Feeling unpreprepared at 36 weeks?!

[LoveActually]

I'm 36 weeks today and getting to the 'being fed up with being pregnant stage'.
I'm a bit superstitious to say the least so I haven't gone mad on the baby things however my sister (who has two DDs - 4 and 6) said she was surprised I hadn't bought nappies/sorted my hospital bag!
We've got the car seat. baby changing unit, pram/buggy is on order and picking up the crib on Tuesday. Got lots of clothes, mostly presents and a sling (which some kind friends bought me but I just can't work out how to use). That's it though!
I supposed I didn't want to buy loads of stuff I wouldn't use. We are getting a steriliser and express unit on Tuesday as well but my sister's comments are worrying me. Today I've cleaned our house top to toe! I guess I want to know how prepared other MNetters were. x

hi i am 35.5 weeks today with dd 2.

i have done everything bag is packed i am an organized person anyway. have changing table etc.

I am 36 weeks with DC 2 and have done bugger all... did have a strange cleaning frenzy last weekend and felt an urge to pack my hospital bag last night...but not got round to it yet.
LA you sound like you're on the case...you don't need much to begin with anyway..just clothes, nappies and somewhere warm for the baby to sleep! Good luck!
Hmmm..maybe I should get on with the whole hospital bag thing..

I didn't get as far as 36 weeks in my last two pregnancies.

Last year on Christmas Eve, the NICU staff suddenly said they thought that ds2 was ready to go home, and was I ready for him? I said I had a carseat, and nappies and clothes and had hired a breastpump but didn't have anywhere for him to sleep. They said, put him in a drawer, and Happy Christmas!

Babies don't need much. And most people seem to find they don't use most of the stuff in their hospital bag anyway.

I was exactly like you and my baby arrived at 37 weeks. Get prepared now! Cos it really adds to the stress when you realise you don't even know how to work the steriliser/use the carseat. Good Luck.

You'll probably want to get on with packing your bag (alhough leave some non-essentials to pack in early labour to give you something to do), but everything else can be bought from tescos after the birth.

Love actually. I didn't have a buggy until DS was 5 days old. No express things until 3 weeks when my bf was established etc.

You sound very prepared and organised to me.

And you don't need to sterelise anyway, especially if bfing.

i think you should buy a bag of newborn nappies and some cotton wool buds. pack your hospital bag, and otherwise i think you're prepared.

you've done most of it already.

if you find yourself twiddling your thumbs, work out how to use a few things. will save stress later.

but even if your dc were born today, you'd be fine. ultimately, all they need is you!

The shops will still be there when the baby is born.... everyone (myself included first time around) seems to forget this. Anyway it sounds like you are pretty well organised and have all the main things. I've only just packed my bag at 39 weeks!!! and even then there is quite a lot of stuff that I am still using so will have to go in at the last minute. The most important thing I think is to have a list, and then when you need to you can whiz round grabbing everything without too much thought - then doesn't actually matter too much if it isn't actually physically in the bag itself.

awww, get your bag ready, try a teddy in your sling, erm..have you had a big food shop of dry goods etc (toilet rolls, nappies tea/coffee, biscuits etc?)

Hi LA,

I am almost 38 wks and only packed bag yesterday, we have some bits but as OP say babies don't need much (or some I am hoping).

One thing I regret is that I didn't sort out hire of tens machine until today. Mothercare can help with that, its £30 and takes 5 days to sort. This was recommended by a friend of mine and so you may wish to make a phone call!

Good luck and congratulations!

Sounds like you've got the essentials.

I didn't use half the stuff in my maternity bag last time. I did need to stay in hospital a bit longer than planned so ran out of nappies and maternity towels. But you can always get your OH to buy things you've forgotten/run out of.

My DH brought in extra supplies towards the end of the hospital stay. This time I'm buying loads of maternity towels so I can save DH from having to hunt for them in Boots!

I was like you with DS1. He as born at 33 weeks and I didn't have anything. My Mum brought me the Mothercare and Babies R Us catalogues into Special Care and I gave her a list baby essentials! We really didnt buy much as I felt really cheeky getting Mum to do it all for me but looking back it saved us fortune not buying all those things you think are essential before you have a baby and then never use.

Also 36wks (DC2) and not overly organised yet. Still got bag to pack, have bought newborn nappies and cotton wool but not set up nursery equipment or anything yet. DD was 12wks before I had a pram last time, and our house partly collapsed when she was 3wks old so any organisation went right out the window - literally!! Don't panic, you sound pretty well prepared to me.

Dry food shop to stock up and plenty of pads at home sound like good ideas though. And putting aside things for your bag (mine are all over spare bed) so that you can throw it together if needed might be a good plan too. Good luck!

I have since managed to get a moses basket and rocking base, nappies (lots and lots), washed all baby clothes (got given loads by friends) and have bought room thermometer and blankets. Feeling a bit more organised now. Not so worried about sterliser - thanks Starlight.
I think I'm going to try and calm down now! xxx