It’s insane how quick the third trimester comes especially when you were just enjoying the second trimester bliss. With my first pregnancy, I did my best to stay present and fully enjoy each stage of pregnancy. Before I knew it, the third trimester was knocking on my door. I knew it was time to get serious. I needed to start getting organized but of course I had no idea where to start. I winged it. When my baby boy arrived, there were definitely things I wished I had done or been more prepared before his arrival. Bringing a baby home is already overwhelming so you can imagine how not being fulling prepared can up the chaos.

Now as I enter into my third trimester with my second pregnancy, I am a little more calm and collected. I know what I need to do and how to fully feel prepared for baby number two. Of course I still have no idea how I’ll juggle two babies under two but in true motherhood fashion–I’ll have to learn what works and what doesn’t work even if that means sinking before swimming. As I sit here and write down all the things I need to get ready, I felt inspired to share my list with all you mamas to be.

Hopefully, this list will help you feel better prepared for welcoming your bundle of joy into this world. That way you can focus on your little one and not have to worry about anything else. Trust me, the last thing you want to do is still have things to organize and/or projects to finish while you’re taking care of a newborn.

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Finish Your Baby Nursery:

Buy all the things you need, put all the décor up, set up all the furniture, and organize all the baby items. I am not going to lie…there are still things I am wanting to do in Luke’s room. Before I had Luke, my thought was he will be sleeping in our room for the first six months so we will have time to finalize everything. Well, projects are hard to accomplish in the first year of taking care of a baby. I wish I had done everything I wanted to do before Luke arrived like put up a book shelf and make his closet more functional. Finish your baby nursery all the way and you will thank me later.

Related Post: Need some help on what you need for your baby nursery?

Read my post on How To Create The Perfect Baby Nursery With These Budget Friendly Essentials.
 

Buy Any Items Left On Your Baby Registry:

Going through everything you received from your baby shower and organizing it is an important thing to do. That way you can see what you have and then know what is leftover that you need to still get. I recommend having everything you want by around 37 weeks just in case your baby decides to make an appearance early. I also would return duplicate items or things you feel like you may not need BEFORE baby gets here otherwise it may not happen for awhile. And then it may be hard to return that item.

Related Posts:  

Must Have Baby Items You’ll Need In The First Year,

Ten Baby Items I Did Not Use Or Need

Do Some Spring Cleaning Even If It’s Not Spring:

Now is the time where full nesting mode sets in. I had to clean EVERYTHING. The only issue was my “nesting” didn’t occur until late in pregnancy so all the spring cleaning I wanted to do before Luke arrived didn’t happen. You don’t want to bring your baby home to a messy house. I’m talking not just tidying up but dusting, vacuuming, decluttering, all that fun stuff.

This is a good time to invite loved ones over for a cleaning party or at least relying on your significant other for help. Bringing a baby home to a clean house is a breath of fresh air. I wish I had tackled all my cleaning to do’s and will definitely take care of that before my second man arrives.

Make Freezer Meals:

This is the number one thing I totally regret not doing with my first. The newborn stage is overwhelming, busy, and exhausting. You will barely have time for anything else other than caring for your little one and soaking up all the snuggles. Luckily my husband stayed home with baby and I for two weeks so he was the go to dinner guy. But had we had freezer meals then he would have been able to spend more time with our son.

There are so many benefits to prepping freezer meals. It’s healthier than eating out all the time, it’s quicker than preparing fresh meals, and it saves time. I will definitely be doing freezer meals before our second little man arrives.

Pack Your Hospital Bag:

I recommend packing your hospital bag around 35-37 weeks in case your baby wants to make their entrance into the world early. The last thing you want is to be running around your house trying to get everything WHILE you’re in labor. We love our men but do not leave it up to your husband because things will be forgotten. 😉

Related Posts: What I Will Pack In My Hospital Bag The Second Time Around

Sign Up For Birthing Classes:

This is optional but is definitely a great thing to do for first time moms. Even though I didn’t really use any of the techniques I learned in class, the information I gathered was worth it alone. Plus, you get to tour the hospital you’ll be birthing at. It’s nice to know where to go, where you’ll be taken, and how your stay will go. All important things to know before you go into labor.

Register At Your Hospital For Your Birth:

I didn’t have to do this the first time. It was already done for me but this time around I am going to a different OB where they require me to register at the hospital I’ll be birthing at. This is an important step and not something you want to be doing while you are in labor.

Know Your Birthing Plan:

You don’t have to write out a step by step guide of your birthing plan but having an idea of what you want to do is important. Labor often times will not go as you plan but it’s important to figure out if you want to have a natural labor or if you want to use drugs like an epidural. Make sure you inform your husband of what your plan is so that way he can let the nurses know if you are busy…laboring and what not.

I recommend researching the pros and cons of different birthing styles. Do what is best for you and don’t let other opinions hinder your decision. You are a mom regardless of how your baby comes into this world.

Have A Game Plan For Visitors:

Think about who you want in the hospital with you or if you want any visitors at all. Inform those that are visiting of any wishes you have before they meet your baby. It’ll save a lot of stress if you make these informed decisions ahead of time.

Plan Your Postpartum Recovery:

I completely skipped over this with my first. I was caught up in preparing for my little man and preparing for labor that I completely forgot about my recovery period. Recovery was rough. I wasn’t prepared so I’m sure that did not help. I recommend having all the essentials you’ll need for recovery ready to go before you have baby. If you aren’t sure what you’ll need, below I linked my post on postpartum essentials that will make recovery slightly easier.

Related Post: Postpartum Essentials: What I Didn’t Know I Needed

Find A Pediatrician For Your Baby:

You absolutely have to have this done by the time you deliver. Your newborn baby will actually be seen by the doctors office you choose in the hospital (not necessarily your doctor you choose). And then you will need your baby to be seen at least 1-2 weeks after he or she is born. You’ll be too busy to find a pediatrician after you have a baby so do the research ahead of time. That way you can schedule the appointment tentatively and get your baby all registered in their system.

Take Maternity Pictures:

I wish I would have taken more maternity pictures with my first. They don’t have to be professional by any means but dressing up and taking a styled picture is important. I will definitely be taking more this time around. You will miss your belly and miss being pregnant. Having those pictures to look back on is a really nice keepsake to have.

Schedule Newborn Pictures:

If you want to have professional newborn pictures taken, it’s a good idea to research and find a photographer before. Some hospitals do offer to take newborn pictures so check with your hospital if that is an option for you. The less you have to worry about after baby is born, the better.

Arrange Pet Care/Child Care:

If you have fur babies or another baby, you want to know who will be taking care of them ahead of time. You could be in the hospital for 1-3 days so having a plan is important.

Also, bonus if your pet sitter can watch your dog for the first week of having baby home. Not only are you and baby adjusting but it’s a huge adjustment for your pet as well.

Have Baby Gear Set Up and Ready To Go In Each Room:

I learned a lot bringing a newborn home the first time around. We didn’t really have anything set up besides the bassinet and the clothes put away. I would recommend getting each room ready for your baby.

Set up a nursing station if you plan on breastfeeding. I can’t tell you how frustrating it was when my boobs were leaking EVERYWHERE and there was no burp cloth in sight. Have a burp cloth or receiving blanket in each room you and baby will be in.

If you have a swing, make sure it is all put together. Make sure your baby wrap is out of the box. Make sure your baby’s bathtub is set up. You get the picture. These little things being done before will save a lot of time and your sanity.

Read Up On Breastfeeding:

If you plan on breastfeeding, I highly recommend doing some research on what breastfeeding is all about. Breastfeeding was way harder than I had anticipated. There were a lot of things I didn’t know about breastfeeding until I learned the hard way. I wish I would have done a little more research so I could have been a little bit more prepared.

Related Posts:

What I Wished I Knew About Breastfeeding Before I Had Started,

Breastfeeding Essentials That Made Nursing Easier,

How To Know If Your Baby Is Getting Enough Breastmilk

Do Something For Yourself:

Spend some quality time with yourself. Do something that makes you feel good. You won’t have a lot of me time when your little one arrives. So squeezing in some quality time before baby arrives is definitely important for your soul.

Spend Time With Your Husband:

Go on a date night, stay home and watch movies together, talk over dinner (no distractions)–find whatever activity you both love and spend some quality time with one another. You won’t have a lot of that with a newborn. It’s important for both of you to get that time in before baby arrives.

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These are the top things I can think of that are definite musts to do in your third trimester. Can’t believe you made it? You’re almost there, mama. Enjoy the rest of your pregnancy because before you know it, you will be holding your precious gem in your arms.

Did I miss something? Let me know by commenting below. I and other expecting mamas would love to hear if you have some awesome tips or things to add to the list.