches of morning sickness and again — just surviving this month.

Tasks:

• Hopefully have your first prenatal appointment
• Hopefully have your first ultrasound
• Get labwork done (this is important, including the STD testing)
• Ask your provider if you should be taking aspirin

Aspirin is a NEW thing — feel free to check out that podcast episode to learn more about it, or I have more info in this post on preeclampsia.

A few other thoughts:

What if you don’t like your provider? It is SUPER easy to change at this point. In fact, I don’t recommend paying your provider ANYTHING EXTRA until you’re SURE that you’re going to stick with them (some may ask for your copayment up front, but you can put them off early in pregnancy — although, you may have to pay a small copay for the visit, etc).

That first ultrasound? At that first ultrasound you’re usually checking for a heartbeat and checking baby’s size and dates. Babies grow at the same rate during the first trimester so you can more easily tell how far along you are before some babies get bigger and some smaller. I have a whole podcast episode on those types of ultrasound as well.

You most likely won’t be able to tell gender.

Some of you may also have an extra ultrasound for nuchal translucency or any other things your provider wants a peek at.

You may deviate from these plans at any point — I’m speaking just to the GENERAL public and what MOST pregnant families should be keeping an eye on.

Want to know more first trimester tips — check out these posts:

• What Does a Faint Line on a Pregnancy Test Mean?
• 5 Do’s and Don’ts of the First Trimester
• Sleeping During Pregnancy: Tips by Trimester
• 10 Things to Do When You Find-Out You’re Pregnant
• Considering a VBAC: What to do

Month 4

(13-18 weeks — starting your 2nd trimester)

This pregnancy is starting to get serious. Those first few months were about survival, and hopefully at this point you’re looking more towards the future.

Tasks:

• Keep attending prenatal appointments that are about monthly at this point
• Start to think about a birth class, start mulling your options — I recommend this one.
• If you’re on social media, follow some smart people. Here’s my favorite on Tiktok, Youtube, and Instagram — it’s a great way to dip your toe into the learning zone.
• If your provider recommends aspirin we recommend you start it by 13 weeks, so make sure that’s a priority. If they haven’t brought it up — mention it. Everyone should be having that chat!
• Figure out your maternity benefits at work, and possibly switch to a plan that will save you money if you can (and it’s the benefit time at you / your partner’s work)
• Now is the time that most people are announcing their pregnancy to the general public << that post has more info on what to consider when deciding when to announce.

A note on social media: While there are a lot of great sources to learn from online, there are also a lot of really poor ones, so be really mindful about who you’re giving your time, your eyes and your ears to.

Month 5

(18-22 weeks)

Ok, this thing is for real. I’m going to split this up into two parts — tasks for you and tasks for this baby you’re going to need to take care of in a few months!

Tasks for you:

• Your anatomy ultrasound should be happening this month (decide if you want to know the gender in advance — although they can’t always tell)
• Pick & purchase your birth class with a goal to finish in in the next couple of months. Some insurances will cover it.
• Keep attending prenatal appointments. It can be smart to schedule a few out so you have them in your calendar.

Tasks for baby:

While you can totally put a lot of these off, I think it’s smart to be thinking about what you’ll need and what type of budget you’re going to have. Please keep in mind that everyone’s budget and priorities are very different, and that’s OK too. I was very poor with my first baby, and had more money on my 3rd. Still loved them both an awful lot.

• Think about where baby will sleep (and if you need a full room for them) and what sleep space you’ll want (bassinet, crib, playpen, etc)
• It can be smart to start stocking up on diapers early on so the expense doesn’t come as a surprise (you can also hunt for sales)
• Sign up for some freebie lists to get some coupons to apply to sales as well.

While many people are anti-formula promotions, I think it’s smart (even if you plan to breastfeed) to get as many free cans as you can and just stock them away at home — just in case you need them. You never know and I think it’s a good insurance policy. You can always give them to pregnant friends if you find you don’t need them. Formula companies have promotional lists (I list them in that freebie post) and will send you some small free cans!

Month 6

(22-27 weeks)

Ok, this baby is a real deal. You’re liking feeling kicks and jabs frequently to remind you that they’re in there! Hello baby!

Tasks for you:

• They will schedule your glucose test around now — this is super important, don’t miss it (and don’t let social media make you think it’s not important).
• Solidify more about what your work’s benefits are as far as maternity leave. There is a chance you’ll need to take them early if there is complications, so this is important to know.
• Start your birth class
• Don’t stop taking vitamins & aspirin (if recommended) — these are still important!
• Make SURE your provider is a good fit, and you’re good with the hospital they deliver at (it gets trickier to change the further along you are)
• Now really isn’t too early to take a hospital tour — just to know what to expect, or decide what one is right to you if you have some choices (that post has some great things to watch/learn on your tour).

Tasks for baby:

• Make a list of the things you need for this baby. I have a baby necessities post you might find helpful.
• If you want to, now is a good time to start searching for these items on FB marketplace or at used kids stores. You can save a lot of money on these items and they’re barely used! Sometimes it takes a while to find the item you want, but many people score GREAT deals!

Month 7

(27-31 weeks — you’re in your third trimester now!)

Those tasks for babies just sort of continue. You don’t need to feel a lot of pressure to get all the things by now, but it’s smart to slowly build your stockpile, if you can.

Tasks for you:

• Now is the time to start kick counts — they’re super important and that post shares more about them.
• Appointments may seem boring, and often — but still important to see your provider and consider any testing they recommend.
• Learn the signs of labor and watch for any preterm labor signs as you go about your day.

Not sure what kick counts are or how to do them — I have a cheat sheet here:

A note on showers: I thought about putting a shower on here, but I know a lot of people won’t have that type of support (although I wish we all did). I recommend having your shower between 25-30 weeks if you’re going to have one. It’s just nice an early in case baby comes early, and allows you to get the other items you need.

Month 8

(31-36 weeks)

Ok, now it’s time to start building that nest for baby. Some people’s babies will come during this timeframe, but most people’s won’t (and we prefer they do not).

Tasks for you:

• Keep attending appointments
• For some of you they will order 3rd trimester testing. It’s important to know what it is, what it’s checking for and how the results may alter your pregnancy (and birth hopes). The 2nd lesson in here talks about it and I think that’s so smart!
• Finish your birth class this month. Online ones are great because you can review them. This one also has key points that are like cliff notes you can review before birth.
• Rest as you can. Things are going to start getting pretty tiring, and your body needs more rest (but may also make it hard to sleep).
• Learn about some of the ways you can get your cervix ready for labor – think about which you might like to try (if any).
• Have the items you need on hand for YOU after baby is born (pads, etc) — I have a list here:

A lot of people will say to have your birth plan ready by now — and while I think a good birth plan is awesome, really understanding your choices (and learning to make the best ones for you) is the key. Most often you really need a class for this. I also recommend talking to your provider about anything that’s really important to you about your birth — not having an IV, etc as early as possible.

Tasks for baby:

By the end of this month you’re going to want to have:

• A car seat
• A sleep space
• Some diapers
• They’re not necessary, but I love some burp cloths, because babies are messy — but you can use rags if you need to!
• A bottle (just in case) — formulas and bottles if you plan to breastfeed.
• A few onesies/sleepers (depending on the time of year – and how warm/cool it is)
• I’d also recommend seeing if you can get a pump through your insurance — many people use this company (although they will try to upsell you with classes, but that can take away from any lactation visits you can have afterwards, so I wouldn’t recommend adding them). This class comes with a breastfeeding class.

It’s smart to have the bare necessities by 36 weeks, just in case baby comes.

Want to know more 3rd trimester tips? — check out these posts:

• Mistakes You’re Making That Makes Labor Longer
• How to Prepare for Childbirth
• Pumping To Induce Labor? Will it work?
• 35 Weeks Pregnant Checklist
• How To Have A Natural Hospital Birth

Month 9

36-40+ weeks

Tasks for you:

• Try to keep incorporating movement into your life. There’s no way it will look the same as it did a few months ago, but those squats will serve you well as baby heads into the birth canal.
• Avoid thinking you’re going to go early — that’s a trap a lot of people get into and then are disappointed they’re still pregnant at 38 weeks, even though that is VERY NORMAL.
• Keep going to those prenatal appointments, doing the recommended testing, doing those kick counts. All of those things are important (and yes, it does feel like you see your provider more than your family at this point).
• Around 36 weeks they offer GBS testing — I’m a fan and that article has more on it. It’s just nice to know about. They may also offer to check your cervix while you’re there as well.
• Implement the things you’d like to try to get your cervix ready (start around 36 weeks).
• Review anything from your birth class you think you’d like more info on (or if it seems like you might need those interventions like a cesarean or an induction).
• Solidify work plans — when you’ll be on leave, for how long and what paperwork you need to fill out.
• Solidify copays — make sure your insurance hasn’t changed, and be aware of how much you’ll be asked to pay at the hospital (and yes, they will likely ask for some payment — you can’t refuse that).
• I recommend packing the basics in your hospital bag (I have a post on when you should pack it)

Many people feel like they should be having another ultrasound at this point, and many will — but it actually isn’t recommended if you have a low-risk pregnancy. You can always ask your provider though if you’d like a peek, just see what they say.

There’s also a LOT I recommend knowing and “becoming” (aka, confident) at this point. However, a good birth class covers that, I think it’s such a wise investment, and really preps you along the way!

Tasks for baby:

• Install your carseat or at least the base if you have a removable one. I think this is best for the partner, as it’s a whole-body exercise. Bonus points if you get it checked at a car seat installation event (it’s trickier than you think).
• If you haven’t already, think about a:
  • Stroller
  • Diaper bag
  • Any other clothes you need
  • If you’d like a swing or bouncer
  • If you’d like a front pack

I know it can be tempting to get ALL the things early on — but it can also be smart to think about what you REALLY want or need. Every budget is different, so just manage your needs and expectations as you can.

Ok, those are the basics I can think of. What did I miss or do you have more questions? Tell us in the comments so I can flesh out this article to be more helpful for everyone!