3rd Trimester To Do Lists

mrstrax

I'm guessing as we get closer and closer to babies (eek!) we'll start getting lots of posts and questions about 3rd trimester prep and to-do lists. Some may warrant their own posts (hospital bags?) but maybe we can contain most of those questions here. We can post our to-do lists and edit them as you get stuff done to get that awesome sense of accomplishment that comes from crossing things off your list
So what is still on your to do list and when do you want to have it done? Other STMs, what do you recommend for FTMs? Mom's who already have 2+ kids, any recommendations for us STMs? 

mrstrax

My list right now is:

• Repeating our hospital tour (they've done a major reno since DD was born)
• Getting the NB gear we loaned out back from friends
• Buying the last few things for DS (new sheets, diapers, "boy" swaddle blankets for pictures) once our registry completion coupon shows up
• Finishing the nursery (still want to extend the crib skirt)
• Prepping some freezer meals and stocking up on household essentials (TP, shampoo, paper plates, non-perishables, etc)
• Making Big Sister and Little Brother shirts (DD's will be part of her big sister gift, which also needs wrapped) 
• Finishing and printing DS's month stickers so we can take the "brand new" one to the hospital
• Finalize our plan for DD with my parents/ILs and my sister (our "this baby is coming now" emergency contact)
• Packing our hospital bags (around 36/37 weeks)
• Deciding what we're going to do for NB photography so we can get on their books
• Collect email addresses for the initial birth announcement to family (for before social media) and regular addresses for the printed announcement.
• Rug-doctor the living room rug (our only carpet) and the couches
• Move DD to her big girl bed and/or potty train 
• Prenatal massage and/or pedicure
• As many date nights as we can swing before we need a babysitter for two kids!

mrsmtothek

mrstrax said:

My list right now is:

• Repeating our hospital tour (they've done a major reno since DD was born)
• Getting the NB gear we loaned out back from friends
• Buying the last few things for DS (new sheets, diapers, "boy" swaddle blankets for pictures) once our registry completion coupon shows up
• Finishing the nursery (still want to extend the crib skirt)
• Prepping some freezer meals and stocking up on household essentials (TP, shampoo, paper plates, non-perishables, etc)
• Making Big Sister and Little Brother shirts (DD's will be part of her big sister gift, which also needs wrapped) 
• Finishing and printing DS's month stickers so we can take the "brand new" one to the hospital
• Finalize our plan for DD with my parents/ILs and my sister (our "this baby is coming now" emergency contact)
• Packing our hospital bags (around 36/37 weeks)
• Deciding what we're going to do for NB photography so we can get on their books
• Collect email addresses for the initial birth announcement to family (for before social media) and regular addresses for the printed announcement.
• Move DD to her big girl bed and/or potty train 
• Prenatal massage and/or pedicure
• As many date nights as we can swing before we need a babysitter for two kids!

Great list!! Curious, when do you plan to start making freezer meals? I can't decide when the best time for this is. 

Bubbles3592

I downloaded the MLO app and made a to do list on there because I keep forgetting everything. And of course there's so much to do right now.

• Clean furniture before move
• Apply soft paws to cats before move
• Move
• Buying the rest of the items on the registry
• Building the nursery
• Finishing up my list of DIY crafts
• hospital tour
• making a will
• purchasing life insurance for my fiancé
• getting my driver's license renewed
• packing the hospital bag
• making an emergency kit
• printing out the birth plan and turning it in

I'm sure there's more I'm probably forgetting atm. The app is on my fiancé's phone so I have to wait until he's home to access it.

mrstrax

@mrsmtothek My MIL, SIL and I are talking about making a girl's day of it some Saturday in late Feb/ early March (around 34-36 weeks?). SIL has a Costco membership, so we're each going to find a couple recipes and then all shop and prep together. If that falls through (which could happen because SIL sometimes has to work weekends) I'll probably do it myself whenever there is a good deal on the meat/produce at our local grocery store. 

cmjenkies

-Finish nursery/house cleaning
-Collect whatever else is needed for baby, still need some essentials and odds/ends but I live literally 1mi from BRU and Target so not concerned
-Order breast pump through insurance
-Finalize leave plans with work and do a once over on financials
-Pack some type of hospital bag. Last time, that was done the night before my induction. Whoops.

That's about the gist of it. I don't do freezer meals or anything, as we don't usually eat meals as a family (conflicting work schedules, etc) and I don't intend to be stuck at home for any length of time following delivery, maybe a week at most but we are much more likely to do carry out/carry on from family during that time.

thaisac1

@mrstrax You're reading my mind as I was just googling this yesterday! Thanks!

imrachellea

Omg I know I need to put a list together but the thought of it stresses me out! Here are some I knew of off the top of my head:

-redo hospital tour and bring DD
-buy Big Sister Little Sister matching outfits for pictures
-pack for hospital
-finish reading my Bradley textbook and practicing relaxation techniques
-waterproof mattress cover back on the bed in case of water breaking while asleep/towels in the car for same scenario and driving to hospital with broken water
-finish DDs big girl room and transition her in
-potty training...maybe?!
-attend Baby Sprinkle in two weeks
-finish planning and executing friends shower 1 month and 1 day before my EDD
-pack n play back in our room
-unpack and wash all our newborn and 0-3 month clothes
-set up swing, bouncer, newborn gear
-buy Boba wrap

...this is just off the top of my head...

spatter1

Copying this form my excel spreadsheet so who knows how it will look here... Paint nursery

Build crib

Build dresser

Set up bassinet, swing, etc

Wash bedding

Wash (some) clothes

Make freezer meals? (not sure how much of this we can do since our freezer is basically full already!)

Install carseat in both cars

Pack hospital bags

Buy nursing accessories (pads, cream, nursing bras, etc)

Get Breast pump @ 28 weeks

Complete FMLA paperwork and leave planning for work

Buy remaining registry items after shower

Clean the house

Baby shower thank you cards

Research/Figure out  childcare if possible ...And I'm getting more ideas from your lists!! I'm stressed that the nursery is so far from ready. My parents were supposed to come this weekend to help prime & paint the room and build the crib but the stupid snow storm delayed their trip 2 more weeks. I'm so antsy I'm sure I'll convince DH to do a lot of this with me before they even come!  Edited because it's after 5pm and I'm sleepy. Edited again to add that we also need to attend all the various baby-prep classes we've signed up for: Baby care, childbirth, hospital tour, and we took the breastfeeding class this past week. It was very informative and made me feel more confident about giving BF the old College try without being overly pushy and recognizing that it just doesn't work for some women. Highly recommend (we took the class offered by Inova Health System for those living in the DC/VA area).

AmadorRose

Question for STMs - I'm seriously considering hiring a cleaning service to come deep clean my house in mid to late March but I'd rather do it myself. I'm having trouble with any movement that puts stress on my pelvis as it is. The amount of hair that accumulates in my house is obnoxious with two cats - one of them long-haired - and a dog who is currently shedding like crazy. Will I be able to take a few days and get everything or should I hire someone?

spatter1

@AmadorRose Thank you for asking this! I'm seriously considering the same thing. I'm so picky though I'm afraid to spend the money just to go back and do it all over myself. 

yodiggity

My list so far looks like this:

*Clean the house
*Clean the house
*Clean the house
*Finish all the laundry
*Finish all the laundry
*Finish all the laundry

*Rearrange our bedroom to accommodate bassinet (which is dependent on cleaning the house and finishing the laundry because our room is a hot mess these days.)

Yea. Motivation is lacking in that department.

AEG84

Ooooh, I love a good list. I haven't started one so this will probably evolve for a bit as I get ideas from everyone else!

• Birth class February 7
  
• Baby shower February 20 (may have a work one as well but no idea when) / send thank-you cards
  
• Family pics February 27 (hopefully)
• Meet with doula in early March to talk about birth plan (not sure I will write out a plan, but want to talk about goals)
  
• Buy any remaining essentials and set up around the house
• Figure out postpartum necessities and buy in advance (this scares me)
  
• Practice installing car seat
  
• Prep some freezer meals
• Pack hospital bag
• Sign up at daycare / pay deposit before due date
  
• Fill out FMLA/short-term disability paperwork
• Watch for diaper/wipes deals and stock up a bit
• Order breast pump from insurance
  
• Wash newborn clothes and pick out coming home outfit
• Find pediatrician
• File taxes (waiting on forms...ugh)
  

mrstrax

@spatter1 - Don't stress yourself too much! Unless you're wanting baby to be in the crib in the nursery on night one, you definitely don't need to have it done before baby is here. I'd definitely recommend having some things prepped around 36/37 weeks, just in case (hospital tour, starting to pack bags, work plans) but in all reality, you have LOTS of time still. It's always nice to not have anything hanging over your head, but (I'm pretty sure) baby is just as likely to come at 42 weeks as 38. 

Also, In the (nearly) worst case scenario of delivering significantly early (pre-36 weeks) baby will probably have at least a few NICU days during which friends and family will want to do anything they can to help you. I have a friend who had their twins at 31w5 (after 4 days in the hospital trying to stop labor) and had only had her shower the week before. Nothing was ready or set up, but between family and friends, they were turning help away by the time the kiddos were ready to come home (about 37 weeks GA). Plus she says the nursery work was a welcome distraction to not being able to have them with her - she was still able to "take care" of them even when she had to leave them at the hospital. 

imrachellea

@AmadorRose GO FOR THE CLEANER!!!! Omg I want this SO bad. My mom was actually researching services in our area because I told her all I wanted for Christmas was a clean house, but she thought DH would be funny about strangers in the house (she thought right). If that's a concern, have them come and just be there while they're working.

TKaiser91

Here's my list off the top of my head

-Buy either an old TV cabinet or armoire to create a baby center (found on pinterest and it is perfect for our bedroom until we move into a place with another bedroom)
-Start buying clothes, diapers, and wipes and getting them stocked into the baby center.
-Wash the sheets for the bassinet
-Pack a hospital bag
-Buy a bouncer, a new PnP, baby blankets for this LO (because I'm making DD's into one big blanket to give her when she graduates high school and I want to do the same thing with DS)
-Possibly shampoo carpet
-Finish potty training DD (only night time diapers and a 2-3 accidents during the day)



Edited because I can't type...

RoseShadow873

-Attend baby shower
-Write thank yous
-Buy everything
-Visit hospital if they let me
-Wash stuff
-Figure out how I will do cloth diapering
-Finish reading books about birth and babies
-Freeze some food
-Figure out how to work a car seat
-Get my hair trimmed so I can comb it again
-Pack up the bag for the hospital (including Golden Girls DVDs!)
-Clean the baby's room again
-Try to fix my camera
-Figure out how to get the baby some health insurance
-Get some things to put in the baby book--Year of the Monkey stamp, pictures, etc.

olivemomma

These lists are giving me anxiety...

The only thing I will mention that I didn't see is sanitizing some bottles or your breast pump parts prior to baby coming. You only need to sanitize once but if you need them right away it's worth doing ahead of time.

Oh, and I also want to dedicate a couple of days to doing all of DDs favorite things before the baby comes.

ivyvines6

If it's in italics I have accomplished it  


-Register at hospital/Sign up for whatever kind of classes I can still feasibly access before due date

-Put away Christmas Tree

-Deep clean house (Might put off until early March and recruit four sisters and mom >.>)

-Attend Baby Shower/Buy everything else on registries/Send thank you notes

-Finish making decorations for Nursery (Hehe thanks little bro ) And arrange Nursery

-Make enough freezer meals for at least a week/meal plan easy things for fiancé to throw together

-Pack hospital bag (And one for Mr I can't plan for shit)

-Wash baby clothes/Towels/etc

-Prep cloth diapers/wipes

-Sterilize pacifiers and other "toys" (Breast pump as well if I get one. Still on fence)

imrachellea

@Knottie9983816 I would definitely get a breast pump even though I know you are determined to EBF. I would suggest having the Medela Harmony (a single manual pump) on hand JUST IN CASE. You seriously don't want to have latch issues and then get so engorged it leads to pain and possible mastitis. It can be an invaluable tool if you have a learning curve with nursing. There is no shame in pumping to get that baby fed as you are both learning the ropes. If I recall, you don't have typical insurance that provides a pump (but correct me if I'm wrong, and if you DO...its FREE, do it, no reason not to!), so the Harmony is actually a really great pump. It costs around $25. I have one I used with DD1 that I will have on hand. I did get a new Medela double electric through my insurance, but that Harmony was a lifesaver many times with DD1.

ivyvines6

@imrachellea I have a weird psychological issue with using a pump that I have to overcome before I get one >.< Nothing to do with being holier than thou about EBF, just private, and difficult to explain.

briterfly84

@Knottie9983816 I'm a CD mama too! Did it from about 4 weeks through being potty trained with DD1 and will do so again with this LO (hopefully starting as soon as we get home from the hospital).  Don't hesitate to shoot me a message if you need any tips or help! It's really easy once you get going! 

briterfly84

My list...
-Enter Third Trimester
-Don't panic
-Put crib together
-Wash the basics from DD1
-Panic/Calm Down
-Get a carseat
-Figure out and get what else I need (new boppy, stuff for the boobs, um---who knows what else)
-Get a damn bed for DH and I so our mattress will get off the f-ing floor
-Mess with my old pump (5 yrs old) and determine if getting a new one through insurance is worth the time
-Wait impatiently for the local consignment sale at the end of March to buy shit I want but don't need for LO
-Make it through DD's travel dance competition without going into labor (4 days before my due date)
-Push
-Be completely smitten with LO
---and a TON of other shit I need to get done, but don't want to list out because then the panic attack that is 5th on my list will become 1st and I am not ready for that.

Poppy16

The things on my list won't apply to most people (like renewing my driver's license!). Basically I'm just thinking ahead to the weeks +/- my due date and getting everything done now that I possibly can. 

Things that would generally apply to others:
- hand in pre-admission forms at hospital
- pack my hospital bag
- pack overnight bags for kids who are staying with a friend while I'm at the hospital 
- set up nursery
- set up bassinet area in our bedroom (I like to have a few gowns, onesies, pack of wipes, and diapers near the bed so I don't have to walk all through the house in the middle of the night to gather these things)
- sterilize bottles, stock up on formula (I plan to FF)
- stock up on household essentials (TP, paper towels, detergent, etc)
- start making freezer meals, at least 6-7. 
- purge/organize major messy places in the house. Because once baby comes the chaos will only get worse! 

@Knottie9983816 , a breast pump is a huge lifesaver in the early weeks of BFing. Definitely get one, even if it's a manual one. It's still EBFing if you use a pump. ;-) 

skc040512

As a FTM, this is really helpful! My list right now looks like this:

• Finish decorating the nursery
• Clean and paint baby's dresser
• Get all of the extra furniture out of my house and posted on Craig's List
• Finish decorating the loft/play room
• Finish decorating my bed room
• Paint and decorate master bath
• Seriously, where is all this extra furniture coming from? GTFO
• Purge all of the random crap from all areas of my house (I do not need you, flyer about a party that happened 3 years ago, or you 27 copies of the exact same Chinese take out menu)
• Get DH to clean out the garage so I can park in there
• Buy a baby mattress? Or bassinet? Figure out where the baby is going to sleep when she first comes home? idk
• Narrow down name choices. We can't keep calling you "Baby" once you get here 

Monicagail1

1. Start a "to do" list

2. Trade in a bunch of junk at the BRU trade in event, and buy a new infant car seat/stroller, bases, new car seat for DD2.

3. Finish cleaning out the spare room, which has been the catch all/toy room for the last few years

4. Get out/wash/organize baby clothes/blankets/swaddlers and assess what new things are needed, if any

5. (Possibly) Repaint and get new furniture for the big girls' room

6. Clean up the master bedroom and make room for bassinet, etc

7. Buy new bottles, pacifiers, monitor

8. Book newborn photographer

9. Maybe contact/hire a lactation consultant

10.  Pick a name

Probably a million other things that I'm totally forgetting...

rebelone

hospital tour
clean bedroom
put crib together
pack bags
make a baby storage area/changing area
order breast pump
get FMLA paperwork going
maternity pics
newborn pics
diapers
gripe water
sell baby girl clothes
buy baby boy clothes
get crib mattress

brit&nate2010

- get the newborn clothes we need like long sleeve onesies, pants, and a handful of sleepers. Oh and special blanket for baby
- get newborn seat back from bil/sil. Just waiting on them to buy a convertible seat for thier 4month old
- pack hosp bag and a possible overnight bag for the kids.
- start my stash of CD

Jules08

Pick a name

Finish decorating the nursery (pretty meh about this one)

Pack my hospital bag

Get a Big Brother gift

Take DS on a hospital tour

Wash stroller & car seat covers

The rest is done and/or I have the BTDT mentality: I left the house every day with DS (so no need to panic if I don't have something on hand that I need), got everything done that I wanted to each day and found plenty of time to make meals. do the laundry, clean, etc.

elasticheart13

Reading this thread just made me stressed haha. I am nowhere near knowing what needs to be done. Off the top of my head:

- Find out whether I will be giving birth in Denmark or Sweden. We are worried that DH might not be allowed to enter Denmark around March/April because his visa would be expired and if I end up giving birth in Denmark he would miss the birth. It's stressing me out a lot. It all depends on whether we will be able to move back to Denmark by then or if we have to stay in Sweden until the summer.
- If we do end up staying in Sweden we have to move all the baby stuff from Denmark to Sweden.

- Figure out how long I'll be gone from university when I give birth.
- Pack the hospital bag
- Buy the last small items like sheets.
- Wash all the clothes
- Rent car seat for when we bring baby home. We don't have a car so we will be taking a cab home and we'll just rent the car seat.


Sigh.

adifrog

briterfly84 said:

My list...
-Enter Third Trimester
-Don't panic
-Put crib together
-Wash the basics from DD1
-Panic/Calm Down
-Get a carseat
-Figure out and get what else I need (new boppy, stuff for the boobs, um---who knows what else)
-Get a damn bed for DH and I so our mattress will get off the f-ing floor
-Mess with my old pump (5 yrs old) and determine if getting a new one through insurance is worth the time
-Wait impatiently for the local consignment sale at the end of March to buy shit I want but don't need for LO
-Make it through DD's travel dance competition without going into labor (4 days before my due date)
-Push
-Be completely smitten with LO
---and a TON of other shit I need to get done, but don't want to list out because then the panic attack that is 5th on my list will become 1st and I am not ready for that.

I'm right there with you on the bed thing. How am I just now noticing I need a real bed for my fancy mattress? Oh, that's right, I'm now having to rock back and forth a couple of times to launch myself out!

briterfly84

@adifrog the struggle is real! 

Ellenlbishop

I'm sure there are a million things I need to do before LO gets here but this is a start:

1. Clean junk out of nursery
2. Steam clean carpet in nursery? It looks disgusting.
2. Pick up furniture at Babies r us and assemble into room.
3. Paint and decorate nursery
4. Invent storage in my 100 year old house. Apparently closets were not a "thing" 100 years ago.
5. Wash few articles I'm keeping from DD for DS. Wash new clothes
6. Stock up on newborn essentials such as diapers, wipes and newborn clothes and breastfeeding essentials
7. Sterilize all bottles and possible buy some new nipples.
8. Plan DDs 2nd birthday party before baby arrives. Only 2 weeks potentially between their birthdays.
9. Get baby supplies that we loaned out back (Mamaroo & Rock and Play)
10. Install newborn bases in both cars
11. Buy all remaining supplies from our secret registries
12. Pack hospital bags
13. Maybe make freezer meals? I'm the laziest cook ever. Hoping this is something family will help out with.
14. Get rid of DDs baby clothes. A few potential leads with pregnant friends but they don't know sex yet. Hopefully next 2 weeks
15. Do work paperwork for FMLA and STD.
16. Develop plan for maternity leave.
17. Make nursing & changing "nook" in our bedroom

linzoirv

RoseShadow873 said:

-Pack up the bag for the hospital (including Golden Girls DVDs!)

I'm low-key jealous of this! I need these DVDs in my life!

linzoirv

To Do List (to be completed NLT March 1st)

- Get my car detailed & de-clutter my trunk

- Attend baby shower

- Fully pack my hospital bag & DH's bag

- Register at the hospital

- Begin my birthing classes

- Continue cleaning/organizing LO's room, choose curtains, put up décor, etc. (delegated to DH)

- Get carpet cleaned

- File taxes

- Decided how much maternity leave I will actually take and begin FMLA paperwork

- Stock up on newborn essentials (wipes, diapers, etc.)

- Schedule two "girls days" : one for help with house cleaning, the other for purchasing items from registries

To Do List (to be completed NLT March 13th)

- Install car seat

- Wash and sterilize all gifts/clothes given from baby shower

- Send out baby shower thank you cards

- L&D hair-do (possible braids)

- Pack LO's hospital bag

...that's all I can think of right now.

AGK2015

This is actually a great thread.  Sticking in some dates as well, to hopefully hold myself a little more accountable.

• Clear out husband's mancave Assist husband in clearing out his own damn mancave (1/30-1/31)
• Finish registry
• File taxes
• Pick up crib from BuyBuy Baby
• Finish emptying nursery closet
• Attend BF class (2/6)
• Rent carpet steamer to take care of nursery and mancave (2/7)
• Organize furniture in nursery and rearrange the master bedroom to accommodate a cradle
• Babymoon mini-vacay (2/13-2/14)
• Shoulder surgery for the hubby (2/16)
• Winter classic in Minnesota! (2/20-2/21)
• Mom visit and 3D ultrasound (2/27)
• Baby shower #1 (3/5)
• Baby shower #2 (March ?) Cancelled!
• Childbirth class (3/19)
• Pick up safe from MIL's house.
• Finish purchasing any necessities not covered by the shower
• Wash baby clothes/linens and sterilize bottles, pacifiers, etc
• Organize baby things in the nursery, and clear out space in the kitchen for bottles and such.
• Pack a hospital bag
• Finalize will and living will
• Finalize childcare arrangements
  
• Get organized at work for maternity leave
• Deep clean the apartment (or have someone deep clean it for me)
• Install carseat
• Goodwill trip with the rest of our donations
• Complete listings for stuff that's getting sold
• Office Depot trip for the rest of our shredding needs

spatter1

@Skcobb oh yeah, pick the baby's name! Probably something I should add to my list!!

kimey1

These lists are super helpful!

FEBRUARY
Buy plane ticket home
Get breastpump from insurance
File Taxes
Wash all baby clothes
Wash stroller covers
* Prenatal massage
Buy nursery rug & wallpaper
Set up crib & dresser
Finish prep for babyshower
Go to baby shower
* Prenatal massage
Pack my bag
Pack hospital bag
Pack breastfeeding essentials & bottles

MARCH
Give notice at office
Pack all paperwork for travel & birth registration
* Prenatal massage
Attend birthing class
Get extra prescription meds
Get more prenatals
Get hubby to clean house
* Prenatal massage
Get carseat
Call postpartum center to book in advance
Send Thank You cards

yodiggity

kimey1 Birth registration?? What is this?? What is needed for this??

K&Elizabeth

I love lists

-Put away baby clothes
-Clean pack n play and set it up in master bedroom
-Check swing to make sure it still works/clean it
-Clean baby play mat
-Install car seat
-Hospital tour
-Order breast pump
-Finish FMLA paperwork
-Prep sub materials
-Stock up on essentials
-Pack hospital bag
-Pick up new nursing bras/tanks
-Finalize where DD goes during labor
-Shower liner under sheets
-Prep freezer meals
-Go through DDs saves baby clothes for gender neutral options

kimey1

@yodiggity Don't worry about it - you don't need it
I wont be giving birth in the States so I need to bring a whole bunch of docs to get my baby's birth certificate and passport at the US embassy.