10 THINGS TO DO IN YOUR THIRD TRIMESTER

Week 28! Congratulations! Your energy may be getting lower, but your excitement is surely building as you look forward to welcoming your baby—or babies!—in person. In the remaining weeks of your pregnancy, there are a number of things you can (and should) do to ensure that you are ready for the arrival of your demanding little bundle of joy.

1. Plan a Baby Moon

This is it, mama. Your last chance to get away for a long weekend before the beautiful chaos of having a newborn unfolds. Sneak away with your hubby while you still have the freedom—and the energy. Go somewhere you can relax and unwind for a few days without doing any strenuous activities, like a road trip down the coast or a spa weekend in the mountains. Even if you already have kids, see if a family member or a sitter can watch them for a few days. Your sanity will thank you!

2. Have a Baby Shower

What could be better than picking out presents for yourself?! Well, technically they’re for your new baby, but one of the best parts of becoming a new mommy is registering for all the cute stuff you want and need to prepare for your little one. If the shower itself is going to be a surprise, make sure you coordinate a gift registry plan with those closest to you so that you don’t receive duplicates or items you don’t need. Baby showers can be expensive alongside everything else you will need to buy for your baby, luckily there are ways to save money on supplies, such as using a good buy gear free shipping code, using vouchers and buying items second hand. Additionally, if you’re planning the party yourself, you could check out Pinterest for fun and creative baby shower ideas! Did someone say DIY?

3. Get Familiar with Baby Equipment

Now that you have all the gear you need, it’s time to familiarize yourself with the trickier items so that you’re prepared when the baby arrives. Setting up the car seat in the hospital parking lot while your new baby is crying and you’re exhausted from hours of labor? Not ideal. Having the crib, car seat, and changing station put together before the baby’s arrival? Much better. Again, your post-baby self will appreciate it alot.

4. Set Up the Nursery

Apart from picking out adorable onesies and stocking your shelves with itty bitty diapers (they are so tiny!), this is the best part of baby prep. With so many color schemes, rocking chair models, and decorating themes to choose from, designing the nursery may seem overwhelming. But don’t let it stress you out! The process should be fun and exciting. Let someone else handle the painting and furniture building, while you spend your time picking out teddy bears and finding the perfect wall decor. Not sure what gender your baby is going to be? Go with soft neutrals such as gray or tan. Then add the accents after your little one is born!

5. Choose a Name

Unlike the nursery, this decision is one that cannot be undone. That shouldn’t scare you though! Choosing a name for your baby is one of the hardest but most rewarding parts of welcoming your baby into the world, and you can do it from the comfort of your couch. It may take a while, but you will have an a-ha! moment when you finally land on the perfect name. Trust us, it will happen.

6. Create a Birth Announcement

Even if you don’t know your baby’s gender yet, or his or her name for that matter, you can and should still create a birth announcement before you actually give birth. Once the baby arrives, this task will easily get de-prioritized. Spend some time organizing the mailing list and picking out a template now, so you can give the key information (birthdate, name, weight, etc.) to a friend or family member to place the order once the baby arrives.

7. Arrange For Post-Birth Helpers

Whether this means arranging for a family member to come stay with you or setting a dinner schedule with neighbors, make sure you have some help for your first few weeks after you return home from the hospital. You may not think you need the help now, but you’ll be happy you have it in a few weeks when your little bundle of joy won’t stop screaming and you haven’t slept in three days.

8. Make Important Decisions About Your Baby’s Medical Future

All the fun planning aside, this is the time to make crucial decisions about your baby’s future. Who will the baby’s pediatrician be? How will you plan for unexpected bumps in the road? While health issues are not something you can always anticipate, you can definitely have a plan ready in the event of a medical emergency. Americord is here to help you put that plan in place. By banking your baby’s cord blood at the time of birth, you are protecting your baby from life’s unexpected twists and turns. And with Americord, the process is simple. We send you everything you need before your baby is born (even if that means overnighting your collection kit at no additional cost!), and then take care of everything as soon as you give birth.

9. Pack Your Hospital Bag

Before the chaos and excitement of rushing off to the hospital, make sure you have a bag ready to go so you don’t forget anything. The essentials? A photo ID, your insurance card, any hospital paperwork you may need, and your cord blood collection kit from Americord. Be sure to pack some comfortable clothes, such as loose night gowns and cozy slippers. You will also need a camera to document the momentous moment—and DON’T forget to bring extra batteries or a charger! And of course, you will need to pack something extra cute to bring your baby home in for the first time.

10. Treat Yourself

With all of this baby planning, don’t forget to take time for yourself, too. Spend a little extra time reading your favorite magazines on the porch or enjoying long mornings in bed with a cup of tea and your favorite show on TV. Soon, you will have to care for another little human 24/7, so take advantage of all the “me” time you have now. The next phase of your life will be exciting and challenging, so sit back, take a few deep breaths, and enjoy the beautiful journey of life with a smile on your face.

Photo Credit:  www.soc.ucsb.edu