I am due in exactly two weeks and I am just trying to tick off a list of things to do before the birth. Here is the list:
hospital bag packed and by the door
rooms that the baby will be in are ready (we recently moved house so I’ve made sure certain rooms have had more attention so it’s not cluttered or anything)
I am making meals up in advance and freezing
I have all the baby clothes washed and sorted by sizes
her crib is ready along with all the other bits
we have had trial runs to the hospital
we have tested getting the car seat in and out of the car along with folding up the pram
we have also tested out the steriliser (I plan to pump)
Anything that I am missing?
Furthermore, is there anything you think I should know (any little bits of insights are always appreciated)?
Hmmm, if you installed the car seat yourself, will your local police or fire station check to make sure it’s as secure as possible??
Mentally prep yourself to turn away friends and visitors who are overbearing, for me that was tough.
[name_m]Set[/name_m] up breastfeeding stations if you are breastfeeding - bottled water and granola bars, books or something, extra pillows to position comfortably
You’ll need to limit stairs your first few days home, so be sure you’ve got a changing area on each floor and perhaps bring a cooler or lunch box upstairs if you’re sleeping on the second floor.
Sounds like you are set to go Maybe cook a few freezer meals, so that you don’t have to worry about dinners?
My only advice is to just enjoy! It’s easy to get caught up in sleeplessness, just trying to function, and waiting for the next milestone! [name_m]Don[/name_m]'t forget to enjoy the moment, and try not to stress too much, because it goes too qickly! That goes for the end of pregnancy as well- in a few short months you will find yourself missing the quiet times of just you and the little bean inside!
It’s a great suggestion to have th car seat checked. We didn’t have the fire station or police station check ours, but at our hospital the nurses wheel you to the vehicle and they check that the car seat is correctly installed before you get to leave.
My only other advice would be to be prepared for labor and delivery to not go the way you think it’ll go.
In addition to the meals in your freezer, I’d also recommend freezing some pads soaked in aloe or alcohol-free witchhazel to make ice packs. Really great for soreness and healing postpartum. Make sure you have some lanolin on hand for breastfeeding early on, bookmark kellymom.com, and if you’re planning to pump, have some freezer space for milk too (All of this is how I ended up with a second freezer ) Good luck!
[name_u]Read[/name_u] books in which there are no talking animals.
Cuss a lot (if you are a cusser) My husband and I declared a cussing week during which we cussed as much as possible. It was oddly a good way to break the habit.
Make sure you have easy access to both the number for 911 and the best pizza delivery in town.
You are otherwise completely and utterly prepared. You are going to be amazing at this!
All of the above! But especially breathing and getting ready to rock and roll whichever way the boat goes with labor !
You seem pretty well prepared, so now all you have to do is wait for the unknown and embrace it – on the glamorous side, I would add getting a good stash of thick pads for post-partum bleeding (thinner super absorbing ones can be more irritating because of whatever chemical they use on the top layer, I found out) ; I had to send my husband on one of the most miserable, albeit funniest errands of his life in the “feminine hygiene” aisle when I realised the Always brand didn’t agree with me at all.
So yeah, just be prepared for the never-ending sophistication and glamour of post-partum: you’ll be just fine, but make sure you have people you trust to talk to (a midwife, a few good friends with a good sense of humour, a sister …) for all the not-so-chic moments that may await you (or not, if you’re super lucky), like haemorrhoids, episiotomy pain, etc.
But really, breathe. And try to enjoy it all as much as you can ! All my positive thoughts are with you !!!
The only other thing I can think of is to write down your birth plan, if you have one. [name_f]Do[/name_f] you want to be free to walk around? Birthing positions? epidural or no? Other pain meds? Who do you want in the room with you? Who do you want to cut the cord? [name_f]Do[/name_f] you want it to stop pulsating or cut immediately? [name_f]Do[/name_f] you want to spend time with the baby before they clean him or her, measure and weigh the baby? [name_f]Do[/name_f] you want the baby in the room with you as much as possible?
Of course, it may not go as planned, but at least the doctors will know what your wishes are ahead of time.
Relax! Enjoy the time you have left before she takes over your life. Take a nap, binge watch some Netflix, go out with your fiance for dinner and a movie. Your life will never be the same, and it is a great thing, but enjoy this part of life while it lasts!
Go and see a movie, especially with you SO.
My son is almost 3, and I think my hubby and I have seen about 4 movies together since he was born (the first time I fell asleep for a big chunk of the movie, oops!).
Maybe cook a few freezer meals, so that you don’t have to worry about dinners?
) Good luck!