First Trimester To Do List with Printable pdf
Pregnancy To Do List First Trimester
Finding out that you’re pregnant is a giant ball of emotions. Not only are you thinking about all the things that you need in the future, but you’re also thinking about the present as well. This is why having a first-trimester to do list is key. Staying on point with your personal goals and the needs of your body and baby is so important for staying fit physically and mentally.
First and foremost, congrats. This is such an exciting time! You’re about to become a momma in a few very short months and everything about your life is going to change in a wonderful and dramatic way. But before that time arrives, it’s time to put the focus on the next few months of your life.
The first trimester of your pregnancy is an important time to prepare and be active to continue on with that momentum throughout the duration of your pregnancy.
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What should I be doing during my first trimester?
A valid question and an important one. In the first month of your pregnancy, there are going to be lots of thoughts running through your mind. Take a deep breath and realize that everything is under control.
And if you’re pregnant for the first time, these are just a few things that you should be doing during your first trimester of being pregnant to get you started.
(Don’t forget to check out your full list lower in the article!)
- Start taking prenatal vitamins containing real folate immediately
- See your doctor to start tracking your pregnancy progress
- Beginning a prenatal diet plan with foods that are healthy for you and your baby
- Staying hydrated
- Motivate yourself with a prenatal Fitness program
- Cut back on/stop drinking caffeine
And don’t forget to be excited about every single day that you’re pregnant. You’re literally growing a human inside your body – girl, that’s magical!
But don’t worry, I have a more extensive list and a free printable pdf for you coming up too!
What exercise can be done during the first trimester?
I’m so glad you asked!
So many women think that exercising during pregnancy shouldn’t happen or is dangerous but that just couldn’t be further from the truth. The one part that is true though is that it’s important for you to exercise safely when you’re pregnant.
RELATED: How to Exercise Safely During Pregnancy (from a CPT)
Did you know that there are plenty of low-impact exercises that you can do daily that won’t cause harm to you or your baby? It’s true and I’m proof of that.
Being able to continue working out your body in your first trimester and beyond will:
- make your labor easier
- your recovery after giving birth that much more simple too
- can positively effect the genetic makeup of your baby
- reduces pregnancy aches and pains
- many many more benefits
This is why learning about and starting a prenatal Fitness Program is literally the perfect way to stay active and healthy during the entire course of your pregnancy.
And if you want to know a little secret…exercise is important but so is healthy eating and a positive mindset, too.
Luckily for you, I literally cover all of this and so much more in my course offerings. The Perfect Pregnancy Plan can be two separate courses (healthy eating or exercise) OR bundled together to have both as well. (I think that they both go hand in hand and for this steal of a deal price, it’s an investment in yourself, your body, and just might be the answer to keeping strong and healthy during your pregnancy and giving your baby the best leg up you can!)
Now that you know there are options for staying healthy and fit, let’s dive into this checklist of pregnancy needs to have on your radar.
First-trimester to do list every mom-to-be needs
If you’re wondering what to do in the first trimester of pregnancy, this checklist can help. (also don’t forget to print out the pregnancy to-do list PDF as well!) Some of these I’ve mentioned about but it’s never a bad idea to reiterate.
(mom brain is a real thing so the more you hear them, the more you’ll remember to do them! That’s also why I made the printable! When I’m pregnant I swear it feels like my baby ate my brain.)
- Start taking your prenatal vitamins with real folate asap. While it is vitally important to get the majority of your nutrition from your diet while pregnant, your nutritional requirements are so high that it is impossible to get enough. That’s why taking a high quality prenatal vitamin ASAP is super important!
- Contact your OBGYN for setting up appointments. While many providers aren’t going to do much at all until around the 10 week mark, it is important to start your prenatal care as soon as possible. With close care, your baby has the best chance at a healthy gestation.
- Check what your insurance covers. It’s a good idea to get an idea of how much prenatal care your insurer provides. Most have really great coverage if not complete coverage in this area. But now that you’re pregnant, you will need to get an idea of what you might need to be saving for. If healthcare is on that list, you’ll want to know that now.
- Learn about first trimester screening tests. There are some tests that your provider will offer but not require. Things like genetic screening to look for any abnormalities. Familiarize yourself with them so you know what to expect.
- Decide on a Pregnancy Fitness Program that will keep you on track and healthy. There are so many out of date misnomers about prenatal exercise. It is highly recommended in 2021 and when done correctly benefits both the mother and baby immensely.
- Optimize your healthy eating habits for yourself and your baby. Picking up the Perfect Pregnancy Plan is really the easiest way to do this and is based on modern day science.
- Start getting enough rest to fuel yourself and your growing baby. The first trimester is the most exhausting. (Warning all of pregnancy is pretty draining, but you’ll get a little pick me up after this trimester.) So take advantage and rest when you can!
- Limit the amounts of caffeine and sugar and white flour that you’re consuming. Check out the 5 surprising foods you really should be avoiding during pregnancy.
- Stop any bad habits or vices that you may have. Smoking, drinking, etc.
- Research on foods that you shouldn’t consume during the first trimester. In addition to the surprising foods to avoid in the link about there are some more well known foods that can be dangerous to consume while pregnant like: undercooked meats, undercooked eggs, fish with a high level of mercury, unpasteurized products from the store, and unwashed vegetables.
- Start to think about and put together your birthing plan. Will you be in a hospital, birth center, or home? Would you like an epidural, only pain meds, or go all natural? Etc. Check out the differences between epidural and all natural births from 3 moms’ birth stories who have experienced both. I’ve had one epidural and two all natural births myself.
- Decide when you’re wanting to announce your pregnancy to your family and friends. Maybe a cute pandemic pregnancy announcement would be fun?
- Figure out how to start budgeting for the growth of your family. Babies can be expensive. Especially if it’s your first and especially if you plan on using disposable diapers, wipes, and formula. Start realistically budgeting now. If you want to save thousands, consider reusable diapers. You can even go as far as DIY reusable baby wipes (Honestly if you’re doing reusable diapers it’s easier anyways.)
While these might not be all the things to worry and think about during the first few months of pregnancy, these are a great list of things to do in your first trimester of pregnancy.
Want the free printable version? Get it now!
What should you not do in your first trimester?
Since we’re listing all the things that you should be doing during your first trimester, let’s talk about some of the things that you should NOT be doing during the first few months of pregnancy. (and maybe longer)
If you’re pregnant, these items need to be stopped or handed off to someone else to handle.
- Cleaning out a litter box (there are particles and chemicals that are unhealthy for pregnant women to inhale and breath in.) IF you will be doing it anyways wear gloves and clean it at least daily. The danger is a disease called toxoplasmosis and when the poop is dried out (ie, over a day old) it can break apart and release the parasite into the air.
- Stay away from hot tubs and saunas (the high heat can be harmful)
- Eliminate certain foods from your diet (soft cheeses, raw and undercooked meats or eggs, etc)
- Painting or deal with other chemicals
RELATED: How to avoid the most common dangerous chemicals during pregnancy
These are just a few items to eliminate during your first few months of pregnancy. Remember to talk to your doctor about the best practices to be aware of so that you can be doing everything possible to keep yourself and your baby healthy.
Wrapping Up First Trimester To Do List
Want the printable version? Get it free now!
As you can tell, having a first-trimester checklist is important because there are a lot of things to keep in mind and remember. Being pregnant can be a big change from your current daily lives but there are still certain things that you can alter and keep doing.
The best way to be prepared for labor and to have a healthy and smooth pregnancy is to know how to take care of yourself in your first trimester! Because guess what? In a few short months, you’re going to be spending all your time snuggling with your little bundle of joy!
Related 1st Trimester Resources
- Top 5 Foods to Eat Daily For a Healthy Baby
- What Symptoms to Expect the First Trimester of Pregnancy
- The Difference Between Folate and Folic Acid (and why it matters)