Pregnancy To-Do List: What to Sort Each Trimester

Pregnancy admin arrives in waves, and almost everything has a natural deadline. This is the UK checklist we wish someone had handed us at the first scan — organised by trimester, with the "why" attached.

First trimester (weeks 1–12)

• Self-refer to your local maternity service — you don't need to wait for a GP appointment in most areas; search "[your trust] maternity self-referral"
• Start folic acid (400 micrograms daily) and vitamin D — NHS advice is folic acid until at least week 12
• Check your medications with a GP or pharmacist
• Book the 12-week (dating) scan — this confirms your due date
• Start a symptoms note — useful for midwife appointments
• Decide when to tell work — legally you must tell your employer by the 15th week before your due date, but telling them earlier unlocks paid time off for antenatal appointments and risk assessments

Second trimester (weeks 13–27)

• Tell your employer in writing and get your MATB1 certificate from your midwife (issued from around week 20) — it's the key to Statutory Maternity Pay
• Book the 20-week anomaly scan
• Book antenatal classes — NHS ones are free but fill up months ahead; NCT classes are paid and also fill fast
• Start the big purchases — pushchair, car seat and cot have the longest research and delivery times; our buying guides cover all three
• Plan the nursery if you're having one — but remember NHS safer-sleep guidance is baby in your room for the first 6 months
• Think about childcare now if you'll need it — nursery waiting lists in UK cities regularly run 6–12 months

Third trimester (weeks 28–40+)

• Pack the hospital bag by week 36 — our full checklist covers labour, you and baby
• Install the car seat and practise — the first install takes three attempts in a hospital car park otherwise
• Wash baby clothes and bedding in non-bio detergent
• Batch-cook — future-you at 3am with a newborn will be grateful
• Sort your maternity pay paperwork — SMP starts automatically when you stop work; Maternity Allowance (if you don't qualify for SMP) needs a claim to the DWP
• Write a birth plan — short, flexible, discussed with your midwife
• Check the "when to call" numbers — save your triage/maternity assessment number in your phone now

The things everyone forgets

A TENS machine (buy or rent by week 36), a car parking plan for the hospital, comfortable going-home clothes, and deciding who you'll message from the delivery room — and who can wait until you're home.