Preparing for babies arrival

[Aurora94]

I’m almost 35 weeks pregnant and so far all throughout the pregnancy I have been feeling calm and collected about the whole thing. However this past week or 2 I have been feeling so stressed and unprepared.

All of baby’s clothes are washed and away, hospital bags are packed and we have all of the essentials purchased which I felt quite good about but some things are still in boxes (e.g - car seat, bottles, steriliser) and I have left in the nursery and not thought twice about since we bought them 😅

Also, everyone seems to do a deep clean and sort out of the house before the arrival so I have been cleaning at least 1 day a weekend and the house is always relatively tidy but not to a standard where I’d like to host visitors and it seems I am just constantly tidying for it to be the same a couple of days later 😂

Then there is the batch cooking that I need to do and my wardrobe is in serious need of a clear out and de clutter and I don’t even want to think about the piles of washing to do 🙈 Me and my husband are also doing the positive birthing company course (labour and postpartum) and we’re not even half way through yet.

I know it is unlikely that baby will arrive early but I still have 2 weeks of work left and honestly feel too shattered by the time I get home to do much and it’s all getting on top of me. My husband has been pulling his weight and helping a lot more too but he doesn’t share the panic I’m in atm 🤣. I’m trying to stay relaxed but I just want to have as little to do as possible in the first few weeks postpartum and knowing I will be spending a lot of time at home is making me anxious that the house is going to be messy.

Is it normal to feel like this at this stage or do I really need to get my arse in gear?

I’m not sure my house has been deep cleaned since before I had my first 😂 who’s now nearly 4! Honestly. Apart from maybe the car seat (unpacking it and working out to use it/strap it in). Everything else can wait.

I do batch cook, but on a weekly basis. I found it ok to cook - baby in a sling frees up hands. Plus. Even now when I pre prep meals, I tend to ‘fancy’ something else at times.

If visitors to a new mom and baby are commenting on the house. In my opinion they can leave! Visitors in the early days should help or hold baby, or at least be polite and good company.

However, if the house is at a place/state where you won’t want to be opening the door - then make a list of the minimum things that would change that for you - and start with those (eg. We had bits post a reno that would have been dangerous for crawling babies, and I really wanted them fixed (furniture secured to walls), so I could have friend with kids over without worrying they’d be hurt!).

Late pregnancy is exhausting. You’re growing a human, and working. Of course you’re tired and lethargic. Everyone has different needs when having a baby, honestly, try not to be worried about others opinions. Work out what matters to do. And do those bits! There’s no “right” way to approach labour, or the early days (or most of parenting!). It’s about what works best for you. And your body and needs matter too!

Unless you're really good at managing batch cooked food I wouldn't bother. I never remember to take batch food out of freezer, then I don't like look of it when it comes out, still have to cook e.g.rice to go with it so it's a big faff.
Get some frozen microwave meals for emergency days, add some frozen veg to add nutrition. Otherwise stick hubby on dinner duty. Go simple, quick pasta dishes, chilli, etc.
As for what to do now, go out to dinner in nice restaurants, go to cinema. Enjoy the flexibility and mind yourself.

@Callmemummynotmaaa Thanks so much that has made me feel better already. Sorting the car seat can be tonight’s task!

@DNLove unfortunately cooking is the one thing hubby is pretty useless at unless we want to live off a variety of things on toast 🤣 but I will definitely have to get a few microwave meals and quick easy things in

Instead of batch cooking, Charlie Bingham / Cook type meals in the fridge or freezer and maybe a Hello Fresh type thing if your husband could manage to cook that for the first few weeks. Sounds like you've done way more than needed already, I'd just relax. The house will get a bit messy with baby things as soon as you get home but no one who visits will care. Probably better to spend your time when not working resting up or enjoying last baby free time with husband.