Last-Minute Things To Do Before Baby Arrives

Are you in the final stretch of pregnancy? Whether you have just a few short weeks to go, or even just a few days, here are the last-minute things to do before baby arrives.

The end of the third trimester is often a stressful time, jam-packed with things to do. Even if you’ve spent the first and second trimesters preparing and buying everything your baby needs, it still feels like crunch time.

Blame it on hormones, or possibly a little bit of procrastination, but it’s time to get your butt into high gear! Meeting your baby for the first time isn’t just a distant dream to fantasize about, it’s right around the corner!

But don’t stress, Mama! it will all come together and the planning and prepping will be more than worth it. Truly, all that matters is you and the baby have a safe delivery. The rest will work itself out. But if you have the time and energy to organize and get things ready for the baby, you’ll thank yourself later.

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Last-Minute Things To Do Before Baby Arrives

1. Look at Birth Announcements Online

If you’re interested in announcing your baby’s birth in a Pinterest-worthy fashion, start looking online and narrow down what you’d like to do! If there are any props you’ll need, you need to move quick to make sure you can get them in time!

2. Prepare Your Postpartum Care Kit

This was something that I didn’t think about at all when I was pregnant with my son! Thankfully, the hospital provided me with most of the things I needed, but I still wish I had a postpartum care kit put together for when I got home. 

Honestly, I think I just didn’t know what to expect as far as postpartum care. I was taking things one step at a time. Most hospitals will provide you with a peri bottle, some mesh undies, and Dermoplast. 

I highly recommend buying yourself some granny panties, herbal perineal spray, and the Pink Stork recovery bundle! 

Postpartum Care Essentials:

• Peri Bottle
• Postpartum Pads
• Mesh Undies
• Postpartum Undies
• Dermoplast
• Herbal Perineal Spray
• Tucks Witch Hazel Pads
• Optional: Basket (to organize the items in the bathroom)
• Pink Stork Recovery Bundle

3. Put Together A Breastfeeding/Pumping Basket

If you plan on breastfeeding or pumping, I highly recommend putting together a breastfeeding basket! You don’t have to add every single item that I do, but I hope the concept helps! Simply add the breastfeeding items you plan on using into a diaper caddy or basket, and voila! Your life just got 10 times easier!

Below you’ll find the items I added to my basket the second time around.

Breastfeeding/Pumping Basket:

• A basket (preferably one with different compartments, like this one)
• Nursing Pads
• Nipple Balm
• Haakaa (These are amazing! They catch all of the milk that comes out of the breast your baby is not nursing from, that w ould otherwise be wasted. The suction makes them hands-free, and super convenient.)
• Reusable Water Bottle (I love this one. Seriously, how cute is that?)
• Lactation Support Drops (always be aware that different people respond differently to fenugreek and blessed thistle.)
• A Book or Magazine
• Burp Cloths
• Wipes
• Soothie Gel Pads
• Breast Therapy Packs (you’ll have to heat or freeze them, but you should still keep them close)
• Breast Milk Bags
• Extra Pump Parts (these are for the Medela)
• Manual Pump (I love the Lansinoh manual pump, and the Medela)
• Bottles & Lids
• Hands-Free Bra

There are several things you can do to prepare for breastfeeding before your baby is born. This basket is something I recommend to new moms all the time, along with learning all you can about how breastfeeding works.

The Ultimate Breastfeeding Class by Milkology has helped thousands of new moms and moms-to-be, and I highly suggest checking it out!

There’s even a Back-To-Work Pumping Class for working moms!

4. Prepare For Birth

If you haven’t already, you should prepare yourself for birth. If you’re even considering having a natural birth, check out Birth It Up! It’s an online natural birth course written by a labor and delivery nurse that goes over everything you need to know, including pain management techniques.

Isn’t it cool that we live in a time where we have access to valuable information like that, without paying an arm and a leg, all from the comfort of our home? I’m kind of obsessed with online courses if you can’t tell. 

The best part about this natural birth course is that there’s no time limit or specific meeting times. You can browse through at your own pace. Liesel is amazing. A quick look at her Instagram page will show you that she knows her stuff. 

Remember, your body was made for this!

5. Make Room In Your Freezer and Fridge

You should take this free time to make room in your freezer and fridge! First of all, no one wants to squat down and clean a fridge right after they have a baby, so it’s important to clean it out for that reason.

Beyond that, people will likely shower you with food and homemade goodies! You’ll need the extra space. If you plan on making some freezer meals or creating a breast milk freezer stash, you’ll need room for those as well.

6. Create An Easy, Organized System for Bottle Feeding

If you plan on pumping breast milk bottles or using formula, you should consider creating an easy, organized system in your kitchen. I bought small sets of plastic storage drawers for our kitchen counter, along with this storage solutions set for cycling through the newest pumped bottles in our fridge.

Consider how you’re going to separate the nipples, pump parts, lids, bottles, and everything else. And don’t forget that convenience is key! You’re going to be running on autopilot for the first several weeks (if not longer), so the easier it is to find everything and make quick bottles, the better!

7. Prep Some Freezer Meals

Don’t forget to prep some freezer meals for the first couple of weeks home with baby! The idea is simple: You prep the ingredients for meals and freeze them in big Ziploc bags, so when you need to make dinner after the baby’s born, you can simply dump the contents of the bag in a crockpot! 

8. Stock Up on Household Essentials

Many moms-to-be forget about themselves and their homes when they’re gearing up for baby time! Don’t forget to run by the store and stock up on the essentials like toilet paper, shampoo, cleaners, and laundry detergent! The last thing you’ll want to do is drag your newborn out to the grocery store for coffee filters.

9. Download Baby Tracker Apps

There are a ton of newborn baby apps available to you, but my favorites are the Glow Baby app, The Wonder Weeks, and Tinybeans. 

You don’t have to settle on just one! These three all provide something different, and I use them all! 

10. Catch Up on Laundry and Other Chores

Don’t forget to prepare your home for baby’s arrival! Catch up on laundry, dusting, and any other chores that you know you won’t be able to get to once you have the baby. Laundry is going to increase from all the blowouts and spit ups anyway, so it’s best to get a head start now.

11. Double Check Your Hospital Bag

Even if you’ve already packed your hospital bag, you should double and triple check it! Pregnancy brain is a real thing, after all. You might have forgotten a few items. At the very least, you should create a quick list of items to add at the last minute, like your phone, chargers, toothbrush, and anything else you use every day.

12. Finish Up Your To-Do’s From My Third Trimester Checklist

If you think there’s anything else you may have missed, peek at my third trimester checklist! That way you don’t forget anything. Ultimately, use these last couple of weeks (or days) to relax and prepare yourself mentally and physically for birth. This is such a beautiful, sensitive time in your life, and you’re probably totally over being pregnant. But one day you’ll look back and miss it! So use it to catch up on sleep, relax, and put the finishing touches on the nursery.

What tasks did you do to prepare for your baby at the last minute? Was there something I missed? Let me know in the comments below!

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