The Ultimate Pregnancy To-Do List for First-Time Mothers

Nothing is more exciting than finding out you’re pregnant, and no feeling is akin to becoming a mother for the first time. However, as exciting as the news is, it can also be overwhelming. Ease some of your worries with this ultimate pregnancy to-do list for first-time mothers. Remember, even though you’re stressed now, you’ll have a beautiful bundle of joy in nine months.

Visit Your Doctor

The first thing on your pregnancy to-do list should be visit your doctor. Make a doctor’s appointment soon after you see a positive pregnancy test. Come prepared with questions, and don’t be afraid to ask anything—there are no stupid questions. If you’re feeling anxious about anything, let your physician know. Follow the advice your doctor gives you. Take all your prenatal vitamins, and follow a healthy exercise and diet routine. Never do anything that may affect your or your baby’s health before consulting your doctor first. Putting the reigns in someone else’s hands is challenging, but your physician is an experienced professional who knows what they’re doing. Learn to trust them throughout the process.

Childproof Your Home

Another task every expectant mother should check off their pregnancy to-do list is childproofing their home. No one ever realizes how unsafe their house is until they have a kid on the way, so use these nine months as an opportunity to childproof your home. Keep potentially harmful items out of reach: you’d be surprised what a baby can get their hands on, and you don’t want them to get their hands on something they shouldn’t. Keep your purse on the counter and remote controls out of reach. Install kid-friendly window treatments such as blinds or shutters that are more difficult for children to operate. Your baby could get tangled up in thick drapes or cords that hang low to the ground. The more time you spend childproofing your home, the more peace of mind you’ll have down the line.

Do Your Research

Read as many parenting books as you can while you’re pregnant, and maybe even join a few mom blogs. You don’t want to be totally unprepared when the baby comes. You should also study up on potential medical issues. Although you don’t want to scare yourself into thinking something is wrong with your child, you’ll want to be prepared if you find yourself in a scary medical situation. Do your research on autism and other developmental disorders, too. The more you know about these conditions, the better you’ll be to handle them if your child is diagnosed later on. It’s always better to be well-informed than completely naïve.

This is the ultimate pregnancy to-do list for first-time mothers. Pregnancy is such an amazing yet scary thing. However, if you follow these tips, some of your anxiety will dissipate. Everyone should enjoy their pregnancies, and no expectant mother should spend the entire nine months fretting about being unprepared. Use this checklist as a guide so that you can focus on more positive things.