Last updated on July 9th, 2024 at 02:10 pm
You’ve made it to third trimester! Congrats Mama!
How do you feel?
Relieved? Excited? Nervous? All of these are totally normal emotions. Hopefully you are feeling great and energized from second trimester that you are ready to tackle this third trimester head on.
You are only a few short months, maybe even weeks, from meeting your little one. While this is so exciting, it can also be overwhelming. You’ve already completed so much in your first and second trimester checklists, but there are a few more important things to do during your third trimester. This will be your guide to finishing off all those last-minute details!
Let’s dive right in!
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Have a Baby Shower
One of the highlights of third trimester is your baby shower (if you haven’t already had it). Whether you decide to hold it virtually, have a simple party, or even try a modern baby shower alternative, enjoy time with family and friends. So many people are excited for you and your new little one!
This is a great time to make sure your baby registry is all filled out and updated for guests to purchase from!
Also if you are still in the planning process of your baby shower, make sure you hold it sooner rather than later. I can’t tell you how many patients I had come to triage that I ended up admitting right before their baby shower was supposed to happen. Babies can come early! So be prepared and don’t wait until the last minute to hold your shower.
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Write and Send Out Thank You Notes
Going along with your baby shower it is important to get your thank you notes done ASAP.
As soon as that new baby comes life will get hectic and you won’t have the time! If gifts start coming in before your baby shower, you can even get a head start on your notes.
Third trimester is a great time to relax so why not write your thank you notes while you are at it. Keep it simple and personable and you will be good to go!
Related: Baby Shower Thank You Cards: How to Write the Perfect Card
Wash Baby's Clothes and Linens
Babies have very sensitive skin so it is important to wash baby items before they are used. This includes sheets, blankets, burp clothes, clothes, etc.
Many people go through all their clothes after a baby shower and wash them right away. That is perfectly fine, but you don’t know what size your baby is going to be when he or she is born. Personally, I just wash a few outfits in the preemie, newborn, and 0-3 month sizes before baby gets home just to see what size they will be. That way you can make returns on clothes your baby won’t end up wearing.
Remember when washing items for your baby to use a gentle laundry detergent to prevent rashes or skin issues.
Pack Your Hospital Bag
If you’re like me (and my husband) the idea of packing a hospital bag is so daunting! I don’t know why, but we were so worried about having all the essentials that we literally never sat down to pack it. I’m not kidding. We were an hour from leaving our house to head in for my induction and we still hadn’t packed much yet!
The key with a hospital bag is you really don’t need much! Just a few of the essentials to keep you both comfortable and the hospital should provide pretty much everything else.
Labor can be unpredictable, so have a few things set aside closer to your due date to avoid the mad dash before heading out the door to the hospital.
Related: Everything You Need to Pack in Your Hospital Bag (plus free printable!)
Stock Up on Postpartum Essentials
Prepping to care for yourself postpartum is essential to making those first few weeks at home run as smooth as possible! You are going to be tired and sore, and the last thing you will want to do is run to the store for items to make you more comfortable.
My Postpartum Must-Haves goes into more detail, but here are somethings you will want to make sure you have on hand:
- Mesh undies or disposable underwear
- Maxi pads
- Numbing spray
- Tucks
- Peri-bottle (this one is so much better than what the hospital gives you)
- Giant absorbent pads
- Epsom salts (for sitz baths)
- Tylenol and Ibuprofen
- Nursing bra (if you plan on breastfeeding)
- Nursing pads (even if you are bottle feeding, your milk still will come in!)
- Lanolin or organic nipple cream
Your hospital may send you home with some of these items, but even so it usually won’t last you long! Have enough on hand to last you at least the first two weeks and you can decide what you need more of after that.
Order Your Breast Pump Through Insurance
If your insurance allows, you may be able to order your breast pump ahead of time and have it all clean and ready to go! Some may have you wait until closer to your due date or even after the baby arrives. It depends on your plan. The best way to check is to call your insurance directly and ask.
If they do let you order during third trimester, you can use sites like Edgepark or Aeroflow to choose your pump and have it sent to your house. It was so simple when I chose mine! I just filled out my information, they contacted my physician for the prescription, and a few weeks later a pump showed up at my door free of charge!
Related: Pumping Basics for New Moms
Sterilize Baby Supplies
With baby coming soon, it is important to have everything clean and ready to use! You will want to sterilize all baby bottles, pacifiers, and your breast pump supplies if you have it already. Make sure to check labels and ensure proper clearing of your specific products. It is typically not recommend for baby products to go through the dishwasher, so you likely will be handwashing everything and using a sterilizer if you have one.
You can use a bottle sterilizer if you have one handy. If not, I like to boil a pot of water and use that to sterilize my pacifiers and pump parts. You can also purchase sterilizing bags that can be placed in the microwave, however, those are typically only one time use.
Make sure to put everything away and organize it so you know where all your clean baby goods are when your newborn arrives.
Familiarize Yourself with the Hospital
Many hospitals nowadays don’t offer tours of the labor unit, but you can always call and ask! Many will have virtual tours online that you can use to familiarize yourself with the birthing suite. If a tour is not offered you can always call labor and delivery with any questions you may have. Good things to ask include:
- What is your visitor policy?
- Are there visiting hours for the unit?
- What can I bring with me to the hospital?
- What will be provided for me?
And really any other questions you may have. It may sound silly to call the hospital, but as a nurse I answered questions for patients about labor expectations, policies, and what at typical stay looked like all the time.
You also may be able to pre-register for your delivery either in person or over the phone. This is one less thing you will have to take care of while in labor so it is great to get a head start when you can.
Take a Prenatal Course
Once your reach third trimester, there are only weeks left before it is time to delivery your baby. A prenatal course or a birthing class is a great way to get yourself prepared for birth! There are tons of options you can take from home online or in person. You just need to find the right fit for you!
These classes are a great opportunity to educate yourself and partner about labor and delivery and what to expect postpartum. They allow you to ask questions and learn with others going through the same experience as you.
A great place to start is talking to your OBGYN or local hospital to see if they offer any classes.
Consider a Breastfeeding Class
Now this may be covered in your prenatal course, but it may not! Breastfeeding can be so hard, especially for first time mom. If this is something you are wanting to do it is important to have all the support you can get!
Breastfeeding is not as simple as just putting the baby on your boob (oh but I wish it was!). There is so much to learn and you can start before your baby even gets here. Ask your OBGYN if they offer any breastfeeding courses or if they have one they recommend. Also, research lactation consultants in the area and know where you can go to get help postpartum if you need it!
Related: Breastfeeding Tips for New Moms
Finalize Your Birth Plan
Now that you are getting closer to your due date, it is a great idea to start getting your birth plan ideas in place. Talk with your healthcare provider about how you hope to deliver and any requests you may have. It is important for everyone in your birth team to be on the same page prior to delivery.
Here are a few topics to think about:
- What is your plan for pain control? Are you planning an epidural?
- Who would you like in the room for delivery? Family members? Your mom? Just your partner?
- Where are you planning to give birth?
- What are your desires in case of an emergency?
While birth is unpredictable, it is important at least think through your ideas about how you would prefer it to go?
As a nurse though, I can promise 99% of my patients did not come in with a written birth plan, and few had any idea what they wanted for that day. Most just said they wanted a healthy mom and healthy baby however that needed to happen. And that is totally fine!
Writing it down is completely optional but remember even if you do labor and delivery doesn’t always go as planned.
Try to be as flexible as you can!
Download a Contraction Tracking App
This was one of my biggest tips to patients preparing to come in for labor. Download an app to help you track your contractions.
When you start feeling those real contractions (trust me you will know!), it can be hard to time exactly how far apart they are. It can also be confusing to know when you should head in to the hospital. While it is different for everything, using an app can help you track your contractions and even alert you when you hit a certain threshold.
There are plenty of great options out there so download a few and try them out. See which one works best for you!
Check Your Car Seat Installation
Before baby arrives, you’ll want to make sure your car seat fits properly in your car and learn how to install it. This can be a daunting task if you’ve never handled a baby car seat before! Don’t worry. There are plenty of organization that will help you install your car seat for free!
Check with your local police and fire department to see if they can help you. AAA also offers free car seat inspections in some parts of the country. Check their site and see if they have an office near you!
Once you have the car seat properly install, REMOVE IT! This sounds crazy, but if you are not close to your due date you do not want that seat in your car. If you get in a car accident it is recommend that you get an entirely new seat. You don’t want to do that even before your baby is here! So have someone help you learn how to install it, and only install it when you know you are heading to the hospital very soon.
You could leave just the base installed and only have to replace that in case of an accident. But that is up to you!
Bonus tip: The best decision my husband and I ever made when it came to our baby’s car seat was to buy two bases. One for his truck and one for my car. Our son rode in my car most often, but having two bases that his seat could click into made life as two working parents so much easier! I could drop him off with family on my way to work and my husband could pick him up on his way home without having to mess with car seats.
Most brand have a universal car seat base that fits all their models, so check into that when choosing the best seat for you! We have a Graco car seat and used this second base to switch between cars.
Set Up Your Breastfeeding and Pumping Station
If you are choosing to breastfeed or pump, a lot of your time with your newborn will be spent feeding them. So, make sure you are comfortable! I personally loved to set up a small station in the nursery with our glider and a small table with all my supplies. This included:
- My pump and all its parts
- A full water bottle (the one the hospital gives you works great!)
- Several burp rags
- A basket of granola bars and treats
- Head phones so I could listen to my audiobooks on Audible
I know of others who preferred to breastfeeding in their beds at night and set up their supplies in one of these carts. That is totally up to you! Wherever you choose, just make sure you have everything you need to make you comfortable. Chances are once you start, you’ll probably be stuck for a bit!
Meal Prep
This is one of my favorite ways to make life easier after baby’s arrival! If you have the space, prepping a bunch of meals and freezing them for later can save you time and money during the postpartum phase. And you don’t have to make everything from scratch either. Simply pick up some ready-made freezer friendly meals next time you are at the grocery store and you are good to go!
There are tons of great options for freezer meals out there, but some of our family’s favorites include:
- Lasagna and other pasta dishes
- Frozen burritos
- Homemade breakfast sandwiches
- Muffins and sweet breads (great for a late night breastfeeding treat!)
- Crockpot dump soups
- Tons of easy frozen veggies and fruits
Plus this also helps pass the time during third trimester, which can feel like an eternity! Another great way to stock up on freezer meals is to host a freezer meal baby shower!
Stock Up on Household Essentials
I feel pretty confident in saying that during the first few weeks home with your newborn, the chances of you wanting to go to the grocery store is next to none! You will want to just be home enjoying the baby snuggles, not running to the store to get more toilet paper.
Stock up on all the essentials before you head to the hospital to reduce the chances of any trips after baby! This includes any household necessities such as paper towels, toiletries, cleaning supplies, and nonperishable foods.
And don’t forget to stock up on all the baby essentials too!
Finalize Maternity Leave Plans
Hopefully you have already told your boss that you are pregnant and have plans in motion for maternity leave. They will need to know what is going on and when you plan on returning to make arrangements while you are gone.
Depending on where you work, you may have paperwork that needs to be completed within 30 days of you leaving. Make sure to have this all squared away so you can get paid while on leave if this is applicable. You will also need to check on paperwork that will be needed upon your return, such as clearance from your doctor. Knowing about all of this ahead of time will relieve stress later.
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Make Plans for Other Children and/or Pets
If you have older children or have pets, you’ll need to make arrangements for them while you are away. Who will take care of them while you are in the hospital? Will you need help while you are recovering at home? And is there someone close to you on standby if you need to hurry to the hospital in the middle of the night?
Labor and recovery can be unpredictable so it is good to have these questions answered before you are in a rush to get to the hospital.
Choose a Pediatrician
As a labor nurse, I was shocked at how many parents came to the hospital to have their baby and didn’t have a pediatrician picked out. And it wasn’t only first-time parents! It is easy to get caught up in preparing for the birth that you forget about what needs to be done after the baby is here.
You will be in charge of setting up your child’s appointments at the pediatricians office as soon as you leave the hospital, so it is best to have one picked out ahead of time. If you are clueless as to where to begin, start asking around. Neighbors? Coworkers? Friends? Who do they take their kids to and who do they recommend? In my opinion, word of mouth from people you trust is the best way to pick the best doctor for your family!
Here are some tips of mine to consider when choosing a pediatrician:
- Do they accept your insurance?
- Do they have an on call line/after hours clinic for emergency situations (my office and another office trade weekends and late open hours to help accommodate emergency visits)
- Does their office have separate waiting rooms for sick and healthy patients to help keep your newborn safe during visits?
- Do their philosophies on childcare align with yours? (Vaccines, circumcision, sleep training, etc.)
- And this last one may not be applicable to everyone, but personally I looked for a younger physician with my first because I knew I was having more kids in the future and wanted to make sure I could keep with the same doctor for everyone. This in theory prevented needing to switch due to retirement. This obviously is not super important but is something my husband and I considered when choosing our pediatrician.
If you really don’t have one chosen before you have your baby that is ok. There will be an on-call doctor that will come see your baby in the hospital. If you end up liking that person, ask them if they are accepting new patients!
Well that’s a wrap! Hopefully this gets you excited for all the fun things there are to do during this trimester! If you aren’t quite in third trimester yet that’s ok. Check out the ultimate guides to first and second trimester to get you started.
