First Trimester Checklist: Complete Guide
The first trimester covers weeks 0 to 12, and there's a fair bit to organise alongside adjusting to early pregnancy symptoms. This checklist pulls together the key medical, practical and wellbeing steps so nothing important slips through the cracks.
Medical and antenatal steps
- Start or continue taking 400mcg folic acid daily, ideally from before conception and continuing until at least the end of week 12, to support your baby's early neural development.
- Take 10mcg vitamin D daily throughout pregnancy — this one continues for the whole nine months, not just the first trimester.
- Contact your GP or self-refer to a midwife as soon as you get a positive test, so your booking appointment can be arranged in good time.
- Attend your booking appointment, usually held between 8 and 12 weeks, where a midwife will go through your health history, discuss screening options and arrange initial blood tests.
- Attend your dating and 12-week scan, typically offered between 11 and 14 weeks, which confirms your due date and can include combined screening for chromosomal conditions if you choose it.
Lifestyle and safety checks
- Avoid alcohol completely — there's no known safe amount to drink during pregnancy, so the NHS advice is to avoid it altogether.
- Stop smoking and ask your midwife or GP about stop-smoking support services if you need help, as quitting brings benefits at any stage of pregnancy.
- Limit caffeine to around 200mg a day (roughly two mugs of instant coffee), and check labels on tea, cola and energy drinks too as these all count.
- Review foods to avoid, including unpasteurised soft cheeses, pâté, raw or undercooked eggs and meat, and certain fish — a quick check before you eat something unfamiliar is a good habit to build.
- Take gentle, regular exercise if you feel up to it, aiming for around 150 minutes of moderate activity a week, adjusted to how you're feeling.
Practical and financial admin
- Check your maternity pay and leave entitlement with your employer or via gov.uk, as timing your notification correctly can affect what you're eligible for.
- Apply for your maternity exemption certificate (MatEx), which gives you free NHS prescriptions and dental treatment throughout pregnancy and for a year after birth.
- Start researching antenatal classes, particularly popular ones, as spaces can fill up — you don't need to book yet, but it's worth knowing your options.
- Tell your employer when you're ready, bearing in mind there are legal notice periods if you want to claim certain maternity entitlements.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do first when I find out I'm pregnant?
Start (or continue) taking 400mcg folic acid and 10mcg vitamin D daily, then contact your GP surgery or self-refer to your local maternity service to get your booking appointment arranged. Getting into the system early means your booking appointment and screening options happen within the recommended windows, so this is the most useful first step.
When should I book my first midwife appointment?
Contact your GP or maternity service as soon as you have a positive pregnancy test, even though the booking appointment itself typically happens between 8 and 12 weeks. Booking in early ensures there's enough time to arrange the appointment within this window and means you won't miss the opportunity for first-trimester screening tests, which have specific timing requirements.
Do I need to do anything differently if this isn't my first pregnancy?
The core checklist — folic acid, vitamin D, booking appointment, 12-week scan, avoiding alcohol and unsafe foods — applies to every pregnancy regardless of how many you've had before. It's still worth mentioning any complications from previous pregnancies at your booking appointment, as this can affect your recommended level of antenatal care and monitoring this time around.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.
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