Pregnancy Checklist: Overlake Childbirth Center

At Overlake Childbirth Center, we’ve created a trimester-by-trimester checklist to help you feel more organized, supported and prepared during pregnancy. 

Our timeline of classes is designed to keep you on track and give you the support and resources you need to successfully prepare for birth and postpartum. 

First Trimester

• Choose your doctor or midwife. Learn more about where to find one and what to consider.
• Schedule prenatal visits with your doctor or midwife. Learn more about what to expect during a prenatal visit.
• Watch our virtual tour. This video of the Overlake Childbirth Center will help you know where to park and register, how we help you be as comfortable as possible during labor, and what happens after your baby is born. 

Suggested classes during your first trimester

• Healthy Pregnancy, Healthy Baby: This FREE class prepares families for the journey through pregnancy. Register now.
• Yoga for Pregnancy: Practice breathing exercises, easy postures and guided meditation in this six-week, prenatal yoga series. Real-time, interactive instruction. Register now. 

Second Trimester

• Continue prenatal visits. These visits help make sure you and your growing baby stay as healthy as possible.
• Preregister for your delivery. To save time and lower stress, you can preregister in advance online – before you’re in labor.  
• Consider a doula for labor and postpartum support. You can find doulas near you and learn more about them at doula match or DONA.org.

Suggested classes during your second trimester

• Understanding Your Newborn: This class will prepare you to care for your newborn with fun, interactive and informative instruction including diapering, bathing, soothing baby and more. Self-guided course or in-person. Also offered on-demand (online) in Spanish. Register now.
• Breastfeeding Basics: Learn essential information to help get you off to a smooth start with breastfeeding. Register now.
• Infant CPR & First Aid: Expectant and new parents, grandparents and family members can all take this class. (Completion cards not awarded.) Register now.
• Yoga for Pregnancy: Practice breathing exercises, easy postures and guided meditation in this six-week, prenatal yoga series. Real-time, interactive instruction. Register now. 

Third Trimester

• Continue prenatal visits. These visits help make sure you and your growing baby stay as healthy as possible.
• Schedule your baby’s circumcision, if appropriate. If you want a circumcision for your baby after delivery, it’s best to schedule it before your baby is born. Our list of community circumcision resources can help you do that.
• Learn about your baby’s birth certificate. Check out our frequently asked questions about birth certificates or order your birth certificate online now.
• Consider cord blood donation or banking. Umbilical cord blood and tissues are rich sources of powerful stem cells used in transplant medicine to regenerate healthy blood and immune systems. You can choose one of these options for your baby’s cord blood:
  • Donate it to the local public cord blood bank (Bloodworks Northwest).
  • Save the cord blood/tissue should someone in your family need it through a private cord blood bank.  
• Get a car seat test and install your car seat. Car seat tests are often free and available in various locations in King County.
• Pack your bags for labor and for after birth.  

Suggested classes during your third trimester

• Understanding Birth: This class gives you an overview of the third trimester, labor, birth and postpartum healing. Real-time, interactive instruction. In-person or virtual. Also offered on-demand (online) in Spanish. Register now.
• Labor Coping Skills: Learn (and practice) comfort measures and different positions to use while laboring at home and in the hospital. Register now.
• Yoga for Pregnancy: Practice breathing exercises, easy postures and guided meditation in this six-week, prenatal yoga series. Real-time, interactive instruction. Register now.
• Colostrum collection. This class teaches you how to express colostrum during the last trimester of pregnancy. Colostrum, the first form of breast milk, is full of nutrients that help strengthen your baby’s immune system, clear their first stool (meconium), and regulate their blood sugar. Register now.

Fourth Trimester (After Baby Arrives)

• Go to your postpartum follow-up visit. This check-up visit for mom and baby happens two or three days after birth – and helps make sure that you’re healing well and your baby is doing well too.
• Make an appointment with a lactation consultant. If you’re breastfeeding, a lactation appointment can help you get off to the best possible start. 

Connect with other parents at our postpartum support groups 

We offer a variety of friendly, helpful support groups at our Parent & Baby Care Center. These groups are FREE, but you need to register for them in advance. 

• After Baby Comes (ABC): A FREE group for new parents to talk about feeding, sleeping and the many challenges of parenthood. Weekly, real-time meetings. Register now.
  • ABC Classes are divided by your baby’s age:
    • 0–3 months: Tuesdays, 10–11 am
    • 3–6 months: Tuesdays, 2–3 pm
    • 6–12 months: Tuesdays, noon–1 pm
• Balance After Baby: A FREE postpartum support group for new parents experiencing sadness or anxiety. Real-time, interactive meetings. Register now.
• Pumping Strategies: A FREE group for moms returning to work or moms who plan to provide breast milk by pumping. Register now.

Suggested classes during your fourth trimester

• Yoga & Strength: After Birth & Beyond: Practice breathing exercises, restorative postures and guided meditation in this six-week, postpartum yoga series. Real-time, interactive instruction. Register now.
• Pelvic Floor and Core Power Up: Led by a Pelvic Health Physical Therapist, this class is designed for people who’ve recently given birth and wish to work on their total body strength with an emphasis on pelvic floor recovery. This class is for people who are at least 6 weeks postpartum. Register now.