This post is all about 27 essential third-trimester to-dos!
Having a baby is one of the most rewarding (yet challenging) things we experience in life. Between growing the baby, making preparations for the baby, and battling through labor, it can be hard to catch a breath!
Yet when it’s all said and done…There is nothing that can compare to holding your little one in your arms for the first time and finally becoming Mom.
But one thing’s for sure…
You don’t want to make it any harder on yourself when your little Ms. or Mr. comes home by procrastinating your to-do list!
Because let’s be honest, you’re going to have your hands full.
You don’t want to be looking around your house, cursing yourself, and having you inner monologue nag you about all the things you should’ve done before their arrival. You want to soaking up every precious moment of that cuddly newborn time as stress free as possible.
Here is a list of 15 essential third-trimesters to-dos to help you make the adjustment to mom-life as seamless as possible!
Okay Mama, let’s get to nesting!
1. Stock up on home essentials
When you’re out shopping, consider stocking up on the non-perishables you use often to help you put together quick meals as necessary. Things like pasta, canned food, rice, oatmeal, frozen berries, veggies, and frozen chicken are great to have on hand.
Stocking up on neccessieties like TP and paper towels while you’re at it will give you one less thing to grab about when you’re on grocery runs with your baby too.
2. Prep freezer meals
Taking care of a newborn can be pretty exhausting so there will be some nights where the last thing you’ll want to worry about is cooking. That’s why cooking & stocking up on freezer meal preps is a wise decision that future you will thank you for.
3. Clean your home
Keeping your house tidy especially during tri three is a good idea just in case you happen to go into labor. The last thing you want is a mess waiting for you when you get home with your little one. So plan a day where you can give the house a good clean (with help) or hire a cleaner to do it for you.
4. Handle any to-dos you’ve been avoiding
I know we all have those tasks that we push off as long as possible because they’re a nuisance and easier to just ignore. Buttt, I encourage you to suck up whatever those tasks are and just get them done before your little one arrives. Your baby is going to demand your time once she arrives and you’ll regret not handling those tasks! A lot of the things we dread doing will only end up taking us a measly 15 minutes to accomplish.
5. Automate bills
When you’re on baby time, sometimes important details like bills due can completely slip your mind. Setting up pre-authorized payments of your bills will give you one less thing to worry about you can focus on your baby.
6. Clean your car
No, cleaning your car isn’t the funnest thing to do but future you will be SO grateful she took care of doing a quick vac before the baby comes home. Or even better, sweet talk Daddy into doing it for you. Realistically, it’ll probably be a few months before the opportunity presents itself again so go ahead and give your car a good clean.
Make sure your gas tank is full while you’re at it!
7. Prep your diaper bag
Your diaper bag is going to go everywhere with you so it’s important to keep it stocked at all times. Aside from the necessary diaper supplies, I like to keep a couple of teethers/toys, an extra change of baby clothes, and nursing cover for nursing on the go.
- MORE THAN TEN POCKETS, INCLUDING INSULATED BABY BOTTLE HOLDERS – The interior of our backpack diaper bag includes a padded laptop pocket, mesh pocket organizers and other organization essentials. Maintain the temperature of your baby bottles or baby food in the insulated side pockets, never lose your keys and wallet in the mommy pocket, and quickly grab a diaper out of the mesh diaper organizer.
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- LARGE CAPACITY WITH ORGANIZATION FEATURES – The Parker Baby Co. diaper bookbag is big enough to hold all that baby stuff: baby toys, baby diapers, baby clothes, baby wipes, newborn bibs, baby toys, cloth diapers, changing pads, medicine, formula, burp cloths and more! The large size is also perfect for travel.
- THOUGHTFUL BABY SHOWER IDEA – Our modern, luxury diaper backpack is a practical gift and should be on every baby registry. It makes for a great baby gift and a great gift for mom and dad!
8. Take care of beauty treatments
Your baby will be stuck like glue to you for those first few months between cuddle time and feedings. It’s a good idea to go ahead and get any beauty treatments you want done out of the way before baby’s arrival. Get any haircuts, highlights, waxings or maybe even a facial done (because you deserve it Mama)!
9. Prepare baby’s sleep space
Whether sweet pea is sleeping in a crib or starting out in a bassinet, you’re going to want to have it ready for her arrival. Newborns spend the majority of their time sleeping because they have a lot of growing to do! Knowing they have a safe place to sleep will help you sleep better too!
10. Take childbirth/breastfeeding classes
When you’re birthing and breastfeeding your first, you’re going to want to know what to expect. Yes, we figure out a lot as we go, but it can still be helpful to establish some knowledge on how to handle things as they come up when it comes to birthing and breastfeeding. Midwives will host birthing and lactation classes if you want an in person experience, or there are lots of resources on youtube if you want to stay in and learn!
11. Finish picking your baby’s name
My baby’s name was up in the air pretty much until the last moment. I wanted to see her face to make sure she looked like a Scarlett before I stuck with it for good. If you’re still in the process of picking your name, just make sure to have it really narrowed down by the time you’re on the way to the hospital!
12. Install your car seat
Installing the car seat is one of the most important parts of third-trimester prep! You’ll want to make sure the car seat is installed safely and correctly so your newborn is safe and secure on the road. Some fire departments may be willing to assist you in installing your car seat or check to make sure it’s installed correctly. It’s worth a call to check!
13. Take maternity photos
If you haven’t taken any pregancy photos yet, now is the time to capture the moment, Mama!
If you don’t feel you have the money to hire a professional photographer, your partner will do just fine! Order yourself a pretty maternity dress and find a DIY photoshoot to recreate on Pinterest. It’s a beautiful way to capture and cherish your pregnany belly and the gift of your little one arriving soon!
14. Set up your baby monitor
Since the only breaks you’ll be getting for managing housework and your other kids is during your little love’s naptime, you’ll want to get your baby monitor unpackaged and set up. I absolutely loved this VTech Baby Monitor. It made me feel more secure being able to peek at my baby in the other room via the monitor screen.
- The monitor’s parent unit features an upgraded 720p display, provides a crystal clear wide-angle window into your baby’s world. The COMS image sensor with professional IR-Cut auto filter provides True-Color, sharp images in day light, and HD footage, 7x more pixels in night vision.
- Direct Mode / Router- Mode This advanced monitor system is configured for local monitoring right out of the box in Direct WiFi Mode. Comes with the MyVTech 1080p app, the system can be easily set up to operate in Router Mode, provides live remote access from your iOS or Andriod smartphone or tablet at no fees or monthly subscriptions.
- Fully Remote Pan Tilt Zoom- Enjoy watching your adorable baby in full HD and with up to 4x local and 10x digital zoom. The camera’s pan, tilt and zoom functions are fully motorized, lets you to check in on your little one from the parent unit or remotely on your smart device.
- Built-in Wide-angle Lens- This model has implemented a state of the art FHD 1080p CMOS visual sensor in order to provide the best possible video feed, as well as making features like our 120-degree wide-angle lens and ultra-crisp night vision possible. And the best of all – there is no need for multiple lenses.
- 2-Way Talk- Support local or remote two way talk. Sometimes all your baby needs is to hear the sound of your voice. No matter where you are.
15. Get ready for diapering
Prepping the diaper station is a must because newborns can power through those diapers. Make sure you have all the neccessieties: diapers, wipes, bum cream, and baby powder to be armed for the most explosive of blowouts!
16. Organize baby clothes
Newborns are notorious for making big messes despite their small stature. Between the spit ups and blow outs, you may be going through 2-3 outfits a day for a while. That’s why you’ll want to make sure all your baby clothes are detagged, washed and organized before baby comes home! Don’t forget to wash baby sheets, swaddles, clothes and bibs as well!
Pro tip: Keep an open drawer or hamper available so you can toss and separate baby clothes as they outgrow things.
17. Go on a final date night
Once your baby arrives, It is going to be all about them now. So going on a final date night before baby arrives is a lovely idea. Yes you can always plan for date nights after the baby is here, but you’ll have to arrange for a sitter and it may be hard to leave your little one for a while in general.
18. Purchase any last-minute baby essentials that haven’t been purchased
A couple weeks before your little one’s dute date is a good time to take a final inventory of your baby stuff to make sure you have everything you want. If you didn’t receive something you wanted from the baby shower, make sure you get it ordered while you’re thinking of it!
Here is a list of first-time baby essentials I used and loved!
19. Write baby shower thank-you notes
If you haven’t sent out thank you notes for baby shower gifts, consider doing it before your little lady or man arrives! I would write two or three a day and pick away at them during my third-trimester because I knew I wasn’t going to have time to write after my daughter arrival!
20. Order nursing clothes
In those first few months, breastfeeding will be your full time job so you’re going to want to get some cozy and easy-access clothing to help you out. Order some essentials like breastfeeding loungewear/PJs and nursing tops and bras for breastfeeding on the go. You may also want to invest in a nursing cover to give you some privacy if your baby decides she needs a snack while you’re out and about!
Check out this list of Breastfeeding Mom Essentials!
21. Schedule any appointments for pets
Before the baby arrives, make sure to bring your pets to any vet or grooming appointments necessary. It certainly wouldn’t be the most ideal to have the dog in the back of the car with your newborn, nevermind handling a dog and a baby at the same time!
Pro tip: Before your baby comes home, bring home a blanket or baby hat with your newborns smell on it to introduce their scent to your animals!
22. Download breastfeeding tracker apps
One resource I found super helpful as a first-time breastfeeding mom was making use of a breastfeeding tracker app. I probably only used it for the first two or three weeks of feeding, but it helped me keep track of my milk production and milk supply, and feeding times until I got into the swing of things. I had a Medela Swing Maxi Breast Pump that would sync with the Medela Family app!
- INCREASED MILK OUTPUT: Express 18% more milk* than a traditional single pump thanks to our 2-Phase Expression technology that simulates baby’s natural sucking pattern
- RELIABLE CLOSED SYSTEM: Closed system design with Overflow Protection to prevent your breast milk from entering tubing providing added reassurance and peace of mind
- EASY TO USE AND CLEAN: Intuitive controls and fewer parts make this innovative pump simple to use and maintain
- FULLY PORTABLE: Built-in rechargeable battery lets you pump up to 1.5 hours without needing an outlet; Includes USB-C for faster charging and Carry Bag to hold everything you need for pumping
- ULTIMATE COMFORT AND FIT: Flex breast shields mold to your shape for an optimal fit and more milk per pumping session
23. Book newborn photos
Newborn photos are NOT something you want to plan last minute. You never know how busy the photographer will be and you’ll want to get those pictures done when your love bug is teeny/tiny! Reach out to a newborn photographer and let her know your due date at least a month prior and be in touch with her once the baby is born!
24. Make a birth plan
A birth plan is piece of paper you can give to your birth team or midwife to help let people know what your boundaries, preferences and wishes when it comes to your birth.
It’s important to note that birth does NOT always go to plan (take it from me, I planned a home brith and ended up in the hospital with an epidural) but it may give you some peace of mind to let people know your hopes and wishes when entering the hospital.
25. Prep a postpartum kit
The hospital will send you home with some necessities but you may want to have some supplies at home for when you run out. I found the hardest part about labor to be the postpartum peeing. I found these padsicles to be extremely relieving.
26. Wash bottles and pacis, and breast pump
You’ll be happy you took care of washing and santizing your pump and bottles before your little one comes home. The easiet and cheapest way to santitize your breast pump pieces and baby bottles is to put them in boiling water and then let them air dry. Be careful to only boil rubber parts for a couple of minutes as they could dry out, but let any plastic stay in for a good 5 minutes before taking them out.
27. Pack your hospital bag
Since you’ll be at the hospital for a couple of days most likely, you’re going to need your essentials. A change of clothes or two, toothbrush and toothpaste, fuzzy socks (because the hospital socks suck), a long phone charger, etc. It’s helpful to have your bag at least partially packed so you’re not trying to remember what you need when you go into labor. You’re going to want to pretty much just grab and go!
I hope this list of Third Trimester to-dos has been helpful to you. I’m praying for a safe and speedy delivery and for you to meet your baby soon!
