Preparing for labour/newborn - what haven't I done?

[Lemondrop99]

So I'm coming up on 37 weeks here and am pottering around on the assumption I still have 3-5 weeks before baby arrives (I'm convinced I'll go overdue). I'm probably wasting time playing around with cute clothes and trying to deep clean the house, where as I feel I might be missing some of the important stuff should baby surprise me and arrive sooner than I expect.

For example, I only packed my hospital bag yesterday and some bits are still missing. I half scribbled a birth plan of sorts yesterday. I'm aware that I only have one sheet for my Next2Me (which hasn't been built yet!).

Sort me out. What jobs should I be actually prioritising in case baby was to arrive tomorrow??

I'm 39 weeks and feel like I'm as ready as I can be. I have a toddler to also look after so I've had to be even more organised this time!

Have you stocked the freezer a bit? I've batch cooked etc.
Has your husband/birth partner packed a bag too?

The things that saved me in the early days:
Loads of sheets for whatever your baby will sleep in.
We had a moses basket for her to lounge in downstairs.
A ridiculouse amount of baby grows, vests and muslin cloths so we didn't have to wash everyday.
A supply of nappies, wipes, sudo and a couple of changes of clothes in a box downstairs along with a changing mat.
Some instant milk for the hospital incase you have milk flow problems.
Breast pads and maternity pads.
Huge huge knickers for the hospital.
We had a washing up bowl (new ofc) to bath DD in in front of the fire when she was tiny as the normal baby bath dwarfed her.
Nipple cream if you plan to breast feed!

I'm sure there's more other can think of, but, off the top of my head all that really helped in those crazy early days!

Oh! And paper plates and plastic cups, cut out as much washing up as you can!

The biggest knickers you can find. I got granny pants had emergency c sec then had to send my bloke out for full massive briefs that come past my belly button. I'm usually a size 12, I brought a 16.
Breast pump, I didn't think I'd need one so quick, but needed to help my supply, brought a manual one and it was crap so had to go out and buy an electric one.
Just remember though you can order online and get things the next day so don't stress or anything xx
Muslins, lots! I only brought 4! Not enough! Good luck!!

Realistically as long as you have something to dress the baby in, somewhere to sleep, some nappies and some form of food that's easy to do (e.g. some chilli in the freezer - for you obv, not the baby) then anything else will fall into place or can be bought on Amazon at 3am when you realise you need it!

Ps birth plan, might work for other ladies. Mine swiftly got forgotten. The only thing I had was for partner to cut cord and announce sex but unfortunately neither happened!

Thanks for the tips!

Yeah my birth plan is veeeeeeeeeery loose. I just wanted to jot down a few ideals, like delayed cord clamping if possible. And that I am very open to the idea of pain relief! What happens, happens. I'm not set on anything.

We do have Amazon prime and a 24 hour supermarket around here, so fingers crossed that'll be fine (although I really must buy some more crib sheets!)

DH bag is his problem. It'll probably never get packed. He's the sort of guy who throws a pair of pants and a passport in a bag, 10 mins before you leave for the airport! I've packed him a new toothbrush in my hospital bag (only because I bought a double pack) but he can get on with the rest. I've told him he should do it and he hasn't, so if he's shirtless and has nothing to read, that's his fault! We are very close to the hospital though, so he can nip home.

Know I should be batch cooking but just reeeeeeeeally can't be bothered. I'll get some bung in the oven food for the freezer. Actually considering forking out for meals from Cook.

time to start drinking that raspberry leaf tea if you haven't started yet ;)
also - snacks? With DD1 I missed dinner at the hospital and was famished all night.

I second snacks and drinks for your bag. Depending on what time you have baby you won't get offered much more than toast. Your partner might be lucky if he gets offered a cup of tea or if he can find a water cooler. I have packed sports drinks and lucozade and some flapjack bars.
Also straws - help you sip a drink when laying down etc.
Most important things are having a car seat and moses basket ready and the first stage of clothes.
I'd prioritise:

• finish packing Bag
• buy sheets for crib and moses basket

Then look at getting rest of baby's stuff ready.
Don't worry too much about birth plan, as long as you are aware of your options. Mine was never looked at!!

Lots of muslins - and then lots more
Nursing bras - I would want to fuss going out and getting one post birth
A gift in your bag for your midwife ready to hand over as you leave (mine was outstanding)

@GlennRheeismyfavourite your gift or the midwife

Yes sort the cot. You won't feel like having anything to mess around with when you get in.

Practice putting the car seat into the car and/or strapping a teddy into it. The rule is to pull the straps tight enough you can get no more than a finger between the straps and the baby. Adjust straps into smallest position if not already done.

If you're doing a birth plan IMO write two - one for you/your birth supports to look at to remind you of all the little tricks you've learned and planned but which will totally go out of the window once you're there. The other is for the midwives with specific information about stuff you can control but might be too out of it to request - e.g. "I want skin to skin as soon as baby is born" "I want partner to announce sex" etc. Don't bother putting in any preferences about pain relief etc just work it out as you go. Don't fill it up with stuff which is already going to be hospital policy like "I don't want a c-section if I can avoid it". When I had DS they told me all they need to know in advance is whether you want physiological or medical 3rd stage and whether we consented to vitamin K.

Look up all of the breastfeeding support helplines and mark out on a calendar when all of your local support groups or drop ins run - just in case you need urgent help once home.

Yes to getting food stockpiled - whether cooked or bought!

Do squats :o

have a haircut. My baby is 5 months noe and still haven't had one yet!