Explore our pregnancy timeline guide for planning your pregnancy and to countdown to the birth of your baby.
Download a printable copy of the pregnancy timeline here.
| 0-4 weeks |
- Start/continue taking folic acid.
- Avoid smoking, drinking and recreational drugs
- Research your childbirth choices:
- Public Hospital Care
- Public hospital antenatal clinics
- Midwives Clinics
- Team Midwifery/Midwifery Group Practice
- General practitioner shared care programs
- Private Hospital Care
- Birth Centre Care
- Home Birth Care
- Water births
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| 5-8 weeks |
- You may start to feel sick for the next three weeks. This is most likely due to a rise in hormone levels. Ginger is a natural stomach settler; however talk your GP if you feel overwhelmed by the feelings of nausea.
- Make your first appointment with your doctor/midwife.
- If you are planning to go overseas check with your doctor/midwife if you are able to have any necessary vaccinations.
- Consider your safety at work.
- Make a dentist appointment.
- Book your antenatal classes.
|
| 9-12 weeks |
- Have your ultrasound.
- Start pregnancy exercising and/or consider modifying existing exercise program.
|
| 13 – 16 weeks |
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| 17 – 20 weeks |
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| 21 – 24 weeks |
- Start preparing the nursery.
- Notify your employer in writing about your pregnancy.
|
| 25 – 28 weeks |
- Begin antenatal classes.
- Start shopping for baby equipment/supplies. It will help your budget to spread the cost over a number of weeks.
|
| 29 – 32 weeks |
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| 33 – 36 weeks |
- If you are having more than one baby you cannot travel by plane after 32 weeks.
- Check you have the baby basics organised.
- Organise baby announcement stationery.
- Buy two nursing bras, breast pads and sanitary pads.
- Write your birth plan
- Stock up on groceries and make a few meals to freeze for when you first come home.
- Book a nappy service if you plan to use one.
- Understand what an Apgar score tells you about the health of your newborn baby.
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| 37 – 40 weeks |
- If you are pregnant with a single baby you cannot travel by air after 36 weeks.
- Keep the digital camera/mobile phone charged at all times.
- Discuss your birth plan with your birth partner and doctor/midwife
- Make a list of phone numbers for your partner. Text is the easiest and quickest way to let everyone know baby has arrived.
- Find the quickest route to hospital.
- Have your birth partner fill in a diary with their activities and location for the next few weeks so you know where he or she is at all times.
- Take time out just for you with a pregnancy massage, have your nails done (but don’t put on any nail polish) and have your hair cut.
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This article was created for Kidspot – New Zealand’s parenting resource for during your pregnancy.
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