Trimester Goals from The Pregnancy Calendar

Research your health insurance coverage.
Decide on your baby's health care provider. Your choice will determine where you deliver your baby.
Schedule your first prenatal appointment. Record appointments and questions on The Pregnancy Calendar.
If you work outside the home, research your employer’s maternity leave policy.
If your partner works outside the home, does your partner’s company offer maternity/paternity leave?
Does your employer or your partner’s offer child care?
You may want to subscribe to a few pregnancy and parenting magazines and check out all the pregnancy and parenting websites out there.
Consider if you’re being exposed to any harmful substances at work or home. If needed, get more information on this from your health care provider.
Try to eat a healthy diet. Increase your intake of leafy green vegetables.
Get in the habit of carrying healthy snacks wherever you go.
Start taking a multivitamin and then switch to a prenatal vitamin when your health care provider tells you to.
If morning sickness makes staying on a healthy diet difficult, resolve to get back on track as soon as you feel better.
Get plenty of fresh air and moderate exercise.
With your health care provider’s okay, join a prenatal exercise class. It’s a great way to meet other pregnant women.
Confide in a close friend or relative.

Announce your pregnancy to your coworkers and meet with your boss to discuss arrangements for your maternity leave. If you have other children, let them know that your family is growing, but there will be a long wait.
Register for childbirth education classes.
Pre-register at the hospital or birthing center where you will deliver. Inquire about tours.
Start building your maternity clothes wardrobe.
Make an itemized list of things you’ll need for the baby. Make a budget column and an actual cost column. Start shopping now because some things may need to be ordered early. Check out a gift registry web site.
Figure out where you’ll set up the baby’s nursery and what work needs to be done.
Start looking for birth announcements, thank you cards, keepsake book, photo album, etc.
Begin to consider your child care options.
Talk with friends about new parent and lactation support groups.
If you are considering using cloth diapers, find out about diaper services.
Continue to go to your prenatal appointments and record them in your calendar.
Make an appointment to see your dentist. (Don’t have x-rays taken while you’re pregnant.)
Begin thinking about your child’s pediatrician.

Make arrangements for regular child care, if needed.
Make arrangements for someone to help you at home after the birth — your partner? a relative? a nanny or visiting nurse?
Make a final decision about your child’s pediatrician.
Prepare siblings for the arrival of the new baby by reading children’s books on the subject together. Make arrangements for their care while you’re at the hospital.
Complete the nursery and baby’s layette. Wash all clothes and put them away.
Stock your home with food and baby supplies.
Purchase birth announcements, thank you cards, keepsake book, Baby’s First Year Calendar, photo album and stamps.
Narrow down your list of favorite baby names.
Attend childbirth education classes with your labor partner.
Pack your labor bag and hospital suitcase.
Prepare a mailing list (use email?) for birth announcements.
Take the hospital tour.
Continue to go to your prenatal appointments and record them on your calendar.
Read up on labor, delivery, and newborn care.
Take any and all opportunities to rest and relax.

At last your due date is only a few weeks away. Take a deep breath and tackle one final checklist:

With your health care provider, go over his/her labor and delivery practices and express your wishes and concerns. (Be prepared for real life alterations!)
Check with your insurance carrier to find out how long you will be able to stay in the hospital.
Make a dry run to the hospital or birthing center.
Buy two nursing bras, two nursing gowns, and nursing pads if you plan on breast-feeding.
Stock your pantry with nonperishable food. Freeze a few meals.
Have sanitary napkins and baby supplies on hand.
Put final touches on the nursery and layette.
Confirm arrangements for household help.
Confirm arrangements with your baby’s pediatrician.
Confirm child care arrangements.
Check your bank account and pay your bills.
Treat yourself to a visit to your favorite hair salon and nail salon.
Make a list of people you’d like to be called or emailed after the birth.
Tell your labor partner how much you are depending on his/her support and encouragement.
Have your hospital suitcase and labor bag ready.
Try to stay relaxed and well-rested. You’ve got this!