As I write this post, I am 37 ½ weeks pregnant with my first child. I have spent 8 months prepping, reading, planning, watching videos and doing everything possible to prepare myself for my biggest life change yet. I’m a big believer in overpreparing…and keeping BUSY in order to keep myself from going insane!
This month, I’ve been working on executing all of the last-minute tasks to be accomplished in order to put my mind at ease when I go into labor.
My vision of going into labor goes something like this:
I’m sitting with my feet up, relaxing and watching T.V. with my husband when I suddenly start to feel contractions. I will remain calm and do something fun and distracting to keep myself busy until it’s time to leave. After smoothly calling my doctor, I’ll grab my fully-packed hospital bags (which have been strategically placed by the door) and the car seat and waltz out of the house with my husband as we calmly drive to the hospital to have our baby.
Do I hope this is how my birth experience starts? Yes. Will it happen this way? I’m going to say there is a 99% chance it will not. HOWEVER, I can increase the chances of having a smooth, calm labor by being PREPARED.
I’m a procrastinator. Always have been. I’ve said I do my best work under pressure, but as I creep closer to my 30s, I’m craving more order and feelings of being prepared.
I know this is the best route to go, especially with something as monumental as giving birth, yet as I sit here typing..my bag is only half packed, my labor playlist has about 3 songs on it, and I still have a whole house to clean before the baby gets here…but I’m going to finish all of that after I complete this post…(did I mention I also have a problem completing one task before moving on to the next?)
ANYWAY, here is a complete list of things to do in your last month of pregnancy. They will help you feel prepared and empowered for your birth, not to mention keep you BUSY and help keep your mind from very anxiously awaiting the birth of your little angel!
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Go Over Course Material
Take an online class? Read books? Watch videos? (If you didn’t, get on it, sister!) Go back and review what you found to be helpful.
I took my online birth course very early, so my husband and I wanted to go over some of the material again as it got closer to our due date, which definitely helped us feel more confident and prepared for the big day!
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Pack Your Bag
If there was one thing I really kept putting off, it was packing!
I am definitely an over-packer, but I’d rather be over-prepared than under-prepared. I got the Frida Mom Postpartum Kit, which has a lot of things that the hospital supplies for new moms, but I heard the Frida Mom supplies are WAYYY better quality and more comfortable. (**Post birth update-THEY ARE!) I know myself and I know I would rather have things right at my fingertips, rather than ask for supplies constantly.
I set up my bags in the following ways:
- Labor Bag-everything me and hubs would need during labor (and when I first got to the hospital) packed in a duffel bag.
- Mommy/Daddy Bag-everything I would need after the birth when I was moved to the postpartum room (hubby packed his stuff in here with me in a medium-sized rolling suitcase).
- Baby Bag-diaper bag packed with everything I wanted to have on hand for baby.
Packing this way will help you stay organized and have necessities on hand when you need them. When you get to the hospital, just bring your labor bag with you, then you can send your partner to get the rest after the baby arrives!
Make a Labor Playlist
This one is fun! You won’t know exactly what type of music you want to hear during each stage of labor until you’re in the moment. I mixed some faster and slower songs. I chose to keep them all in one place, but you can divide up the playlist if you prefer.
Install Car Seat
If you want to take your baby home from the hospital, you must have your car seat installed before you leave! I honestly thought this step was going to be way more involved than it was. We purchased the Chicco KeyFit 30 Car Seat, which was a breeze to install.
We read the directions thoroughly and watched some YouTube videos before installation. One thing to be sure of is that your SEAT OR BASE IS TIGHT!! It should barely move! This is very important for the safety of your child. I would recommend going to get your seat checked at your local fire/police station where they have child seat safety checkpoints, just for peace of mind.
Finalize Your Birth Plan
If you choose to have a birth plan, now is the time to go over it and finalize it. Make sure you have multiple copies to share with your birth team. Go over it thoroughly with your designated support person, so they know exactly what you want and will be prepared to communicate your preferences with the birth staff when you are unable to.
Wash Baby Clothes
Make sure you wash all of your baby’s clothes before your baby wears them! New clothes contain manufacturing chemicals that can be harsh on baby’s BRAND NEW sensitive skin.
My husband and I love Dreft detergent because it’s been a trusted brand for over 80 years, is phosphate-free and hypoallergenic.
We washed, then sorted all the clothes by size and put them away in that order. This helped to keep things organized so that we would have all the newborn clothes at our fingertips, ready for baby!
Organize the Nursery and Clean Your House
Take these last few weeks to put any finishing touches on the nursery. Of course, it doesn’t have to be COMPLETELY perfect (baby won’t know, don’t worry!) but you’ll want to get it as close to being done as possible so that it’s one less thing you have to worry about.
My husband and I also took this time to go on some MAJOR cleaning sprees. We moved into our house 3 years ago and wound up just throwing some things in random places. Preparing for the baby made us clear out and reorganize our stuff, which was very welcomed!
Now is a good time to reorganize your kitchen cabinets, too. You’re going to need space for baby’s bottles, silverware, sippy cups, plateware, etc. While you may not start off needing the space for ALL of these things right away, if you have the time now, just DO IT. You’ll be happy you did later on.
Thank You Gifts for Labor and Delivery Staff
Okay, so this one is not a necessity, but a super nice gesture! I put together two large “Thank-you” baskets for the maternity staff.
These people work LONG and HARD to take care of your new family. Nurses are underappreciated a lot of the time, so it’s always nice to show a little gratitude for all of their hard work! I’m a huge fan of spreading kindness and what better time to do so than when bringing a new baby into the world?!
If you decide to give a gift, it does not have to be anything spectacular. I’ve seen people go with individual little baggies filled with a couple of items, or the basket route.
I chose to go with the baskets, just because I wasn’t sure how many staff members would be working, and I wanted there to be more than enough items to go around.
I got plastic bins from Dollar Tree and filled them with the following items (most of which I purchased in bulk variety packs from Amazon):
- Chips
- Candy Bars
- Granola Bars
- Frappucinos (purchased at Costco)
- Gum (purchased at Costco)
Purchase Any Last-Minute Items
Thank God for Amazon Prime. Seriously. I was buying last minute things almost every day. It was so nice to know that it would be delivered in two days (or even the next day) with Prime shipping, in case I went into early labor! If you don’t have Amazon Prime, get it now! You can sign up here for a FREE 30-day trial!
Mentally Prepare
Now is a great time to practice yoga or meditation. Rehearse getting yourself in a calm, centered mindset for the big day.
Labor is like a marathon, both physically and mentally. Remember, YOU CAN DO THIS! YOUR BODY WAS DESIGNED TO DO THIS! Practice clearing your mind and keeping your eyes on the finish line. Get excited! You’re going to finally meet that beautiful baby you’ve been waiting so long for!
Need some positive affirmations to use during labor? Click here to download my free set!
Make a Birth Vision Board
This is a great idea for giving you something inspirational to focus on during labor and delivery! You can fill this with whatever you think will motivate you during labor or pushing.
I made mine on a piece of 8.5 x 11 inch cardstock. I chose to put 3 pictures of my “guardian angels” (close family members who are no longer with me) some labor positions, and some birth affirmations that I thought would help me push through labor.
Don’t want to make a whole “board?” Bring a single picture of something to focus on. Something that has sentimental value to you will be way more beneficial to focus on than that paint chip on the hospital wall!
Sleep and Relax
As excited as I was to meet my baby boy, I really took the last month to reflect and practice some self-care and relaxation before his arrival.
Get your naps in whenever you need them! Your life is about to completely change and while it will be AMAZING, there are bound to be sleepless nights and struggles along the way. Take the time now to take care of yourself and relax. This will help to prep your body and your mind so that you will be the best momma you can be from day one!
What else did you do to prepare for your birth? Share your favorite tip below in the comments!
Wishing you the best of luck with your birth experience and new bundle of joy!
