First Timers and Reminder List:
There is a natural product called 'Unpetroleum Jelly' that works like vasoline, but is much better for you and your baby's skin.
But my FAVORITE cream is Weleda's 'Baby Calendula Cream'. I'm stathering that on asap, to help with meconum wiping, and it's easier to clean off cloth diapers than any vasoline type product.
Definitely have a sling!! Both my two boys LOVED it and I could do most anything with them in it. Baby number three gonna be spoiled with a super soft new one I just got.
Definitely have some casserole type, pre made, heat and serve meals in the freezer, if you don't have a mom or mother-in-law that cooks and will drop off the above mentioned.
I was STARVING after giving birth (both times) and so make sure you have snackable, fibery foods ready to go. This helps gets things moving again too.
Have your diaper stash/area all ready to go, with wipes, creams, etc ready to go. If using cloth, be sure to prewash any cloth items several times to really get them soft, fluffy and absorbant (this could take up to 10 washes to get them really absorbant and fluffy). I also have 'fat handle' baby finger nail clippers in that area for when they are long enough and 'loose' from the fingers to actually cut. Have hand covers or shirts with fold down hand covers to keep them from scratching face until the nail can safely be cut. Some are instructed to cut the nails before they really should be. If the nail still appears 'attached' to the lower part of the finger, though the nail is long, LEAVE IT ALONE and just use hand covers (socks worth in a pinch)....
I pre cut out irritating neck tags on all my baby clothes that have them, and after washing and drying them. They make some now without the tags, but a few of the items I got still have really stiff ones sewn on! How do they not expect that to irritate newborn skin??
Definitely have a birth plan, even if it's not your first. Definitely make sure DH/partner knows to ask for the things you want if you are having a hospital birth, and why....so he can 'argue' if necessary.
Have night lights in bathroom, changing area, halls leading back and forth from baby's room if not keeping baby in your room, etc. For those middle of the night, need to attend baby, times. They usually allow you to see enough to do what you need, but don't expose you to too much light which can make it hard to go back to sleep!
Have infant car seat already installed. Used a stuffed animal/doll approximately the size of a newborn to help get the straps pre-adjusted, esp if you are having a hospital birth and will be putting baby in it for drive home.
Make up your 'to call' phone list for who to call with the good news when baby is born and make sure you have updated addresses for sending announcements! I pre addressed envelopes, and then was able to just stuff the photo announcement in once we got it back from printer and then mailed it asap.
If you have pets/carpet. Try to arrange to have them steamcleaned REALLY well, about a few weeks prior to expected delivery date. You will feel better about it. Give pets a bath (take to groomer) and you might want to do a vet check for worms, etc prior to delivery, esp if your pets ever go outdoors. I moved my cat's food/water bowls to a new 'child safe' spot, months before delivery so she'd be used to it, before baby was crawling and could get in it!
Have a waterproof pad in your car already for sitting on, to absorb 'birth waters' if you are driving to hospital. Also have one on your bed the last few weeks.
Other than packing your 'go bag' for the hospital (or get your at home kit ready), and doing last minute 'nesting' and cleaning...it's a hurry up and wait game those last few weeks!!
