27 Vital Pregnancy Checklist Items For Every Expecting Mom

Do you need to start building your pregnancy checklist but aren’t sure where to begin? Whether you’re expecting again or you’re a first-time Mama, this is the ultimate pregnancy checklist, and you’ll know exactly what needs to be done before baby arrives.

Congratulations, you are having a baby! This is going to be your greatest adventure, and if you’re anything like me, you’re planning as much as possible, and that means making your pregnancy checklist and checking it twice!

As a first-time Mama myself, I did a lot of research when I was pregnant and have now compiled a complete pregnancy checklist that will simplify your pregnancy journey significantly.

Pregnancy brain is real, my friend, and this pregnancy checklist will be your best friend, covering everything you need to know from baby essentials, Mama essentials, creating a birthing plan, post-partum care, and more.

Pregnancy can produce a whirlwind of emotions and anxiety, especially for many new parents.

Once you start using this list, you will feel more organized, less stressed, and extra ready when you bring your baby home.

This post is all about the vital pregnancy checklist items every expecting mom needs to know.

The Ultimate Pregnancy Checklist

1. Write down “Make A Baby” and “Jesus Is Already In The Room”

“Make a Baby” is your top priority, so put this as your #1 to do on your pregnancy checklist. This is a marathon, and this will help you to give yourself some grace.

“Jesus Is Already In The Room” is a reminder to yourself that you are not alone in this, though unfortunately, at times it can feel that way. So please hand those anxieties to Jesus.

Put this at the beginning of every appointment or meeting you have coming up, and remind yourself that you always have someone in your corner.

2. Calculate your due date

I did this immediately because I wanted to know when I was going to be high-pregnant and ready to pop, and when I was going to meet my baby. This due date calculator provides a simple and quick rough estimate until you get confirmation from your midwife or OB/GYN.

3. What To Expect Pregnancy Tracker App

Next on your pregnancy to-do list is to download the What To Expect Pregnancy Tracker App. I used this all continuously throughout my pregnancy; it was amazing and quickly became one of my lifelines for information as both baby and I got bigger.

You can download it here for Android or iPhone.

Between the daily tips, videos, and articles, I got tons of great information – plus it was fun to see the size comparison “you’re baby is about the size of a sweet pea, mango, or cauliflower!” The more I learned about pregnancy and labor, the less fear I felt – knowledge is power, my friends!

4. What To Expect: Books by Heidi Murkoff

I highly recommend these books for any Mama-to-be, as well as Mamas with one- or two-year-olds. I often used these for planned reading ahead of time, so I had a rough idea of what to expect as my son grew.

These are a no-brainer addition to any pregnancy checklist, and I highly recommend the following 3 books for your library:

“What to Expect When You’re Expecting”

“What to Expect the First Year”

“What to Expect the Second Year”

Best places to buy these books:

Amazon
Walmart
Christianbook.com

So grab your tea, put your feet up, and read away, Mama!

5. Re-Evaluate Your Budget With Baby

Budgeting for a baby can be a labor of love itself. Though I was not new to budgeting, I knew I could improve, so I added this to my pregnancy checklist. Common sense tells you that budgeting is ultimately spending less than you make.

Long behold, I came across Dave Ramsey, and his wealth of financial knowledge and wisdom. I read through his website and what he called The 7 Baby Steps. Now I live by these steps.

But I wanted to hear him explain the steps in his own words, so I watched the following 2 videos – taking notes like a madwoman.

With these baby steps, I was able to jumpstart my emergency fund, pay off debt, and save like a squirrel for winter. Revamp your budget in the pursuit of the ultimate frugal attitude!

6. Create a Savings Plan for Your Baby

This one is important and should fit into your budget, like a bill with regular contributions. For me, this savings plan is exclusively for my child’s future and college aspirations, not current expenses. I cover the expenses with my budget and emergency fund if needed.

Do your best and do what you can now!

7. Write Your Will Before Baby Arrives

Drafting your will is one of the most important things to complete on your pregnancy checklist, and before your baby is born, to ensure guardianship and inheritance. LegalShield can offer easy online assistance at your fingertips.

Hope for the best and plan for the worst!

8. Purchase Life Insurance

Another essential on your pregnancy checklist is to secure life insurance for yourself, your spouse, and your child. This provides financial protection when spit hits the fan. Gerber is a great place to start, since they offer policies suitable for both you and your child.

9. Prenatal Vitamins

Prenatal vitamins are vital to your baby, especially from the get-go. Ideally, you’ll want to start taking a high-quality prenatal vitamin as your daily vitamin when you first prepare for pregnancy, so you can boost levels before your baby starts to take it!

These are the prenatal vitamins I took during my pregnancy. My midwife had me continue these through the first year postpartum to help rebuild my levels to normal.

[Related Post: 5 Best Hospital Bags for Labor for an Easy Bugout to the Hospital]

10. Call your Health Insurance

No pregnancy checklist is complete without including that inevitable phone call to your health insurance. You want to know how your coverage works, particularly regarding pregnancy, labor, hospitals, and equipment.

When you call your insurance (the number on the back of your card), ask them:

Your deductible and out-of-pocket max: what is met or remaining? How do these work with your plan?
Is there a co-insurance or co-pay?
Does your plan require referrals, or can you self-refer?
What hospitals, OB/GYNs, and Midwives are in your network?
How might coverage differ depending on how and where you give birth?
What kind of supplies may be covered for pregnancy, labor, and postpartum care (IE, breast pumps)?
What information is needed for the baby to be added to your plan, and what is the timeframe?

11. Find a Midwife or OB/GYN- Schedule Prenatal Visit

This is completely up to you, Mama! Do you want your prenatal care from an OB/GYN or a Midwife?

A few important differences to consider:

If you think you may be a high-risk pregnancy because of a diagnosis like blood pressure or diabetes, or you want a vaginal delivery with an epidural, or a c-section delivery, then you may prefer an OB/GYN Provider.
If you are on the other end and want less medical intervention, maybe want to have your baby at home, or even have a water birth outside of the hospital, then a Certified Midwife is absolutely down your alley. Midwives can still order labs and perform ultrasounds, just like an OB/GYN.

Ask yourself what you want for your pregnancy and labor experience, then call and schedule your first prenatal appointment.

12. Find a Doula

My doula was completely amazing and worth every penny. She was calm, knowledgeable, very passionate, and available when I needed her. From early pregnancy planning to holding my son, my doula was a pivotal part of my labor experience.

13. Find a Pediatrician

Right now, you are in the pregnancy planning stage and developing your checklist, so finding a pediatrician is a great thing to put on your to-do list.

Start by checking if your midwifery or OB/GYN office partners with any local clinics or has them on staff already. Don’t be afraid to make sure they are aligned with your family’s health beliefs and goals.

14. Join A Local Birthing Group

My birthing group was one of my favorite things during my pregnancy. The classes were led by a midwife and covered everything from morning sickness to labor inversions.

This is a fun to-do on your pregnancy checklist is a great way to build connections with other Mamas! The knowledge and support I gained took so much of the anxiety about pregnancy and labor away!

15. Find a Lactation Consultant

Breastfeeding is phenomenal for baby and Mama; it is something to consider seriously. Talk with your midwife and discuss seeing a lactation consultant ahead of time to prepare for breastfeeding.

Lactation consultants can help guide you on latching, supplements, feeding schedules, and more.

During my pregnancy, I watched Bridget Teyler and soaked up her amazing content about pregnancy, labor, postpartum, and breastfeeding. Her videos added so much to my pregnancy journey and experience!

16. Diet Changes & Find a Dietician

Talking with a dietician during pregnancy was very helpful to help me understand how to make healthy, nutrient-dense swaps and better understand cravings and habits around food. From my experience, stick to whole foods and make most meals at home, and avoid artificial sugars, processed foods, excessive caffeine, and alcohol. Trust me, though, mocktails are a lot of fun too!

The CarbManager APP is amazing for tracking your foods and macronutrients. You can download it here for Android or iPhone, and take it with you wherever you go.

17. Pregnancy Workouts and Pelvic Floor

Move that body! Trust me, I know you are tired, Mama, so rest when needed and aim for regular exercise. This will help to reduce your stress levels, help maintain your pregnancy weight, and prepare you for labor. Let me repeat that last part: PREPARE YOU FOR LABOR!

Focus on prenatal yoga (I used this DVD), walking, swimming, and strength training (especially for your pelvic floor and core), like squats and planks. Avoid crunches, contact sports, and poorly ventilated activities like hot yoga (which is too hot for baby anyway).

Hydration is crucial, especially during pregnancy. A general rule is 1 ounce of water for every 2 pounds of body weight per day.

This Nalgene water bottle was my favorite while I was pregnant. Side note, though, what goes in eventually will need to come out, and the more pregnant you become, Mama, the more bathroom breaks you will need.

18. Buy a Week/Month Planner and Use It!

Your appointment book will blow up with places to go and people to see. You need a safe and reliable place to put it all down and to keep track of your pregnancy checklist week by week or even month by month.

I love this planner by Emily Ley, and lovingly call it “my paper brain” during my pregnancy. It has the days, weeks, and months, with lots of bright colors, is super durable, and very easy to read.

[Related Post: 27 Must-Have Hospital Bag Essentials for Birth Every Mom Should Pack]

19. Baby’s Room: The Nursery Theme?

Lots of parents pick a theme and go wild! Themes can be fun for both parents and babies. I chose safari and wild animals, which left the options open to any wild animal in the world, and I had a lot of fun without being locked into a strict theme.

20. Baby Item List: What Does Baby Need?

What does a newborn even need? I’ve got you covered with a detailed baby essentials list here, for newborns to 6 months, everything from car seats and strollers to diapers, ointments, baby wash, and the list goes on.

Once you have your list down, here is how to start your registries with Amazon and Walmart; these were my favorites.

21. Mama Item List: Pregnancy & Postpartum

Mama, don’t worry, I also have a list for Mama essentials in detail here. Your body is achieving incredible feats every day – you are making another person, let that sink in for a minute.

22. Work: To Leave or Not to Leave

If you are currently working, you will want to contact your HR department to learn about maternity leave and the FMLA process. Then ask yourself, do you want to (or need to) continue working, or are you going to be a stay-at-home Mama after your baby is born?

23. The Birth Plan

Creating my birth plan took time for me because I had to learn what it was, how it was used, and what needed to go into it in the first place. I’ve got you covered, click here!

24. Friends & Family

Sharing this news can be so much fun! Ideally, the best time to share is after the first trimester, when the risk of miscarriage is not so high, or after the 20-week mark following the genetic and anatomy scans, but it may be hard to keep under wraps when that belly of yours continues to grow.

25. Prepare & Freeze Meals

Mama, you don’t want to cook after giving birth! Prepare your meals ahead to have on hand after delivery, so you can have the time to rest.

Ideally, around the beginning of your 3rd trimester (week 28), you can start preparing your freezer meals and stalking that freezer.

Some moms choose to start at week 20 by cooking double batches and freezing half. Most freezer meals will store really well for about 3 months (6 months for some), but the key is how you package the meals for freezer storage.

Here are some of my favorite healthy freezer meal ideas that you can make ahead of time, and how to package them so they will last.

Your rest time should be for rest, NOT for cooking – unless it’s for fun, then that’s different!

26. Last Minute Prep Session

Around a month before your due date, check last-minute things like assembling the crib, fitting the car seat, organizing post-partum items, ordering groceries, packing your hospital go-bag, and cleaning baby clothes and items.

Walmart+ Membership was a lifesaver for me, as I lived 1 hour outside town at that time, and that made getting our groceries easy peasy! You can also get their pickup and delivery services without the membership.

27. Post-Partum Self-Care & Mental Health

Your midwifery and birthing group should address post-partum care and the possible mental health changes you may experience while your hormones readjust and you continue caring for a newborn. Make sure to talk with your midwife or OB/GYN about any concerns you may have regarding your mental health.

The American Pregnancy Association’s article “You Are Not Alone In Your Postpartum Feelings!” describes the various postpartum mood disorders you may experience.

You’ve got this, Mama. Congratulations, and may God bless and protect your beautiful family!

Hello! I'm Stephanie