I just entered the third trimester of my fourth pregnancy. I have zero desire to nest. That’s just not a feeling I have ever had when pregnant, BUT I am a planner. It is important for me to be organized before a new baby arrives to help the transition go as smoothly as possible. As a list maker, I thought I would share my third trimester to-do list for any other pregnant mamas it may help. A free printable third trimester checklist is included at the end of the post.
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Doctor Appointments
If your doctor is as busy as mine is I would highly recommend getting all your prenatal appointments scheduled now.
Hospital Tour
If you have never given birth at the hospital where you are planning on delivering I would recommend taking a tour.
Active labor is not the time to be trying to figure out where to park and what floor you should be going to. A tour is also a wonderful time to ask any questions you may have. For example;
Will I be in a room similar to this for our entire hospital stay?
What are the visiting hours?
Where is the NICU?
Does my spouse/partner get any meals for free?
Breastfeeding Class
Breastfeeding is not as easy as it looks. In fact, it can be very difficult and PAINFUL.
The more you know and can prepare for breastfeeding ahead of time the better. In a breastfeeding class, you will learn different breastfeeding holds, how to use a breast pump, nipple care, etc.
If you do end up struggling with breastfeeding, please do not hesitate to reach out for help from the lactation consultants at your hospital – their job is to help you!! With our second daughter, I had to go see lactation consultants every day for a week because she was such a stinker with latching. It was worth it because I was able to breastfeed her for over a year.
Read More: Breastfeeding and Pumping Tips
Birthing Class(es)
I’ll be honest, I have never taken one birthing class because my deliveries have always been scheduled c-sections (not my choice). But if I was planning on delivering a baby vaginally you better believe I would sign up for birthing classes.
Again, the more you can prepare the better. I think learning the different techniques for managing pain is essential. Your partner or spouse will learn how to best support and coach you through labor. You might be surprised by how much you will learn in these classes about what a woman’s body goes through during labor and delivery.
Newborn Care Classes
I used to teach child development to middle school and high school students. It was scary how little they knew about properly caring for an infant.
Do you know the proper techniques for infant CPR?
Do you know how to change a diaper?
Can you easily swaddle a baby?
Do you know the recommended safe sleep guidelines?
How often does a newborn sleep and for how long?
Reading baby care books will definitely help prepare you but nothing is better than hands-on practice with a qualified instructor.
Maternity Photos
If you haven’t taken maternity photos yet you may want to. I love looking back on my photos and seeing how my body changed and carried life.
I personally like to take the maternity photos at the end of second trimester or at the very beginning of third trimester. This way, I am definitely showing but I am not completely swollen yet.
Remember, many photographers book up early!! Don’t wait until the last minute to get on his/her books.
Newborn Photos
While you are scheduling maternity photos, you’ll probably want to schedule newborn photos as well. Obviously, the exact date of the photo session will be determined based on when you end up giving birth, but many photographers only schedule a certain number of newborns each month. Get that deposit down now!
Date Night/Babymoon
This year is, unfortunately, a little different because of the pandemic. Regardless, I highly encourage you and your spouse/partner to take some quality time together to reconnect before baby arrives.
After the baby arrives date nights and vacations don’t happen as often as they used to – at least they don’t for us. Get that one-on-one romantic time in now.
Childcare
By now, you have hopefully discussed what YOU plan on doing after your baby is born. How long is your maternity leave? Will you be going back to work full-time, part-time, or not at all?
If you are going to be in need of some kind of childcare after your maternity leave is over you need to get on this!
Often there are waiting lists if you are looking for a daycare or in-home childcare center. You are going to want to interview and tour multiple places. You need to put down a deposit. If you have put off this task, move it right to the top of the checklist!!
Pediatrician
Finding and selecting a pediatrician ahead of the delivery is important. There will be a lot of appointments soon after birth and you want to feel comfortable with the pediatrician you have selected.
You may want to ask friends for recommendations. Otherwise, look at doctor profiles online as well as reviews and ratings. Furthermore, you can always try to schedule a meeting in-person (or virtually). Your OB/GYN might also have a good recommendation for you.
If you end up not vibing well with your selected pediatrician you can always switch.
Name(s)
This is one of the hardest tasks for me on this third trimester checklist.
Usually, my husband and I wait until the week of my scheduled c-section to finalize a name for our baby. But what would we do if the baby arrives early? Plus, this time we have to pick two names (a boy name and a girl name) because we chose to not find out the gender!
Now is a good time to try and start narrowing down your name possibilities lists. Then take a look at each other’s lists and start vetoing the names you hate (haha).
A name is not something you want to make a rash decision on.
Hospital Registration
It’s best to register with the hospital you plan on giving birth at prior to arriving. Trust me, they prefer this. By registering ahead of delivery, all your information will be updated in the system complete with your insurance information.
Even though I have recently given birth at the same hospital and none of my information has changed, I still have to mail in a registration form. Part of that registration form is checking that I have informed my insurance company of our upcoming new arrival.
Maternity/Paternity Leave Forms
You and your spouse/partner need to visit your HR departments and get everything squared away for maternity and paternity leave (if applicable).
True Story: I handed my husband’s paternity leave paperwork to a nurse during an OB appointment. His HR department needed to receive the documents back in a certain amount of time before the baby’s arrival for him to get the entire time allowed off. Well, this nurse FORGOT TO SEND IT IN!!! Long story short, we jumped through some hoops to ensure he got his full paternity leave.
Don’t wait too long to get your maternity and/or paternity paperwork in or your procrastination may come back to bite you.
Birth Plan
Honestly, I have never created a birth plan but most women will want to! I was never given the option of delivering naturally so the plan was out of my hands.
For most women, creating a birth plan will help you feel a little more in control of the situation. In addition, your spouse/partner, nurses, and doctor will hopefully all be on the same page after discussing your birth plan together.
Included in the birth plan can be your preferred pain management options, who is allowed to be in the room while you are laboring, and more. Remember, you can throw your birth plan out the window if it isn’t working for you.
Read More: Tips on Writing a Birth Plan
Child(ren) and Pet Arrangements
If you have children or pets something that is really important to plan for during third trimester is who will be caring for them when you are in the hospital.
Where will they be staying?
Do you need to pack for the child or pet in advance?
How will you communicate with caregivers that you are in labor?
I would highly recommend selecting someone local because your labor could come on very fast. With COVID regulations bringing your children with you to the hospital is not likely an option. Who locally can come over immediately in a pinch? A caregiver who lives further away could always take over after he/she arrives.
Work Coverage
Are you able to take a break from work and things will continue on as normal or will you being on maternity leave be a huge blow to the company?
You might need to make extensive plans on who will take over your job duties while you are on maternity leave. You may even need to train someone before you leave.
Don’t forget, there is always the possibility you may go into labor early. You do not want to be panicking about work-related issues when you are sleep deprived with a newborn. Plan now!
Birth Announcement
I don’t mean the cute picture card you are going to send to family and friends. By planning the birth announcement I mean how and when will you announce the fact that you have given birth.
Make a list of friends, family, bosses, etc who you want to notify (call, text, or e-mail) once the newborn arrives.
Also, decide if you will make any type of announcement on social media.
You may want to communicate to friends and family your wishes about not making any announcements themselves. I like to be very clear and say please don’t make any type of announcement or share any pictures without asking our permission first. You don’t want the following to happen;
You text your Grandma the baby’s birth stats and all of a sudden she has posted on your Facebook page a congratulations announcement before you have even had the chance to tell all the people you wanted to.
Visitor Guidelines
Conversations about friends and family visiting the newborn can be tricky. You are going to want to think about who, when, and where certain visits will take place. Make the decisions now because your crazy hormones will not be up to the task after giving birth.
Who is allowed to visit the baby in the hospital (likely no one this year!)?
Who can come to your house?
What will the rules be (no kissing baby, washing hands, wear a mask, etc)?
How long can visitors stay?
What will be your code phrase with your spouse/partner for when you think visitors should leave?
If you think there will be hurt feelings or problems with visitors obeying your guidelines – address and communicate them now. This year especially with COVID not everyone is going to agree with what you decide. TOUGH!! You are a parent now and you get to make the decisions about what is best for your immediate family.
Not good with confrontation? Maybe casually share this article on Visiting a Newborn with certain friends and family members who might benefit from the information.
Newborn Family Photo Outfits
My husband and I weren’t in any of our oldest daughter’s professional newborn photos and I somewhat regret that.
With our second daughter, we have both her solo newborn shots as well as a few sweet family photos.
If you are planning on having family photos taken during the newborn photo shoot, plan your outfits now. Newborn photos usually happen very soon after birth. You will not be going out shopping for outfits after just giving birth.
For your outfit, make sure you select clothes you will feel comfortable in and that fit. Also, if you plan on breastfeeding, consider if your outfit is easy to nurse in. I find babies always seem to get hungry right when the photo session is about to start (of course!).
Breast Pump
Do NOT buy a breast pump until you have checked with your medical insurance first. You are allowed to get one for free but it might not be the exact brand or model you wanted. Some insurance companies allow you to upgrade for a little money. I have a double electric, a manual, and I just bought the Haakaa.
New Vehicle
AHHHH – I think we are going to have to do it. By “it” I mean buy a van. I just don’t see how three car seats, a huge dog, and luggage will fit into our current SUV. We better start test driving before I can no longer fit behind the wheel.
Newborn Necessities
After your baby shower or sprinkle (if you are having one) take a look at your baby registry. What has not been purchased yet? Of those unpurchased items, what will you need/want during the newborn stage?
Keep in mind, you do not need to buy everything left on your baby registry before the baby arrives. Your baby isn’t going to eat solid foods until six months of age so you don’t need those refillable food squeeze pouches yet.
Read More: Check out my HUGE Baby Registry Checklist to see what you might want/need to have on hand immediately after birth.
Postpartum Care Items
No matter how you end up delivering, you are going to want to have on hand some recovery items at home. Stock up on pads, pain relievers, stool softeners, and a belly wrap.
As I’ve said before, I have not given birth vaginally so I have no recommendations for healing “down there”. This postpartum care kit post seems helpful and gives ideas for supplies to purchase in advance.
Breastfeeding Supplies
If you plan on breastfeeding there are definitely supplies that you will want to have on hand. My top two recommendations are non-stick gauze pads and nipple cream for that first week or two of non-stop breastfeeding.
Postpartum/Nursing Clothes
Comfort is key after giving birth. But at some point, you will start receiving visitors and will want to be at least semi-presentable. In addition, you will hopefully be in a lot of photos with your new baby. The good news is you can feel good AND look good.
If you plan on breastfeeding absolutely invest is some great nursing tops but henleys and cardigans with tank tops work great too.
Follow me on Instagram or LiketoKnow.It for all my clothing recommendations.
Gifts for Siblings
I think it is such a cute idea for new siblings to pick out gifts to give the new baby. Depending on the age(s) of your other child(ren) it might be a good idea to get them gifts too.
A “big brother” or “big sister” gift will help make the child feel special. It also could help provide a good distraction and stem off some jealousy he/she may be feeling towards the new baby.
Thank You Notes
Send as many thank you cards/e-mails/texts as you can now for any gifts you have already received. Thank you notes are a chore but it is important to show appreciation. You do not want to wait until maternity leave to write them.
House
I hate cleaning. I am not good at it, I’m lazy, and it is never-ending. But I certainly won’t be cleaning for a couple of weeks after having my fourth c-section surgery so I better do it now.
Or, if you have the means, hire a one-time cleaning service right before your due date. This is the best present you could ever receive (or gift yourself).
Laundry
Make sure you wash all the baby items (at least newborn) BEFORE your baby arrives. Many new moms like to use this laundry detergent but since I cloth diaper I use this laundry detergent for everything.
If you are interested in learning more about cloth diapering I have my whole system described here: All-in-One Cloth Diapers.
You should be washing;
Baby Clothes
Burp Cloths
Blankets
Bedding
Towels
Wash Cloths
Cloth Diapers (if applicable)
Sterilize
Also, you will want to sterilize the following items before delivery so they are ready to use;
Bottles
Breastpump Parts
Pacifiers
Contraction Timer App
Again, I have never needed this but most women download a contraction timer during the third trimester.
Once you start experiencing contractions you will want to keep track of the length of each contraction and how far apart the contractions are. This way you’ll know when to head for the hospital.
Feeding/Eliminating App
I never envisioned it would be hard to remember which breast I last nursed with and for how long each feeding session lasted but it was difficult. You are so exhausted!
At the baby’s check-up appointments you will be asked tons of feeding questions. How long does the baby typically nurse in one session? How often are you breastfeeding? If bottle feeding – How many ounces is the baby ingesting in a day? What does the poop look like? How many wet diapers is the baby having in a day?
Can you seriously remember all this data without tracking it or writing it down? Not me. An app makes it easy.
Freezer Meals
We finally got a chest freezer and I am going to FILL IT UP before this baby arrives. In no way do I want to be cooking the first few weeks after my child’s delivery and take-out gets old (and expensive!).
Even without a chest freezer I completely filled my regular freezer up during my last pregnancy and it was so worth the time and effort.
I also plan on getting a lot of ingredients for slow cooker meals.
Read More: French Toast Sticks (freezer meal instructions included!)
Nursery
You are going to want to like how your nursery is decorated and organized. You will be spending a lot of time in that room. Take the time now to make it an enjoyable and efficient space for you.
Have the clothes organized in the drawers (after washing them). Get the diaper changing area ready with a diaper pail, diapers, wipes, diaper cream, etc.
Nursing Station
If this is your first child you will most likely set up your nursing or breastfeeding station in the nursery. But if you have another child at home I found having my nursing station in my living room was more practical.
Read More: How to Set Up a Nursing Station
Practice makes perfect, or at least better. You don’t want something to collapse with your newborn baby in it. Also, you don’t want to be struggling in the parking lot trying to figure out how to release the car seat from its base.
Car Seat & Base(s)
Install your infant car seat base now. Then I would recommend putting your car seat next to your packed hospital bag. Make sure you have installed the car seat correctly and know how to use it properly. This is not an area to slack on!
If you are an experienced parent, check your infant car seat to make sure it isn’t expired. We just had to buy a new one.
Stroller
Again, practice makes perfect. Practice collapsing it, practice putting the car seat in it. You’ll feel a lot better once the baby arrives if you already know exactly what to do.
Baby Monitor
Set up and play around with the features of your baby monitor. It might take some time to find the perfect camera angle.
Crib/Bassinet/Cradle
Once your baby comes home from the hospital he/she will need a place to sleep. Assemble the crib, bassinet, and/or cradle now.
Other Newborn Equipment
There could be other pieces of newborn equipment you may want to assemble and practice with before the baby arrives. For example, I like to try out Pack ‘n Plays, swings, bouncers, etc so I don’t get easily frustrated when I am sleep deprived after delivery.
Diaper Bag
It is nice to have your diaper bag all squared away before your baby comes. You may want to organize your diaper bag with a changing pad, wipes, hand sanitizer, an extra baby outfit, a nursing cover, a pacifier, etc.
Hospital Bag
Pack your hospital bag (and your spouse’s/partner’s bag!) early.
With my first pregnancy, I ended up having an emergency very early in the third trimester which resulted in a month of hospital bedrest. I only had my cell phone and the clothes I was wearing until my husband was able to pack me a bag and get it to me a week later (we lived across the state).
With COVID regulations visitors and your spouse might not be allowed to freely come and go as they please. Pack everything for you, baby, and your spouse/partner you think you may need. Don’t forget masks! If you need examples of hospital bag packing lists Pinterest is your friend.
Click the image directly below to download the third trimester checklist. First, I go through the list and check off everything I have already accomplished or cross out any to-do item that doesn’t pertain to my current pregnancy.
Next, for each section, I prioritize the remaining items left for me to do by ranking them in order of importance. Also, consider that some items might have a sooner deadline than others.
Lastly, I sit down with my planner and divide up all my to-do items by week to make the checklist manageable. For instance, one week my goal will be to fill out the hospital registration form and make one or two freezer meals. For the next week, my goals might be to make one or two more freezer meals and assemble the crib.
This third trimester checklist isn’t meant to overwhelm you but it is meant to show you exactly what all should be accomplished before the delivery of your newborn. I hope you find it helpful!
What would you add to this checklist?
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