Key Takeaways

• Establish a healthy foundation for yourself and your baby by scheduling prenatal visits and starting prenatal vitamins (if you haven’t already).
• Connect with your baby by using the SneakPeek® Early Gender Test to learn your baby’s predicted sex as early as 6 weeks, with over 99% accuracy.
• Organize the logistics by reviewing your health insurance information and making a preliminary baby budget.

Your Essential First Trimester Checklist

While pregnancy may be new to you, it’s not a new experience. Billions of parents have already been in your shoes.

Thanks to the learnings of those who came before you, being prepared is easier than ever. And it starts with this first trimester to-do list.

1. Confirm Your Pregnancy and Choose a Provider

A positive pregnancy test is a good sign that you’re pregnant, but at-home tests aren’t always 100% accurate. It’s worth scheduling an appointment with your preferred healthcare provider to confirm that you’re pregnant. Then, you can begin making arrangements for real.

If you’d prefer to have another healthcare provider as your primary doctor, book an appointment with them and tell them your exciting news. If the physician confirming your pregnancy is already your preferred provider, you can treat the appointment as your first prenatal visit.

At this stage, you may want to:

• Determine what a healthy baseline looks like for you
• Ask about common symptoms and how to manage them
• Create a birth plan (an outline of your preferences for labor and delivery)

2. Begin a Prenatal Vitamin Routine

Next on the checklist is starting a prenatal vitamin regimen (if you haven’t already). Experts actually recommend taking prenatal vitamins one month before getting pregnant, but it’s okay if you start as soon as you find out.

These supplements contain all the nutrients you and your growing baby need throughout pregnancy. Look for a prenatal vitamin that includes:

• Folic acid
• Calcium
• Iron
• Iodine
• Choline
• Vitamin A
• Vitamin B6
• Vitamin B12
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin D

3. Review Medications and Lifestyle Habits

Another important step is learning how to live a pregnancy-safe lifestyle. Because everyone is different, we recommend working with your healthcare provider to review the following:

• Your medications – Some prescriptions and over-the-counter (OTC) medications are not safe during pregnancy. However, many common medications, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), are generally safe. Talk to your healthcare provider about any medications you currently take, and ask for advice on safe options for pain and morning sickness.
• Your diet – Prenatal vitamins are meant to complement your regular diet, not replace it, so eating healthy is still important. A diet full of fruits, vegetables, and protein is usually recommended, but your healthcare provider may have more specific instructions based on your unique history and needs. Doctors may also advise that you avoid certain foods, such as premade deli salads, soft cheeses, and raw fish.
• Your fitness – Exercising during pregnancy has many benefits, such as reducing back pain and promoting healthy weight gain. That said, not all activities are considered safe. Experts typically recommend avoiding contact sports and high-adrenaline activities to limit the risk of injury. To protect yourself and your growing baby, talk to your healthcare provider about a pregnancy-safe workout plan based on your current fitness level and unique needs.
• Your habits – Behaviors like drinking alcohol and smoking or vaping are considered unsafe during pregnancy. If you’re struggling to quit, your healthcare provider may be able to help.

4. Plan for Joy at 6 Weeks

Did you know you can add “Learn baby’s sex” to your first trimester checklist?

Traditionally, parents had to wait until the second-trimester ultrasound to find out whether they were expecting a boy or a girl. But today, you can find out your baby’s predicted sex with over 99% accuracy as early as 6 weeks. The SneakPeek® Early Gender Test is a simple-to-use, at-home test that allows you to learn more about your future child from the comfort of your own home.

The ability to determine sex early makes the first trimester a time to plan for joy. The moment you receive your results, you can begin picking out names, nursery colors, and baby registry items. Most importantly, you can start bonding more deeply with your little one, knowing even more about them.

5. Check Your Insurance and Budget

Although the baby is still months away, it pays to be prepared for all the financial responsibilities. Part of that means understanding your insurance coverage.

Fortunately, under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), pregnancy and childbirth care are considered essential health benefits. If you have insurance through your job or spouse, many of your labor and delivery needs should be covered.

That said, not all insurance plans are the same. It’s worth researching exactly what your provider covers, so you don’t get any surprise bills later when the baby arrives.

In general, the first trimester is an excellent time to think about your finances. Developing a “baby budget” at this stage can help you better understand your expenses and set savings goals.

Along with healthcare costs, try to estimate how much you’ll set aside each month for:

• The baby’s room
• Essential supplies (formula, baby food, diapers, etc.)
• Clothes
• An emergency fund

6. Prioritize Rest and Hydration

Taking care of yourself is crucial during pregnancy. It’s an ongoing goal that begins in your first trimester and continues beyond labor and delivery.

When you’re pregnant, your body is working hard to grow your baby and support their development, so your job as a parent is to listen to your body’s needs.

Additionally, healthcare experts recommend the following:

• Staying hydrated – Aim for 8 to 12 cups (64 to 96 ounces) of water every day.
• Getting extra rest – Sleep contributes to both your physical and mental health. Try to get 7 to 8 hours of sleep per night, but rest more if your body needs it.
• Prioritizing self-care – Self-care can help minimize stress and reduce feelings of anxiety during pregnancy. Experiment with breathing exercises, spend time with friends and family, and make time for activities that bring you joy, like reading or getting a prenatal massage.

Frequently Asked Questions From New Parents

During pregnancy, it’s normal for every new piece of information to raise several more questions, especially if this is your first time having a baby.

To help you navigate this new and exciting time, we’re answering some of the most common questions we hear from parents-to-be.

When is the best time to start following a first-trimester checklist?

The sooner, the better. As soon as you receive a positive pregnancy test result, it’s time to start going through this to-do list.

Of course, don’t worry if you’re already several weeks into your first trimester. What matters most is following the checklist as soon as you can.

What are the most important health priorities for my first trimester checklist?

Every pregnancy is unique, so we highly recommend starting your first-trimester checklist with a visit to a healthcare provider. A professional can help you:

• Start a prenatal vitamin routine that’s tailored to your needs
• Identify which medications are safe to take
• Suggest a pregnancy-safe exercise routine based on your fitness level
• Talk about your ideal birth plan

Outside of the doctor’s office, the most important priority is to listen to your body as it changes. Drink water when you feel thirsty, eat when you’re hungry, and rest when you’re tired.

How do I manage the “rollercoaster of emotions” and fatigue early in pregnancy?

First, recognize that you’re not alone. The mix of excitement and uncertainty you’re feeling is perfectly normal.

However, that doesn’t mean you can’t work to manage these emotions. Strategies include:

• Practicing honesty and openness with your partner
• Using “we” language with your partner to reinforce that you’re in this together
• Asking for help when you need it
• Delegating household chores to your support network
• Simplifying your daily schedule

Above all, stay confident. You’ve got this!

Start Your Story Early with an At-Home Gender Prediction Test

If you’re at the start of your first trimester, your pregnancy journey is just beginning.

While a first-trimester checklist can help you prepare, don’t forget to embrace the joy and surprises. They’re all part of the experience.

Of course, some surprises are so exciting that you might not want to wait. Finding out your baby’s sex is one of them.

With the SneakPeek Early Gender Test, you can plan for joy early. Discover your baby’s predicted sex as early as 6 weeks into pregnancy, with over 99% accuracy, and start bonding right away. It’s possible with the SneakPeek test, the #1 OBGYN-recommended* at-home sex prediction test on the market today.

*SneakPeek recommended six to one among 100 OBGYNs surveyed