First Trimester Checklist: Early Pregnancy To-Do List

Wow, you are pregnant! Congrats, mama! A new baby is a fantastic thing. I am so happy for you and the pregnancy journey you are about to embark on. Welcome to your first trimester. Below is a first-trimester pregnancy checklist. This checklist and tips will help you enter your pregnancy journey off right. Check out all the advice on what to do when pregnant for the first time.

Pregnancy is an exciting time but can also be a bit overwhelming. There are so many things to think about and do, and it’s hard to know where to start. If you’re pregnant and feeling a bit lost, don’t worry. This simple first-trimester checklist will help you organize and prepare for the weeks ahead.

Pregnancy Checklist for First-Trimester

1. Breathe, Mama!

You will undoubtedly go through an array of emotions once you see that positive pregnancy test, which is 100% OK. I did not know what to feel when I found out. The feelings I went through at first were insane. First, I was happy, then guilty for feeling happy because I didn’t know the first thing about raising a baby.

Also, I was confused because I had already accepted getting pregnant wasn’t going to happen so quickly, and then it did. I was excited, thinking about decorating a nursery and everything I would teach this new baby. Yet I was so scared since it was my first pregnancy.

So that is why the first thing on the to-do list for new mamas is to breathe! All these emotions are OK and normal, and it will be OK! Just let yourself go through all the feelings and process this big news.

2. Tell your spouse.

When you first see a positive pregnancy test, telling your spouse is one thing to do in your first trimester. Of course, this is a no-brainer. But, how you tell them is a different story.

There are so many cute and fun ways you could tell your spouse you are pregnant, whether this is your first, second, third, or even fourth and above.

I did not do anything fun during my first pregnancy to tell my husband. I had taken the test in the morning while my husband was at work. Once he came home, I was still so emotional that I just blurted out to him, ‘I’m Pregnant!’ right before we went to bed.

We had been trying for so long, and I was so happy and scared; I just felt lost, so I didn’t have time to plan something cool, but I wish I would have.

For our second, I had my daughter, about 1 1/2 at the time, give Daddy a new book to read. ‘Hello in there! A big sister’s book of waiting’ was the title. He paused midway through reading the title and looked up at me; it was a fun way to announce the pregnancy.

My daughter loved this book and would request to read it all the time. It has little flaps that are mommy’s growing belly, and you lift them to see the baby inside. We had to tape some of the pages and flaps because she often read them. It is such a cute book; you can find it here.

No matter the way you tell your spouse, it will be special because it will be something between just the two of you, and it is AMAZING. You have created a life together!

1st Trimester of Pregnancy Do’s and Don’ts for your Diet

3. Stop any unhealthy habits.

Again, kind of a no-brainer, but yes, NO alcohol, NO smoking, NO drugs, and LIMITED caffeine intake. The risk factors are too significant for the baby. It is not worth it, so take care of your body and the baby growing inside and stop any bad habits you may have that could harm the baby.

Caffeine is OK in moderation. For my first pregnancy,  I did not have any at all. I completely stopped drinking coffee and only had decaffeinated tea. I loved this lemon ginger tea; BONUS, it is an excellent remedy for morning sickness.

For my second, I would indulge in a few sips to half a cup of coffee. Because being pregnant with a toddler in tow is ROUGH, mama needs a little caffeine.

You are allowed about 200mg daily while pregnant, which equals about one 12 oz cup of coffee—quite a bit. But, if you are an all-day coffee drinker, cut back. And always consult with your doctor first.

4. Reassess your diet.

Once you get a positive pregnancy test, you need to reassess your diet for the first, second, and third trimesters. There will be different needs in each trimester for a healthy pregnancy.

So, now that you are pregnant, starting in your first trimester, there are things that you should NOT eat. Some of them are no big deal, but others are like, WHAT!! Can’t I have that? Well, that sucks. But it is the best for the baby, so I suppose nine months is not a big deal.

The biggest culprits are raw fish, so NO sushi. Some of you are like, no big deal, I don’t like sushi, others are like, NOOOO!!!… I was the latter. I love sushi, so I could not wait to have it; I think that was my first meal once I braved going out to a restaurant with a newborn.

Another is raw/runny eggs. So no cookie dough, unless it is eggless, and no sunny side up, or over easy for awhile. Sorry, mama. Find some yummy scrambles for the next nine months.

No cold cuts unless cooked or heated up. Deli meats could contain Listeria, a bacteria detrimental to your developing baby. It might be easier to go without. Deli subs with the meat hot are just not the same.

No deli meat was the hardest for me. I CRAVED deli subs with my 1st pregnancy—specifically, Jersey Mikes, Original 13. You know what I’m talking about if you have ever had it. I wanted one every day.

It was the WORST craving ever for a pregnant woman. Yes, I think I did indulge twice during my pregnancy, my husband will probably say more, but I tried my best not to give in.

Other foods to avoid are soft cheeses, sprouts, undercooked meat, unpasteurized juice or milk, and fish that may contain mercury, to name a few.

Then make sure to add healthy foods to your diet during your first trimester to get the nutrients you need for your baby’s growth. Certain superfoods can help when morning sickness starts—wondering what superfoods you should add to your diet?

>>>Get a FREE Printable ultimate Superfood list!

Check out this post with the top 5 superfoods you should include in your pregnancy diet. These foods will keep your energy up and give your unborn baby the growing power they need!

5. Schedule First Prenatal Appointment

After a positive pregnancy test, your prenatal appointment is one of the most critical must-dos during the first trimester. Hopefully, you already have an OB/GYN you like; otherwise, find a pregnancy doctor immediately. Look over your health insurance to see what is covered for prenatal care. Then, call to set up your first prenatal appointment.

The advice nurse on the phone will most likely ask about your last period and early pregnancy symptoms you may be experiencing to determine the best time to set up an appt. They may take a blood test or urine sample during your first appointment to confirm, depending on the timing.

During the first prenatal visit, you may or may not get an ultrasound and hear your baby’s heartbeat. For my 1st pregnancy, they did not schedule my 1st appt until around pregnancy week 8, basing the timing on my last menstruation to have an ultrasound.

I was still breastfeeding my daughter during my second pregnancy, so I had not had menstruation since before becoming pregnant with her. They ended up scheduling an appointment ASAP to confirm pregnancy and figure out how far along I was. Since it was so early, the first couple of ultrasounds were inconclusive.

Your first appointment is primarily to get a schedule of your future prenatal appointments, confirm your pregnancy, ask any questions you may have for your doctor, schedule childbirth classes, and get lots of info regarding the next nine months of your life.

Related post: Weird Pregnancy Symptoms no one tells you about.

6. Prenatal vitamins.

One of the first things to do in your first trimester is to take prenatal vitamins immediately if you aren’t already.

I loved the gummy variety. I took the Vitafusion Prenatal Multivitamin Gummy. They were easy to handle and sometimes helped with nausea (because that would be the only thing I could eat that morning), and they were super yummy.

Tips for your prenatal vitamins: ensure they have Folic Acid, extra Iron, Calcium, and Vitamin D. Ideally, if you are trying to get pregnant, you should already be taking them, but if not, start taking them ASAP. These extra nutrients not found in multivitamins are super helpful for the baby’s brain, bones, and development in general.

7. Look at some pregnancy apps to download.

One of the first things I did when I saw that positive pregnancy test was to download an app to start keeping track of my first trimester.

Many great apps are out there today to help track your pregnancy and give some fun information. Some of them also show 3D animations of your baby’s growth, which is fantastic.

I loved ‘What to Expect’ and ‘The Bump.’ I was excited to see what type of vegetable or fruit resembled my baby’s size each week. They also give great info on what the baby is starting to develop at that time and any different symptoms you may or may not be feeling, including tender breasts, extreme fatigue, and morning sickness.

8. Start thinking about what you want for your birth plan.

Now, you have nine months during your pregnancy journey to decide what you truly want, and, to be honest, the whole plan may go out the window depending on the labor circumstances at the time the baby arrives.

But, my tip for first-time moms is to start thinking about your birth plan during your first trimester. Try figuring out everything you want if you could have things your way during labor and delivery.

Begin thinking about the expectations and preferences you may have for the birth of your child. Example: epidural, people in the delivery room (if so, who), music during, lighting choices, vaccinations for baby right after, circumcision, etc.

There is much to think about and research during the next nine months. You also want to check with your insurance company to see what your health insurance covers. You may be eligible for some prenatal testing to check for certain birth defects or chromosomal abnormalities. This is also the time to research the maternity leave available to you.

Even if the birth doesn’t go exactly how you plan it, at least your research will educate you on the decisions you may need to make during labor and delivery, so you and your delivery nurse are on the same page.

9. Pregnancy announcement

Depending on your feelings, you may want to wait 12 weeks before publicly announcing your pregnancy. This gives you time to plan an exciting announcement for friends and family.

For my 1st pregnancy, we told my immediate family around six weeks and then told some friends and other family members personally a few weeks later. Then, we announced it over social media to the rest of our friends and family after three months with a cute post.

With our second pregnancy, the timing ended up being around two months during Thanksgiving. So, we were able to announce this during Thanksgiving to all of our close family in person. If this is your second pregnancy or beyond, check out these adorable pregnancy announcement ideas you can do with siblings.

Our daughter was involved in the pregnancy announcement for everyone else. We included a picture of her reading her big sister’s book on our Christmas card and sending it to all of our close friends.

Then on New Years’ Eve, I posted an official announcement on social media for all to see. There are so many fun ways to announce your big news.

Tip: Get it on video! These will be memories to cherish forever.

You may not be able to find out the sex of your baby until around pregnancy week 20 in your second trimester unless you do a blood test. But until then, you can predict the sex with Old Wives Tales and then see if it comes true when you know for sure.

First Trimester Checklist for New Moms

Keep track of what you need to do during the first trimester of your pregnancy. This first-trimester checklist will help you stay organized throughout the beginning of your pregnancy.

>>Free Printable First Trimester Checklist, click on image below<<

Conclusion

Congratulations on your pregnancy! The first trimester is an exciting but also nerve-wracking time. Here are a few tips to help you through the first few months. First and foremost, take care of yourself. Pregnancy can be physically and emotionally demanding, so taking care of yourself is essential. Get plenty of rest, eat healthy foods, and stay active. This will help you feel your best and set the stage for a healthy pregnancy.

The first trimester is a great time to start thinking about maternity clothes. Your body will change quickly, so it’s essential to have comfortable clothing in which you feel good. You can also create a baby registry. This will help you keep track of everything you need for your new arrival. Don’t forget to start saving for your baby budget. There are a lot of expenses associated with having a baby, so it’s best to start saving now.

This is where a good trimester checklist will come in handy. A to-do list will help you stay organized and ensure that everything is taken care of before your baby arrives. Don’t forget to click above to get your free printable first-trimester checklist.

Finally, connect with other moms-to-be. Whether joining a pregnancy yoga class or simply chatting with friends who are also expecting, surrounding yourself with positive people will help you stay calm and happy during this particular time.

Now you know what to do in early pregnancy with your trimester pregnancy checklist. Once you do all these things in your first trimester, you are well on your way to a happy and healthy pregnancy. Congrats again on your fantastic news, and good luck.

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