Pregnancy to-do list for the UK: what to do and when

There’s a lot to do in pregnancy, and some of it has deadlines. Here’s a checklist by trimester, with links to the details. Use it as a guide: your own care will be set by your midwife.

As soon as you find out

Contact your GP surgery or maternity service to book in with a midwife. See positive pregnancy test: what next.
Start taking folic acid and vitamin D. See folic acid and pregnancy vitamins.
Check what to avoid: what you can and can’t eat, alcohol and smoking and vaping.

First trimester (weeks 1 to 12)

Booking appointment, 8 to 12 weeks. The NHS says this lasts about an hour, and covers your health, history and screening choices. See your first midwife appointment and booking appointment blood tests.
Dating scan, 11 to 14 weeks, with optional screening for Down’s, Edwards’ and Patau’s. See 12-week scan.
Ask for your maternity exemption certificate for free prescriptions and dental care in England. See maternity exemption certificate.
Decide when to tell people. See when to tell people you’re pregnant.

Second trimester (weeks 13 to 27)

16 weeks: a midwife appointment to review your health and results.
18 to 21 weeks: the anomaly scan. See 20-week anomaly scan.
25 weeks (first baby): another midwife appointment with a bump measurement.
By about 25 weeks, tell your employer (at least 15 weeks before the week your baby is due) and ask for your MatB1 from your midwife. See telling your employer and your rights at work.
Check money help: money help for new parents and maternity pay compared.
Whooping cough vaccine from 16 weeks (usually offered around 20 weeks). See whooping cough, flu and RSV vaccines.
24 to 28 weeks: a glucose test if your risk is higher. See gestational diabetes explained.

Third trimester (weeks 28 to 40)

28 weeks: blood tests, and an anti-D injection if you’re rhesus negative. See anaemia and iron tests and rhesus negative and anti-D.
RSV vaccine around 28 weeks. See whooping cough, flu and RSV vaccines.
Appointments at 31 (first baby), 34, 36, 38, 40 and, if you haven’t given birth, 41 weeks, where you’ll talk through labour, birth, your baby’s position and your choices.
Plan your birth: where to give birth and writing a birth plan.
Pack your bag by about 37 weeks (Tommy’s). See hospital bag checklist.
Get baby kit: what you actually need for a new baby. The car seat matters most.
Know the signs of labour: signs of labour.

The NHS says you’ll have at least 10 antenatal appointments in a first pregnancy and at least 7 in later ones, and that you can contact maternity services at any time if you’re worried, without waiting for your next appointment.

This schedule is the NHS England pattern. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have similar but not identical schedules, so follow your own maternity service.

Questions people ask

When do I get my MatB1?

Your midwife or doctor can give it to you from about 20 weeks. You need it for maternity pay or Maternity Allowance. See the maternity pay guides on Dearbump.

How many antenatal appointments will I have?

The NHS says at least 10 for a first pregnancy and at least 7 for later pregnancies, plus 2 scans.

Can my partner come to appointments?

The NHS says a partner can come to appointments if you’d like them to.

Is this the same everywhere in the UK?

It is the NHS England pattern. The other UK nations are similar but not identical, so follow your own maternity service.