I'm due in a few weeks, but I'm totally unprepared

[oneofmeiscutebuttwothough]

I am 32 weeks pregnant but honestly until this point everything has carried on as normal. I'm 26 and don't feel like I'm pregnant at all.

My husband and I both got promoted literally the week before I found out I was pregnant. Work has been incredibly busy and aside from my maternity appointments I've barely had time to think about the fact I'm having a baby. I've carried on working out like normal, socialising like normal, everything has been normal.

My work have been brilliant and i have an amazing maternity package, so I rolled over a lot of holiday from last year and they let me take this year's holiday pre-baby, so I've just finished work and it's hit me like a ton of bricks. I'm having a baby in possibly five weeks or even sooner (or even later!), and we have very little. Baby has a room set aside for them but it's pretty much the storage closet for all of our things at the moment.

I've not had a chance to get to any classes or anything like that, so I feel like I'm totally unprepared. What the hell do I do now?!

WHAT?!?!?!!?! But it is THE best cream?! I don't have to whip it out very often but when I do it works amazingly!!

I wouldn't use the yellow one as an every day cream it can be toxic if used too much that's why it says to only use a thin layer but when you need it, it does the job! Their every day cream just the same as bepanthen.
For every day use id just use sudocrem or coconut oil.

On what brands to buy- you can just buy individual packs of wipes to see which ones suit you. We have changed wipes a few times as they’ve changed what they’re like. You can do same for nappies although all are pretty similar in my experience.

I know it can be panicky but personally I would hold off buying too many things for “just in case”. Unless you live very rural or off on an island it’s going to be easy to buy things or get them delivered. If you don’t plan to use dummies don’t buy them. Having things like that around will just encourage you to use them when you might not need to. Also I get buying some ready made bottles as back up as feeding is obviously essential but don’t also buy the big tubs of powdered milk and other bottles. Again if you switch to bottle feeding there will be time to get them.

Not stupid at all, amazing idea. We need more SAHD's !!! The ones I know who have shared parental leave with their wives are amazing Dads with a really good relationship with their wives, and really truly GET what it's like to be stuck at home with a baby alot more than the ones who stayed at breadwinner vs SAHM. Not saying all main breadwinner Dads are bad but it helps for both parents to truly know what it's like.
See how you feel once the baby is born!

@GiraffesAtThePark
Totally agree. I just got a few ready to drink formula bottles "just in case" then donated them to the food bank before they expired x

This!

My mum was so stressed when I got to the third trimester with my first, because we had nothing. But you really don’t need very much. And it’s 2025 - anything you do need can be ordered and delivered swiftly! Hopefully you’ve got loads of time. Even if not, you can do a quick Amazon order from the hospital (my own mum wasn’t that reassured by me saying that).

You have been given loads of good advice already about what you need. Wipes, nappies, pads and disposable pants for you, packet of vests and sleep suits, baby hat. Probably a crib. For me, a sling - baby never went in the pram for the first 6 months as I couldn’t be bothered carrying it up and downstairs to our flat, so you don’t need that straightaway. No car seat if you don’t drive! Definitely don’t get a bouncer from the outset either - we had no space when our eldest was born and have ended up never using them.

Just get the absolute basics then wait and see what your baby is like and what you feel you need. Enjoy the time you have now until baby arrives!

You'll be fine.
There's still time to look for an antenatal class, ask your midwife or look online.

There are lots of lists online for what to pack in your hospital bag, you should have this mostly ready to go from 36 weeks just in case.

Make a list of what you need to buy and do an online ordering session to get it all, it won't take long.

I didn't do any antenatal classes as was pregnant with my first during covid. The NHS website has some good basic newborn care advice. And obviously the lists on here and on YouTube are great.
I never had a moses basket. Was in a flat with my first so I only had to peep in my room to check on them in the next to me crib.
In a house with my second so for downstairs naps they slept in the pram and I would push it back and forth in the living room.
Tbh op your clearly relaxed attitude i think will really stand you in good stead- just take everything as it comes, follow your gut and beyond nappies and sleepsuits the rest of the practicalities will naturally fall into place once you get going!

Ah bloody Nora. I have two half tubes left and a toddler and a baby due this summer. Honestly this is the best baby chemist product out there.
I can see them going for £25 on eBay!! But also one last online pharmacy selling for you £6 you think legit?

Its not stupid but you might change your mind.

Nurseries are super booked now.

Go round and get a place. You can always cancel it.

Just wanted to let you know you're not alone🥰 I'm 35 weeks and only just got the baby some drawers to put his clothes in!😅

Get signed up to a group- something you like the look of like pregnancy yoga or relaxation.
It'll help to make some connections with other people having babies if you're jumping straight from full time work into this new world.

The very best 😞 my baby had such a sore little bum because he was pooing so frequently and nothing was helping it! My friend donated us about quarter of a tube as she’s recently potty trained her last baby so didn’t need it anymore, luckily a tiny bit goes a long way so we’ve healed the sore bum and are keeping it for dire emergencies.

However, the best preventative nappy cream we’ve used is the Expert Midwife No Harm Bum Balm, it goes on so nicely and not even a hint of a red bum since!

Okay, thank you everyone. I've got a big Amazon order coming and I'm off to try prams and car seats today 😂

Did anyone mention a sling or wrap? Total lifesaver for us and used from birth. Google sling libraries in your area, they usually have lots of different types you can try and borrow for a small fee. They have weighted dolls to try them with. Only way my babies would sleep in the day.

Also, even if you or your partner are planning to take lots of time off have a look at nurseries anyway. Some of them have 18 month waiting lists and not everyone likes maternity leave (I had a short one as did lots of my colleagues). At least you know about the options locally then and can get on any waiting lists.

I'm around three weeks closer to due date from you (although not my first child it's been a while and we had given the big items away so have had to buy from scratch in the last couple of weeks). Agree get hospital bag packed, nappy supplies etc, pram, car seat and somewhere to sleep sorted, assuming you are not too remote Amazon and a decent sized supermarket is all you need for the moment.

I'm off to boots armed with years of advantage card points and a dream 😂

Anyone got any opinions on finding out the gender? We opted to wait but now I'm on leave I'm itching to find out 😅

What a lovely post :) I remember being 26 and pregnant with my first! I wish you and your DH all the very best.

Don't fret about what brands etc to to get (I did a bit, it's silly - you'll know what works for you guys). Get the basic items:
-car seat (to get baby home with). Isofix was a godsend!!
-place for baby to sleep (cot/crib, maybe a moses basket for downstairs). Linen to go with said sleeping place. Maybe a baby sleeping bag thingy.
-nappies (doesn't matter what brand). I had some disposables to start but went on to cloth afterwards (but it's whatever works for you guys)
-wipes.
-maternity pads/bras/breast pads, and lansinoh nipple cream. I BFed with mine but did have some bottles of pre-made formula just in case. Whatever you chose to do (BF/FF), don't beat yourself up. As long as baby is fed and you are all happy and healthy, it doesn't matter.
-pushchair/pram. choose something that doesn't weigh a ton, not fit in your car boot or on public transport....and doesn't require a PhD in engineering to set up/fold down!
-maybe a sling/wrap. I swore by my one (I had a woven one). Made life MUCH easier with my 2nd (couldn't afford one with my first). It meant I could carry her around (she had terrible reflux and couldn't lay flat) and still have my hands free to get on with stuff.
-basic medicines for baby: calpol, infacol/colic drops, snot sucker, thermometer.
-couple of sets of simple babygros, hat, plenty of muslins. My babies were tiny when born (both around the 5lb mark) so I had to run out and get them preemie sized stuff.
-changing mat.
-I used a rucksack as a nappy bag.

Handy hints: like others have said....stock up your freezer with some nice prepped meals. Cannot tell you how handy this was for me! If you guys can afford a cleaner, then this would probably be amazing (I couldn't afford it). Get a hospital bag packed (include things like chargers for phones, change for parking, non perishable snacks, water bottles).

Finding out the gender: I found it out with both of mine, but I sort of wished that I'd kept it as a surprise!

In the end though, I promise you that at 11 and 18 (yikes, time has flown!), you cannot tell whether my DC were breast fed, formula fed, had cloth nappies or disposables, had the poshest travel system or not etc. Ditto their friends. Do what is right for your baby, you and your family. As long as all are fed, warm and loved, then that is the important thing :)

I was the same at your stage! I'm glad I waited.

I had a surprise with both babies. With DD1, the midwife held her up to DH and he was the one to tell me that she was a girl. Such a special memory! Plus I think newborns look lovely in neutral colours anyway, so i just bought whites / creams / neutrals. Once friends and family know the sex, they'll buy you loads of pink / blue bits.

OP I loved the website whattoexpect.com

It gave loads of useful information and ideas for what to prepare, from baby items to your hospital bag (which I would make sure you have ready by 35 weeks!) and just loads of general hints and tips. You're in such a lovely position to be able to have this time off now and prepare. One of the best things I did was batch cook and freeze a week's worth of meals for the first week, it was a lifesaver!

Sex, not gender.

Didn't find out with either and didn't impact what I bought clothes or decor wise. Painted nursery a nice duck-egg blue. Bought loads of baby grows and dungarees in bright primary colours. I hate white/cream/beige in general and especially on babies.

I had one set of three that were blue with little pink bows. Seemed to confuse a bizarre number of people.

I have all the basics, I think 😂 nappies, wipes, ointments, clothes, bottles, I've never seen so much stuff 😂

It's a personal thing I guess but I love it once you know the gender and can buy all the cute clothes etc for either a boy or girl. We almost opted not to find out this time, but I'm so glad we did. As I said though, it's a very personal thing.

Enjoy baby shopping, it's so fun 😊

Okay, I have the shopping at home and I'm suddenly feeling very emotional 😂 what an amazing thing