Your Pregnancy Timeline

Explore our pregnancy timeline guide for planning your pregnancy and to countdown to the birth of your baby.
Pregnancy timeline

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
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
17 – 20 weeks
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
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.
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.

This article was created for Kidspot – New Zealand’s parenting resource for during your pregnancy.

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