12 things you should do before giving birth

I remember like it was yesterday, when I was pregnant. The excitement of seeing that positive sign on the pregnancy test was unreal. Then being pregnant really sinks in. You may have to deal with morning sickness, heartburn and exhaustion during your first trimester. Then your back to feeling like your old self again during your second trimester of your pregnancy. Then comes the third trimester, is a bit weird because in the beginning you’re feeling great but then you’re so over being pregnant! Pregnancy will definitely have you feeling all kinds of emotions. 

When you get to your third trimester you are already thinking about how life is going to be with your new baby  ( it could be your second or third). There are a lot of things to do before you finally give birth. Have you thought about what you need to do and have ready in order to make your life less stressful once you are home with your bundle of joy?

With both of my pregnancies I tried to have everything for ready and prepared for when I arrived home with my baby. Sometimes your baby may have other plans. For example, baby may arrive sooner than your due date, emergency C-section may happen and  if you are having multiples, sometimes you do not reach the 8th or 9th month of pregnancy. So to prepare you for the arrival of your newborn, I am sharing with you the 12 things you should do before giving birth. 

12 things you should do before giving birth

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1. Have the crib ready 

I am saying crib here and not room because I know some parents will sleep with their baby for the first couple of weeks. In my case, I was living with my parents when my twins were born, so we didn’t have an extra room for my babies. We just set up their cribs in the room that we were staying in. So just make sure your baby’s crib or bassinet is set up before you give birth, this can be around the end of your 8th month or the beginning of your 9th month of pregnancy. Also of course, have your baby’s nursery painted and decorated if you have one.

Take a look at some of these great crib options:

2. Wash your baby’s clothes  

My mother told me that washing my newborn’s clothes is a must before giving birth. So with my first and second pregnancy, that is exactly what I did. I highly recommend  doing this because it gets rid off anything that may cause your baby irritation. Also since your newborn’s skin is delicate, is great to know that you washed the clothes prior to putting it on your baby.

My favorite baby detergents:

3. Hand sanitizer at hand

I had around 3 hand sanitizers inside my  bedroom and some outside when I went home with my babies ( first and second pregnancy). It is very crucial that whoever is visiting you and your baby puts sanitizer on first.  It eliminates germs and dirt. So have hand sanitizer at hand and ready to be used before you give birth.

Prepare for your baby by taking this newborn basics class! Literally learn everything there is in taking care of your newborn. Literally learn everything there is in taking care of your newborn. Check it out!

4.  Buy Diapers and wipes

I recommend buying at least two boxes of baby diapers and wipes and have it ready to use in your room or baby’s nursery. Place it in this organizational diaper stacker . So that way once you get home from the hospital, you know that you or your hubby do not need to run to the store to buy it. Diapers and wipes are obviously very important, that’s why is part of the things that you should do before giving birth. Stock up mama!

You can never have enough:

5. Breastfeeding class

A lot of moms struggle with breastfeeding their newborn babies. Sometimes the reason behind it is that they lack the information that they need in order to successfully breastfeed. Taking a breastfeeding class is super crucial if you want to have a positive and enjoyable breastfeeding experience. Check it out here!

6. Have baby bottles and Formula ready

Make sure you have a few baby bottles washed and ready to be used for your newborn baby. Also this goes for baby formula, if you do not plan to breastfeed that is. Actually, even if you do plan to breastfeed, have at least one baby formula ready at home because you just never know. This seriously relieves the stress levels for everyone.

Some babies may develop colic like my first born did, these baby bottles helped.

These options were my favorite:

7. Who is going to take care of your older kids 

Another important thing you should do before giving birth is to plan ahead of time who will be taking care of your older kids. Plan ahead and let the person know, so that she/he can be aware too. Knowing who will take care of your older children is a must because I know you do not want to be calling people at 3 in the morning with contractions. Also you will have peace of mind knowing your kids are well taken care of, on the day that you give birth.

8. Have your hospital bag ready 

In both my pregnancies I prepared my hospital bag very early on, I was too excited haha! Having your hospital bag ready will put you in the mindset of having everything organized and in control once you need to head out to the hospital. 

Be prepared as a new mom by reading The First Time Mom Guide! It’s a step by step guide on how to survive the newborn stage and strive as a new mom! Learn how to have a routine for baby, help baby sleep through the night and selfcare ideas! Read here!

9. Have meals ready to eat  

I will recommend to have some freezer meals prepared and set aside in the freezer, so you just pop it in the microwave or oven once you arrive home from the hospital. Also, if you have family members who are willing to cook a meal or two for you, then that’s great and accept their offer please. I am sure you will not want to cook when you get home with your precious baby from the hospital. I was very blessed to have my mom and my aunts cook for me.

Some freezer meals books to get you started:

10.Prepare for labor and delivery

Imagine going through labor and delivery with a peaceful mind, with no anxiety or fears, knowing what to expect and happily seeing your baby being born? That is what every pregnant women should experience and taking an online birth class will help you achieve exactly that! Learn what you need about labor and delivery and postpartum! Check it out here!

11. Know your hospital route

Knowing your hospital route is another important thing you should do before giving birth. Drive a couple of times with your partner and get familiar with the place and the neighborhood. Also, if your hospital offers hospital tours by all means take one, they will show you around labor and delivery floor and even show you, the room you will give birth in!

12.Car seat at hand

Since you will not be getting out of the hospital without a car seat, it’s safe to say to please have your baby’s car seat out of the box and ready to use. Whether you decide to already have it inside the car or next to your bed in your room, just be aware that you must have this important baby item ready. Do not forget it in the house, and if you need to buy one, now is the time!

Some great car seat options:

I hope you found all of it very helpful. Being pregnant is an amazing experience and bringing home your baby is an amazing journey that you will embark once you are home. You do not need more stress in your life, so make sure you have my list of the 12 things you should do before giving birth at hand.

More to read:

10 PREGNANCY THINGS TO DO AT HOME DURING SELF QUARANTINE AND ISOLATION

11 THINGS YOU SHOULD HAVE READY DURING YOUR THIRD TRIMESTER

20 BIRTH AFFIRMATIONS TO EMPOWER YOU AND STOP THE FEAR OF GIVING BIRTH