In 60 seconds
Your short plan for this week
Build a realistic food-safety routine: wash produce, keep raw and ready-to-eat foods separate, and cook animal foods thoroughly.
If you have not arranged care, do it now. Ask whether your first contact is with a midwife, obstetric clinician or primary-care professional.
Avoid unpasteurized dairy and raw or undercooked meat, eggs, fish and shellfish.
What you may notice
Your body and how you may feel
Hormone changes can affect appetite, mood, digestion and energy from one day to the next.
What is happening
Baby’s development this week
The brain, face and limb buds continue developing at a remarkable pace.
Plain-language examples
What this means in real life
Example: a balanced week may be more realistic than a perfect plate at every meal when nausea and aversions are strong.
A short checklist
What to do now
- Build a realistic food-safety routine: wash produce, keep raw and ready-to-eat foods separate, and cook animal foods thoroughly.
- Review medicines and supplements with a clinician or pharmacist.
- Choose food-safety and substance-free habits without chasing perfection.
Pause and check
What not to do—or what to ask first
- Avoid unpasteurized dairy and raw or undercooked meat, eggs, fish and shellfish.
What may be coming up
Appointments, tests and decisions
If you have not arranged care, do it now. Ask whether your first contact is with a midwife, obstetric clinician or primary-care professional.
For the support person
One useful thing a partner can do
- Take over shopping or cooking if smells trigger nausea, and ask what is tolerable instead of guessing.
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