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?!

We didn't find out. Like you I considered finding out at about 30 weeks but decided since we'd got that far to keep it as a surprise. I'm so glad we did! Plenty of cute unisex clothes too, Boots seemed particularly good for unisex new baby stuff for us.

Well this afternoon has taken a turn!

I was putting everything away when I started to get some pretty intense pains in my belly, I called my GP and they've said to go to maternity triage. So now we're in the car on the way! I'm trying not to panic because they've settled down a lot and I'm sure it's just me stressing, but I wasn't expecting this

TLDR: Sleep-poop-eat-warmth

Baby needs a place to sleep (cot next to your bed is fine), diapers for pooping, bottles and steriliser and milk if you're not going to breastfeed, could also come in handy if you do breastfeed, clothes.

Long version:

The rest is luxury or gives an easier life. Depending on your house and lifestyle you might want a playpen in the living room if you want baby to sleep there during the day. This heavily depends on your house lay out, if you live in a tiny apartment you won't need this. I love walking so a baby carrier and a pram were things that I used daily. I also used a baby bath, but my SIL just took showers together with her baby, so whatever works for you. I used a ton of muslin cloths to keep things safe from spit up or to mop up said spit up. If you have a car you will need a car seat. If you have stairs you might want a stair gate before your child crawls.

I don't know your family situation but most grannies love shopping for baby clothes

You'll have the chance to try all the brands of nappies if you want to, don't worry about that.

Get wipes from Lidl, they're good and much cheaper than other brands.

You pay not need things like breast pads. I've breastfed for over three years in total and the only time I've ever leaked was when I went away overnight and forgot to express before bed.

Get some big high waisted pants and just stick your maternity pads in those.

@oneofmeiscutebuttwothough hope all is ok at maternity triage

Well I'm still here im having sporadic contractions and they're undecided on what to do

Oh wow that was a turn indeed!!! Stay calm op hang on in there little baba stay cozy a few more weeks 🙏 please do update us if you get a chance x

Oh hope you are being well looked after @oneofmeiscutebuttwothough Some people do have contractions for quite a while before labour actually starts but even if baby is coming, you are in the right place. Try to stay calm and remember that at least you've got sorted with some bits at home! So a really good day's work today and you can take that off your mind.

They're pushing to send me home as im not progressing, my husband isn't happy with that and wants me to be monitored more. I just want my bed!

I recommend the book Your Baby Week By Week. Worth reading a bit before the baby arrives so you know what to expect for the first few weeks.
We got a lovely blanket from John Lewis and I slept with it before the birth so it smelled of me, and that remains my kids favourite comfort blanket five years later! Has always helped them to sleep. (We actually got 4 so it didn't matter if we lost one!)
I found this at John Lewis & Partners. What do you think?  https://www.johnlewis.com/john-lewis-baby-gots-organic-cotton-cellular-cotbed-blanket-120-x-100cm/grey/p5788553?tmad=c&tmcampid=7&sshare=jlappioss_Y29tLmFwcGxlLlVJS2l0LmFjdGl2aXR5LkNvcHlUb1Bhc3RlYm9hcmQ=

I was quite last minute with my last baby and it's honestly fine as you can pick up things so easily these days and even next day delivery. We didn't get a pram until after baby was born. The main things are a place for baby to sleep (they will be in with you for the first 6 months anyway so you can probably keep your storage stuff in there until later), so a cot, side sleeper or if you're co-sleeping then it's even easier. Then clothes for baby, I only got a few first size vests and body suits and then 0-3 months I think. Theyll need a hat for when they're in hospital and you'll want to get blankets to wrap them up. Also nappies in the smallest size to begin with. Clothing wise I usually get the next sizes up as and when needed, even now my kids are older, as I hate hoarding and we got loads of clothes as gifts anyway so start simple and add as you need. I got some muslins in various sizes as they are so useful for baby sick, as a wrap or a clean place to lay them down etc. And then think about feeding, so if you're planning to breastfeed you don't need anything really but bottles/steriliser if you plan to formula feed/do a combo. Things like a bouncer, play mat and toys we got when baby was older and actually able to use or these were gifted. So simply a place to sleep, clothing and feeding as priorities. Good luck!

Came back to say another basic essential you'll need is a car seat to bring baby home from the hospital, if you're planning to do that by car.

My waters broke on my walk to the car to go home 😅 contractions seem to have stopped though, so im being monitored for a couple of hours before they decide what to do

Thinking of you and wishing all the best.

Please make sure you ask about antibiotics (speaking from bitter experience here...) as you will need them to protect baby if you don't deliver in the next 24hrs. Good luck!

Rooting for you OP!!

If you want to try breastfeeding why not see if there any classes you can attend ahead. I found that so helpful and it was arranged through the GP surgery. I only needed to go once. They show you (using dolls ! ) how to hold the baby is the right position for the best chance of latching on etc I seem to remember that you are supposed to aim the baby’s nose to the nipple and that you can put pillows on your lap to hold the baby up to the rug height. It was so helpful and I was able to breastfeed with confidence because of it. Good luck

Other than my previous suggestion I also found the most useful things to have ready were nappies, muslin cloths to put over your shoulder when rubbing the baby’s back and baby wipes

Well last night was a whirlwind. I barely even remember it. At about half midnight contractions got very intense very fast.

Our little baby girl arrived at 3:34 this morning, and I think I finally fell asleep around 6:30, just for a midwife to come in and wake me up at 8:15 😒 she's beautiful, she weighed in at 3 pounds 2 ounces and she's getting some extra help right now. My husband's on his way and then we'll be spending as much time with baby girl as possible. Now we need a name 😅

@oneofmeiscutebuttwothough Oh my goodness! Congratulations on the arrival of your baby girl

Congratulations!! ❤️

Congratulations!!

@oneofmeiscutebuttwothough wow! Congrats! Did you manage to buy your carseat in time? 🤭
What a whirlwind.

Oh my gosh. Congratulations and hope you are ok and hope she is on her way home with you very soon x

Wow wow wow what a turn of events!! I'm glad you managed to get your skates on just in time 😂 hope you had time to add car seat onto your Amazon list, I'm sure you will still have time to get any last minute outstanding necessities! Baby must have thought to herself "ah she thinks she's going to have some wind down time now, I'll show her" 😂 massive congratulations!!