How far in advance did you prepare/buy baby things...

[mumtobealloveragain]

We've recently moved out, had a lot going on, I have kids, my partner has kids and my partner works full time. The house isn't sorted (think boxes everywhere, Xmas decorations in the downstairs loo, curtains and blinds still going up and there's not a hint of painting been done yet).

I'm 32 weeks today and reading on here I just though "shit" what if the baby comes early... I know it sounds silly but we keep saying "still got 8 weeks to go plenty of time" etc, but it's just hit me, we may not have 8 weeks, it could come tomorrow! :)

We have bought stuff like baby clothes, car seat, pram etc but we don't have a cot, blankets or bedding, baby bath etc. I know if I went into labour my partner or mum would go straight out and get the rest of the stuff but I have just had a slight panic. Oh and I haven't even thought about packing a bag for hospital yet.

So - What stage of preparation is everyone else up to? Are you lot all ready and hospital bag packed and in the boot "just in case" by 32 weeks?

Also, sounds daft, but is it that common for babies to come early given that I have had a straightforward pregnancy, not my first, no problems etc. I have found out that the baby will be 9lb+ though - does that increase the risk of giving birth early?

Oh and I mean "moved house" not "moved out" :)

We recently moved house also, well may 21st...the nursery was basically a "dumping ground" (as DH put it) for things we hadn't found a place for/unpacked yet/needed putting in storage. It was only the 13th of this month that I cleared it out and made it into an actual nursery...and it took ALL day, most of the clutter ended up in our bedroom and I've spent most of today trying to sort that out, argh I hate moving house lol ! Anyway I think the only thing that got me off my bum sorting that room out was the cot and changer getting delivered (ordered online) and couldn't fit another box in that room!!

So far only actually bought the cot and changer and one little outfit for baby, oh and my MIL bought me a rocking chair when we first announced I was pregnant at like 5 weeks.

I'm 26+2 so I suppose we're a bit early but I think it depends on budgeting, my DH started a new job the day after BFP and with the house move etc we hadn't been able to afford to buy anything until last pay day sooo now we're in a mad rush as only actually got 3 pay days left, so 14 weeks sounds a lot but 3 wages doesn't if you see what I mean?

End of this month (27+1weeks) we are getting the majority of what's left (bottles, steriliser, moses basket, etc), and end of september (31+3) getting clothes/towels/play activity mat. End of october (35+6) anything we've forgotten (but I'm hoping that we can just have one last none skint month rather than spending loads again, before he's born to be honest lol!).

My mum is getting our push chair middle of October so when I'm about 35 weeks! And my MIL is buying baby monitor as my husbands birthday gift when I'll be like 38 weeks...which is cutting it too fine for my comfort to be honest !

If we had had the money I would have liked to have started sooner to be honest, feels a bit rushed like this, but that's because if he was early we couldn't afford to run to the shops and buy what's needed and I don't want to be at the mercy of MIL lol, if your budget allows for buying a lot in one go I don't think you need to worry too much really .

Oh and we haven't decorated either, I think we will be budgeting that in the end of October pay or maybe even leaving the walls white (there's plenty of colourful stuff in there anyway).

I'm only on my first but from everything I've read it's more likely you'll have your baby between 38-42 weeks (due dates being +/-2wks) so I think you've a few weeks yet, and my mw said to me if i go into labour before 37 weeks I have to go hospital (not CMU) which leads me to think it's not that common to or they wouldn't be worried if you did if you know what I mean?

Anyways, good luck with everything not long for you now either way! Congratulations

P.S sorry I'm using my phone and actually didn't see your last paragraph, I've not a clue about the weight thing or if that increases early birth to be honest, never read anything that says either way , but hopefully somebody will have some info, I'll be keen to find out myself now you've mentioned it as bigger babies run in my DHs family apparently!

I don't think big babies come early at all! My 10 lb 2 boy was over a week late. Guess he'd have been 9 lb if he was on time?!

I'm due 9 November an we are due to move house either end of October or November once our new house is built.
So we are vastly unprepared, and will be no matter when the baby is born!
I have a pram and car seat from my DS, and clothes etc from him plus a few new bits, and will be using a bed nest for the first few months but the spare room/ nursery is full of packed boxes, including all the baby stuff so I don't feel at all prepared! Only saving grace is the only thing I need to buy is a cot which I can do after we move as don't need it until he outgrows the bed nest!

hi mumtobealloveragain i moved house but in the earlier stages of pregnancy around 16 weeks were still not fully prepared nursery still not painted and finished ive got most of babys things but still need car seat bedding blankets nappies my maternity stuff and storage for the babys clothes im 30 wks now and worried a lil bit im sure you will be fine and be ready take care

33 weeks. Done verrrrry little. And about to embark on various building projects externally and internally. What's the rush?! rocks gently in the corner

OP out of interest how are they predicting a 9lbs + baby this early? I think part of my lack of organisation is because I'm convinced I'm having a whopper so want to wait till nearer due date to buy bits as my midwife last time was a very good guess on birth weight, but that wasn't till 40 weeks.

They have taken a guess on my last 2 previous pregnancies and were wrong both times- was told they were to be 8lb 5oz plus but my dcs were 7lb 6oz & 6lb 9oz. It's purely guess work, when you do get around to getting bits get a some of each newborn size and 0-3 months as a prediction is all it is.

At 32 weeks you have 8 weeks left to prepare, considering you are in the midst of a house move you have bought quite a lot already
Baby baths aren't all what they are cracked up to be anyhow, i prefered a bath sling and support sponge inside a regular bath.

You have plenty of time, don't worry yourself with baby coming early, it is unlikely to happen. And in the unfortunate event that it does, i'm sure family/friends could rally round for you.

I'm 21 weeks and so far have my travel system, a crib from my last dd and some clothing. I don't plan on putting a cot up until baby is 3 months, cots are to spacious for newborns, they prefer a basket/carrycot/crib. I won't be buying a baby bath either as i loathe emptying them etc, probably going to get a bath sponge support towards the very end of my pregnancy.

I wouldn't worry about weight predictions, they aren't very accurate at 40 weeks let alone 32.
I don't think you are "behind" at all. Without being blunt, if your baby is born in the next month it is likely they will be kept in for a bit so you (or dh/mil) will have time to get things sorted. The hospital can give you a gown to labour/recover in, maternity pads and even find nappies etc in an emergency.

I'd start with hospital bag. Then newborn essentials (somewhere to sleep/blankets/clothes/nappies). The rest can be picked up once baby is here.

I'm 37 weeks and have only just packed my hospital bag last week. We have the things we need they are just still packed away. We haven't finished clearing out the spare room yet so DH has lots to do

I know we have left it pretty late, but we have the pram, moses basket, clothes and nappies etc so if the room isn't finished it's not the end of the world.

As for the size, I don't think it makes babies come early, it's usually only a problem if you're diabetic in which case they may want to induce early but you would know about that in advance anyway

I am 22+1 and since having our second scan last week I have started to buy a few bits and pieces. Nothing major, mostly clothes that I have seen in the sales because I love shopping to spread the cost.

We have a lot to do before the baby arrives, the house is a renovation project which thankfully is habitable. My step son is moving into the current spare room, which is full of the contents of our bedroom as we are working in there at the moment, then his bedroom will become the nursery. I can't buy too much and certainly nothing sizeable until we have somewhere to put it so we need to hurry up as we have three rooms to redecorate before December.