Getting ready for your baby’s arrival is pretty much what all parents have on their minds the entire 9 months of pregnancy. Everything from preparing the baby registry to packing the hospital bag and everything in between. Here is a list of the Top 10 things to do in your third trimester:
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1. Prepare Parents Room for Newborn– This is more important than preparing the nursery because your newborn will be sleeping in your room for the first (apx.) 6 months. It is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) that your newborn stays in your room (not your bed) “ideally for the first year” but at least for the first six months to reduce the risk of SIDS. All this really entails is purchasing a safe place for baby to sleep such as a bassinet. I highly recommend purchasing the Baby Planet Oasis Bassinet for your little one. It features 360° of breathable mesh, plays soothing lullabies or nature sounds and has vibration. It also features a soft night-light to help with night-time feedings. The frame is on wheels which makes transporting the unit easy and the bassinet comes with a quick release to bring wherever you are and keep the baby close by. The storage unit below the bassinet is perfect to store extra swaddle blankets, diapers and wipes.
2. Pack hospital bag – Have your bag ready to go to save you unnecessary stress once you are in labor and need to rush to the hospital. Be sure to not only pack stuff you will need but your newborn and husband as well. Nursing tops, button down pajamas, come home outfits, toiletries, slippers or flip-flops are all some of my must have hospital bag items. Also, don’t forget your phone charger!
3. Install Infant Car Seat– If you are unsure of how to install the baby’s car seat, you can bring it to your local police department and they will help install it for you. I would recommend calling a head of time to let them know. You will need to bring the infant car seat into the hospital for them to inspect and make sure baby is fastened properly before discharging you.
4. Contact Insurance Provider – Notify your health insurance provider of the upcoming addition to your family/plan. This helps the process of once baby is born and gets them covered quicker. As a side note, baby is usually covered under mama for the first few weeks until they receive their own social security number and addition to your family plan.
5. Contact Your HR Department– If you are fortunate enough to have paid maternity/paternity leave, contact your HR department ahead of time to give an estimate date for your leave. They can also help coordinate insurance changes as well as provide any additional information on what to do and when to do it.
6. Pre-register at Hospital – Your Doctor should be able to give you the contact info for registering at your hospital. You may need to fill out insurance information (if applicable) and answer several questions regarding birth plan, allergies, family medical history, etc. Have a list of questions you may want answered as well.
7. Wash Baby Clothes– I would recommend having most of the newborn size clothing washed and ready to wear. You will be shocked how many outfit changes you go thru in a day and having one less thing to do once baby arrives is best. This also includes swaddles, blankets and crib sheets.
8. Sanitize All Baby Essentials– Wash & sanitize bottles, pacifiers and nursing/pump parts so they are ready to go once you and baby are home from the hospital.
9. Prepare Diaper Caddy– Have a stash of newborn diapers, wipes and diaper cream ready to go for when baby arrives home. Having this all in one location will help make the numerous diaper changes a breeze. I would even recommend having multiple, one caddy in the baby’s room and one in your common area. For a great diaper care cleanser and moisturizer all in one, with all natural ingredients, you can try Noleo and get 15% off your entire purchase with promo code MAMA15.
10. Order Breast Pump– If you are planning on breastfeeding, you will need a breast pump for the times you may not be able to feed the baby directly from you. Most pumps are FREE thru your insurance so check with them first.
