When did you start panicking.....

[Writerwannabe83]

I think I've been a bit complacent about the fact a baby will be coming into our life but over the last few days I've been freaking out in the manner of "How is everything going to be ready in time??"

I feel like I have an endless list of things that need doing but just don't know where to start. So much stuff to buy!! I was getting stressed yesterday about the fact the baby hasn't got a coat to travel home in after the birth - bearing in mind I'm only almost 30 weeks

I look around the house and it is absolute CHAOS because of all the changes we are making in preparation for baby's arrival and it just freaks me out. The only thing that is half ready is the nursery, which baby won't even need when it's born, but we haven't got anything else!! I can't stop thinking about Moses baskets, cribs, sterilisers, bottles, nappy changing mats, bibs and clothes, pushchairs, car seats, nappies, baths etc etc and I feel overwhelmed and that time is running out

My husband very rarely has 'down time' so it is hard to find time to crack on and do things in a productive manner - I just have this sense of doom that baby is going to arrive and we are going to be totally unprepared.

Never really panicked, you don't need to. No matter what is done or not, bought or not by the time baby arrives, it's no problem really. Baby can sleep in a drawer and nappies, formula if not bf'ing can be bought in 10 mins. You really need very little for baby, the rest is just OTT consumerism.

I usually bought something once a week with my groceries, that's the beauty of supermarkets now you can buy most of the smaller things. So gor example I'd buy a pack of nappies and perhaps a microwave steriliser one week, the next a multipack of wipes and some vests or sleep suits etc.
asda are having a bavy event in the next week ir two abd I found ghat great for nappies, wipes, bottle warmer, change mat even moses basket and stand. ...plus if you order online it's delivered to your door no hassle.

Honestly babies don't need that much and as for a coat don't put one in in the car seat as it's actually dangerous just a wee hat and lots of blankets or a car seat snuggle. You'll be amazed at what gifts you'll get snd if people ask what you need just tell them that's what we did.

Have a Moses basket, a blanket, microwave steriliser, 2 bottles, 6 cartons of pre made formula in the cupboard, a couple of packs of vests and baby gros in newborn, a pack of muslins, a thermometer and that is really all you need at first. You can use the bathroom sink and existing towels (as easy as anything) for baths. Pillow cases make great Moses basket sheets. Don't be panicking, you really need very little.

I'm with droflove. You actually need very little and most of that could be picked up very quickly or ordered online. Are you hoping to breastfeed? If so, you won't need bottles etc.

Forgot nappies, some of them and some sudocrem in case.

Sudocrem!! - thanks Dro - it's now on my list!! Great tip about pillow cases as Moses Baskets sheets

Blue - fully intending to breast feed but want formula supplies in the house 'just in case'. I have a few health problems and in worst case scenario my DH may find himself in sole care of baby at times especially in the early weeks.

whereisthewitch - ironically after your post my PIL came round with a book of Morrisons stamps which apparently entitles us to £100 worth of stuff. Apparently they have been saving up the stamps for a year and have now given them to us to get buy basic baby supplies Bless them

I had a mad panic in the last weeks of pregnancy. On reflection all I actually needed were a couple of sets of clothes, a Moses basket and some nappies (and bottles / formula eventually).
Everything else really is just 'stuff' that you can pick up as and when. Supermarkets pretty much have everything you need now.

Also - what you actually NEED is very personal. For example I absolutely love my nappy bin bit I know others think they are totally irrelevant.

Feeling exactly the same - our house is quite small and our second bedroom, which will be the nursery is still my dressing room, full of my clothes etc. My dh had the house for 10 years before I moved in so he's accumulated a lot of clutter. It's hard to know what you'll need when it's your first. I just keep reminding myself if we have stuf to take him home, feed change and clothe him and somewhere for him to sleep then we can build up from there x

My problem is that I'm a control freak and want the house and everything else to be 100% perfect for when he comes home for the first time

I started panicking at day one!!! As soon as I found out I was pregnant panic mode set in and is still in now at 20 weeks!!!!!! I panic and worry over every slightest thing!!!!!!!!!

Why do you need a coat to come home from hospital? Babies shouldn't wear coats in car seats, so if you are coming home by car, blanket for over the car seat is all you need.

Our baby was planned soon as I seen the pregnancy test positive I shat my self as it set in I didn't expect to fall first month of trying.

I'm 26 weeks now so excited for my little boy to get here but panic most days.

I'm a total control freak think that's my prob first baby so feel totally out of control with every thing, my boobs started leaking last couple of weeks totally freaked out! Even tho I'm planning on breast feeding.

I'm not good with change. My body is changed so much I feel like I m not me any more, so along with all this panicking I start thinking will I be a good mum.

Sure we will be fine once baby is here, I'm blaming it on hormones and the fact I'm an irritating control freak lol

Mine is second baby and even more of a nut job than I was first time!! I am worrying over everything! My midwife asked me to note down everything I worry about as it happens, gee whizz she was sorry she had asked!!!!!! Ha ha I really need to get a grip but I can't! Glad I'm not on my own, it's good to know others out there are worriers like me xxxx

My Ds was a month early and I was in hospital for the month before his birth and 2 weeks after. The only thing I had organised was the pushchair and car seat and a pack of babygrows. So we had to wing it on all levels.
My Dsis had given me a few things but by the time I got him home we had worked out what we needed and what was a total waste.
Top and tail bowl is essential. A bath hammock is far more useful than a baby bath especially if you have a section. Changing mat and towels. Somewhere for them to sleep, we had a carrycot as part of travel system, so sheets and blankets. Although we had a cot (hand me down) we didnt bother assembling it until he had grown out of the carry cot.
It also gave us an excuse to get out of the house during the first few weeks. DH had organised with work to have his paternity leave spread over a month rather than just having 2 weeks. He worked mornings and had the afternoons off.

I think the only thing you need is a car seat (I believe they wont let the baby leave the hospital without being properly secured in a car seat) but other than that you can manage without everything else - until you can get round to getting them,,,, even nappies can be picked up at any corner shop at a push.
No mosses basket/cot then the baby sleeps with you, no pram then you use a sling/dont go out until you get one etc etc, theres always an alternative.
Now, relax and just enjoy your pregnancy :)

Was panicking from about 5 months onwards. Our house is tiny, over-cluttered and chaotic. Hormones have turned me into a total psycho when it has come to nesting. I'm normally pretty laid back about clutter but I've driven poor hubby up the wall....

Im 32 weeks monday and there is no floor in the babies room currently...eeek! Altho i keep thinking its ok as he will be in with us for a while but on the other hand there is no storage ready its all in a plastic box waiting to be sorted, that bugs me as im desperate to sort it so its ready! I feel in limbo so i am sure give me another week and i will panic that nothing is ready, im usually quite relaxed and laid back so its been fine so far but im sure panic will set in soon :-)

I have a lot of stuff, but my house is a filthy hoarders paradise! I'm 32 weeks this week and I need to start throwing stuff away and scrubbing! its a small house but it is a big job!

I think it's actually a myth about not being allowed to leave hospital without a car chair. If you don't drive or own a car, why would you buy one?

I'm pretty sure a child is allowed to travel in a taxi without a seat...I'm off to Google...

You don't have to have a car seat to leave hospital. For example, you might be getting on the bus with a pram! I do agree that it's an essential though. Regardless of the law, stage 0 seats are so portable that I wouldn't dream of getting in any car or cab with a newborn baby without one. Most people (though obviously not everyone) will use a car enough in the first few months for it to be worth getting a basic one.

As other have said you need nothing but nappies and a few sleep suits for a baby. My first I had everything including cot, Moses basket, crib, a million outfits, baby baths seat etc. this time I realise that baby is unlikely to sleep anywhere but on me for first six weeks. Nappies are the only thing you can't do without (and let's be honest people use muslin and terry squares so you probably have all you need there too).

Try to relax and enjoy your last few weeks alone with you dh. It will go slowly and quickly at the same time and in a few months you will wonder why you panicked as the things you worried about were easy and it was the things you hadn't even thought of that caused trouble!

Panic set in at 37 weeks - full term, started mat leave and time to think of baby. Like OP, realised I have nothing and the house is in chaos. Now 38 weeks and all the carpets are up, electricians coming this week, dust everywhere! Hoping it'll come together in the next week or so and baby will hold on until then!

Good luck CH in getting it all done in time and fingers crossed baby doesn't make an early appearance!!

I have been signed off since 16 weeks so have done nothing but think about the baby and stress over everything. A few nights ago I was up at 3am writing a listing of things we need to buy DH is being very calm and laid back about it all which although is probably the right attitude I'm finding it irritating!

I had everything by the time dd arrived, but I still had a moment of utter terror that I couldn't have a baby/wasn't ready/wouldn't cope.

This moment came when her head was out!
I actually remember very clearly thinking "shit, I'm not sure I want to do this. I'll just stop pushing and it will be fine"

I think it's more an element of trying to get some control in a situation in which you really have very little. You can't control when the baby arrives, or whether you'll be able to BF, or whether the baby will have reflux, or be a good sleeper or any of the millions of variables.

I actually stayed calm throughout my pregnancy, mainly because I was still working FT in a complicated project (which took up all my brain space), plus we were selling/buying a new flat which took up the rest of my brain space, plus DS arrived early so didn't have time to worry!

With this pregnancy (DS2) I've had a couple of wobbles, but it's mainly to do with how to get DS1 to stop co-sleeping in time for DS2's arrival and when the hell I'm going to toilet train him

I find making lists very therapeutic and allow me an element of control.

I was also "lucky" that we lived in a tiny flat when DS1 arrived so we had no space so just bought the very very basics. I then discovered that the very basics actually covered 95% of what we needed.