In 60 seconds
Your short plan for this week
Complete the two preparations that prevent last-minute stress: save the travel route and put essential documents and contacts together.
Confirm where you plan to give birth, when to call before travelling and what documents or supplies the facility asks you to bring.
Do not spend beyond your means on long newborn shopping lists; safe care needs far less equipment than marketing suggests.
What you may notice
Your body and how you may feel
Fatigue may return. Break preparation into small tasks and accept practical help.
What is happening
Baby’s development this week
Bones are formed but still relatively soft, and the lungs continue maturing.
Plain-language examples
What this means in real life
A useful birth bag is small and practical: identification, medicines, comfortable clothes, basic toiletries, chargers and the baby basics your birth place requests.
A short checklist
What to do now
- Complete the two preparations that prevent last-minute stress: save the travel route and put essential documents and contacts together.
- Discuss birth preferences, feeding support and early recovery.
- Notice your baby's usual movement pattern and act promptly on a clear change.
Pause and check
What not to do—or what to ask first
- Do not spend beyond your means on long newborn shopping lists; safe care needs far less equipment than marketing suggests.
What may be coming up
Appointments, tests and decisions
Confirm where you plan to give birth, when to call before travelling and what documents or supplies the facility asks you to bring.
Choose birth and newborn learning
Look for evidence-based antenatal education that includes recovery and newborn care.
Write flexible birth preferences
Record what matters to you while allowing plans to change for safety or preference.
Review pregnancy vaccinations
Confirm current and seasonal recommendations with your clinician.
Save the route and urgent contacts
Know where to go, how to get there and whom to call day or night.
For the support person
One useful thing a partner can do
- Own the route, fuel or fare, backup transport, phone chargers and care arrangements for children, pets or dependants.
Contact your care team
Contact your doctor or maternity team promptly
Some concerns need advice before the next routine appointment even when they do not feel like an emergency. If a symptom becomes severe, sudden or frightening, use urgent care instead.
See when to contact careUrgent or emergency
Urgent signs during pregnancy or within a year after birth
Get medical care immediately for these symptoms. The list is not exhaustive; if something feels seriously wrong, seek help.
Open urgent warning signs