I’m 36 weeks pregnant and the countdown has begun. Who am I kidding; I’ve been counting down since week 30. Being pregnant in this summer Texas heat is no joke! I’ve been trying to use these bursts of nesting energy to get lots of things done so that I feel prepared when our baby comes. With a toddler at home there are all new challenges this time around. I’m one to plan and make lists; the more organized I am, the better I feel. With that in mind, I present you my list of my:
Top 5 Things To Do Before Going into Labor
1. Pack that hospital bag. I’ve heard so many stories of moms who went into labor early and didn’t get a chance to pack their bag beforehand. After throwing whatever they could think of in a suitcase at the last minute, there were definitely some things that got left behind. Having my bag packed is at the top of my list. There is so much about the birth that is out of our control; everyone’s birth story is different. This is one thing I can make sure is ready so I will have the best chance to be comfortable in the hospital during our stay. So check Pinterest, ask your mom friends, and get packing!
2. Stock your pantry and freezer. I didn’t do this the first time around, but I’ve been working on recipes and figuring out what we’ll need for the past few months. I want to spend as much time at home during those first few weeks as possible. Plus, I really don’t want to brave the grocery store with two kids for a few weeks. I’ve been making sure our pantry is stocked with staples and our freezer has good, easy, and healthy meals that we can pull out and put together with minimal effort. The newborn stage is one of my favorites and it goes so quickly; I want to spend as much time as possible cuddling my newborn and not preparing food!
3. Complete any projects you’ve been working on. Use those nesting energies to finish up the nursery, organize your home, or whatever other projects you wanted to finish before baby comes. Life gets flipped upside down with a new baby and you probably won’t have time or want to do those projects for a while once the baby comes. Take this time to get as much done as you have the energy for. You’ll be so happy you didn’t put it off!
4. Plan some quality time with your family. That could be a babymoon, a date night or two, some family time, or some extra time with your kids. Life is about to change forever for your family. Take these last few weeks to enjoy one another before things get busy with the new little one.
5. Pamper yourself. Who couldn’t use some pampering, especially in those last few weeks of pregnancy when all those lovely things about pregnancy get more intense. Your body has been going through a lot and it’s about to go through labor and delivery. Take some time to care for yourself. Rest, get a pedicure, take a nap, take a bath, go for a walk, read a magazine, grab your favorite dinner. Do something you love and take the time to care for yourself.
What about you? What was a ‘must do’ before you had your baby?
