Paula Kashtan

Checklist: Pregnancy Timeline

pregnancy timeline

• TTC

• See the dentist

• Preconception checkup

• Get tetanus booster and German measles and chicken pox immunizations

• Talk to relatives about family medical history including birth defects, miscarriages and genetic disorders

• Start taking prenatal vitamins

• If self employed, apply for a private disability policy 

• Weeks 1-8

• Take pregnancy test

• Tell your partner the good news

• Find an OB/GYN

• Schedule prenatal checkup

• Research insurance — how does it deal with pregnancy and children?

• Make sure partner has short and long term disability

• Figure out how pregnancy, baby and maternity leave will affect finances 

• Create a savings plan for your child\'s future expenses

• Make a budget to start saving now 

• First prenatal checkup (week 4-8)

• Weeks 8-12

• Start buying maternity clothes

• Chorionic villus sampling

• Nuchal translucency screening (week 10-12)

• Chromosomal disorder screening (week 10-14)

• Doctor visit

• Weeks 12-16

• Start planning maternity leave and postpartum work schedule

• Tell boss about pregnancy

• Doctor visit

• Milestone: Tell friends and family? 

• Weeks 16-20

• Start planning nursery

• Look into childcare options

• Doctor visit

• Standard mid-pregnancy ultrasound

• Amniocentesis and triple screen (week 15-18)

• Milestone: Find out baby\'s gender?

• Milestone: Hear baby\'s heartbeat with stethoscope?

• Milestone: First baby kick?

• Milestone: Belly starting to show?

• Weeks 20-24

• Start pediatrician interviews

• Research and sign up for childbirth classes

• Figure out baby shower logistics (date, host, location, guests, etc.)

• If banking cord blood, figure out where and order kit

• Doctor visit

• Weeks 24-28

• Update or write will, including directions for child\'s inheritance and guardianship

• Purchase life insurance 

• Update 401K and retirement account beneficiaries 

• If using doula, start interviews

• Start childcare interviews

• Send out shower invites

• Register for shower gifts

• Doctor visit 

• Weeks 28-32

• Babyproof house

• Start fetal kick counts

• Prepare birth plan

• Baby shower

• Send thank-you notes for gifts (start one week after shower) 

• Cook and freeze meals for after delivery

• Start childbirth class

• Doctor visits (two this month)

• Milestone: Others feel baby move?  

• Weeks 32-36

• Buy any baby items still needed

• Prepare all baby first aid and emergency items 

• Print and fill out emergency sheets

• Get a low-maintenance haircut

• Finish painting nursery

• Get car seat inspected 

• Pack hospital bag

• Contact local cord blood bank if interested in donating

• Find out what screening tests your hospital routinely gives newborns

• Speak with doctor about any additional tests you\'d like run 

• Doctor visits (two this month) 

• Group B strep test (week 35-37)

• Milestone: Last day of work

• Milestone: Last week to fly safely (week 35)  

• Weeks 36-delivery

• Doctor visits (weekly until delivery) 

• Non-stress test

• Biophysical profile

• Month 1

• Hepatitis B #1 (birth-two months)

• Pediatrician visit (week 2-4)  

• Month 2 

• Baby old enough to be accepted at some daycares (week 6)

• Meet with manager to discuss work hours and return to projects

• Hepatitis B #2 (month 1-4)

• Milestone: First day back at work  

• Month 3

• Pediatrician visit

• DtaP, Hib, polio, PCV and rotovirus vaccines 

• Milestone: First smile