What do you wish you had done before your baby was born?

[Pac35]

Just that really. I am 39+3 today with my first baby. I started mat leave last week. Despite all my best efforts (spinning babies techniques for weeks, 2x ECV, swimming every other day, moxibustion, acupuncture) my baby is STILL breech. I have a caesarean booked for Thursday (here's hoping it might still move!)

I feel like everything is ready- bag packed, have seen friends, had a pedicure, cleaned and tidied the house 😂

Having the (one could say) luxury of knowing the date. Can anyone suggest anything they did or wish they did in the last few days before their baby arrived?

I mean I blame my midwives for not hammering home importance of self educating on breastfeeding, you think it's easy 😂😂😂.....😳

Get a haircut.

Pack more snacks. You will be starving in hospital if you are there for a few days.

Fruit, cereal bars, crackers etc

I actually really liked having visitors in the first few days, but I guess it depends on the visitor! All brought food which was great! I had a c-section scheduled, but went into labour early (luckily I packed my bag that morning!). The c-section was brilliant, best experience ever. I didn’t batch cook and glad I didn’t, as was very easy to get takeaways etc. I also liked the normality of cooking after, but then I enjoy cooking. Took a cool bag with some nice cold drinks to the hospital which was a lifesaver, highly recommended that, and some flapjacks. I also got a pack of emergency pre-made bottles which were a lifesaver when breastfeeding sadly didn’t work out, it saved the panic of going to the shop (and saved my sanity). Oh, and nice big pants that went over the dressing! Good luck OP!!

My section is booked for next Tuesday and I feel the same! Feel like I should be cleaning more but really don't want to...

I actually wish I had upped my fitness level a bit before giving birth. It really took it out of me and I often wonder if there's more I could have done to improve my endurance!

Go to the hairdresser! It might be a while before you can find the time….

I wish I had appreciated sleep. I didn't sleep for 8 days when DC was born. Relax, enjoy. Batch cook if you can and make adaptions where possible to make life easier when in recovery from c section (nappy caddy, everything at arms reach). Relax and enjoy

Do anything in the house that will annoy you if it's still not done in two years. I wish I'd sorted out my wardrobe and drawers and had a good declutter. I thought I'd be able to do it on maternity leave I cleaned all the windows in the house, I guess I was nesting. I'm glad I did, it didn't get done again for some time!

Also, just enjoy being alone.

Great advice! I cleared out & defrosted the freezer. Got rid of all the old food that's been shoved in there for years. I also went through my toiletries & got rid of anything I haven't used. I'm pleased I've got those jobs done!I have also downloaded kindle unlimited so I can download audiobooks for park walks.
Keep the advice coming- it's been really helpful!
Feeling so ready now! 😊 I'm so excited!

Get your hair cut and go out for a meal, or lunch, or brunch, or all of the above. When baby arrives you'll be eating one handed whatever you can grab.

@SouthwestSis

Batch cooking and order a big supermarket shop for delivery for next week/week after so you have 1 less thing to think about. And tell friends/'family that you'll not be having visitors in the first 7 days at home, you need time to breathe as a family and recover! (But they could swing by and drop of some meals if they like!)

This. We did this and was very useful! Batch for lunch aswell as dinner...

I wish I'd changed our bedding on the spare bed, I haven't got the energy to do it now so have been sleeping on not-very-fresh sheets when I go in there for my occasional "naps" (aka losing consciousness from pure fatigue).

My baby is not quite a week old though so I'm sure I'll muster up the strength at some point.

Sleep. Sleep, eat at a leisurely pace, go to toilet when you want for as long as you want. And sleep!

Have a very long, warm, relaxing bath with a hot cup of tea (or a nice little glass of wine!)

I couldn't sleep well so I walked for miles, we're in a hilly area and I would clean the house, get the washing on and walk to a shopping centre or high street for a mooch about. I was lucky though as DH works very locally and very flexibly so I was always assured if it felt too much I could get him to pick me up, also had £20 or so on me always for a black cab. Walked the dog, had baths, I found I slept much better if I was actually tired. With dd I just carried on with that after she was born and was out all day but with ds I had to stay a bit closer to home for school runs. With ds I started box sets and once he was born we'd snuggle on the sofa for his afternoon nap and I remember it fondly, the programmes I watched then still remind me of that lovely time!

Slept - I went into Labour at 4 am, gave birth at 6 pm and was kept in overnight. Baby would not sleep unless held so I didn't get to sleep until the following evening. If I could go back I'd have stayed in bed the two days before I went into Labour!

I learnt from DC1 the things I wished id done so second time round I did...
Started maternity leave earlier
Spent approx 3 hours a day napping
Sorted freezer and stocked tin cupboards so all I needed was fresh...
Planned my online shop for just before due date and another for week after
Washed all bedding
I planned on hiring a cleaner for few hours but DM insisted on pulling out front room, good hoover etc and same in kitchen
Bought plenty of big pants, loungewear, Pjs, new slippers, comfy bras and toiletries such as Badidas, Tea Tree Shower Gel, Face Serum, Maternity Pads
Booked in for a cut and colour week of due date as waa months before I went again
Stocked up on coffee, tea, juices
Download amazon prime, netflix etc

Oh and after the birth let people help
First time I wouldn't as I was scared people would think I couldn't manage.

I wish I hadn't spent so much time cleaning/organising and batch cooking.

Wish I had spent more time in bed watching tv whilst I had the mental capacity to watch any thing new or in full.

If you're having a c-section I'd say look around your house and move everything you'll use a lot to waist to shoulder height.
In the early days after my c-section I could neither bob down nor stretch up so things in low and high cupboards became temporarily lost to me

I’m having baby number two in the summer and this has really helped to remind me of all of the things I’d forgotten about!

What i wish i had done:

Cleared and cleaned the flat, like a proper spring clean. Declutter...

Had food at a nice restaurant and a few date nights with DH

Had meals in the freezer for the early days because take out doesn't have the same appeal after 3 days.

What i am glad i did,

Stayed horizontal watching tv shows and snacks and going to bed early

Going for small walks, sitting on a bench with a hot chocolate and just day dreaming

Catchung up with friends (via calls because was covid) to keep me company (it's much harder with a newborn)

Prepared presents/cards for upcoming bday

Stocked up on essentials so the weekly shop is lighter

I told everyone no visitors for 2 weeks as my partners paternity leave is so limited I wanted him to enjoy every second while he was still off and I was quite poorly after so needed time to recover.
As to what to do now, have a look around your tidy house, and then put your feet up for an hour, and then look around your STILL tidy house, ans enjoy it for a moment, as this is the last time that is going to happen for a while 🤣👍🏼
I couldn't be bothered batch cooking nor did I have the space, I did do a couple of food shops in advance to be delivered over the few weeks PP with loads of easy 'throw in the oven' type teas though. Good luck x

Get a haircut. (and any other beauty treatments you usually have, so eyebrows or whatever).

Depends on if your friends can take an afternoon off work but meet up with people for lunch/dinner.

Get your friends/dh to take a lots of photos of you. I only have a couple of pregnancy photos, and I'm wearing a coat so it's impossible to see how big my belly actually was.

If you're doing birth announcement cards (some people do, others don't) get stamps and address ready.

Buy more muslin squares. You think you have enough, but you don't.

Batch cooking definitely, really wished I had done that.

Set up some weekly food shops