At 27 weeks, the beginning of the third trimester, I was so ready to power through the remainder of my pregnancy and finally meet my little girl! It may not be the same for all pregnant mamas, but my second pregnancy flew by really fast, and in a way, it was a good thing.
Throughout the first and second trimester, I made the most out of my time by bonding with my first-born and squeezing in quality time with my partner. We went on family vacations, shopped for all our little girl will be needing, and fixed up our home to adjust to having a newborn again.
So when the third trimester came, I was feeling so many emotions at once: I was nervous, I was excited, I was impatient, and most importantly, I was ready!
Prioritizing Self-Care
I was ready to be a mom of two, and I made sure not to stress too much to make sure my little one and I stayed healthy until she was ready to make her debut into the world. I continued to work, spend time with my family, and even take time to meet my friends. I was focused on my wellbeing, knowing how important it was for me to stay calm, cool, and collected in that final stretch of pregnancy.
I didn’t take any day for granted. I always wanted to be up on my feet, making the most out of my day. If I wasn’t cleaning our home, double-checking my little girl’s things, or making plans with family, I was taking walks around the neighborhood, breathing in some fresh air.
Changing My Mindset
I would be lying if I said the third trimester was a breeze. There were harder days, when anxiety would creep in and cause me to stay awake, thinking. “How will my first-born react to being an older brother?” “Will my birthing experience be as pleasant as the first?” “How will I recover from the c-section pain this time around?” “Will my partner be as supportive as he was with my firstborn?” “How will this change our relationship?”
Growing up, I wasn’t one to express my thoughts out loud or to talk to someone about it. I found it difficult to open up and express myself, in fear of being judged, or misunderstood. However, being a mama has taught me to change my way of thinking. If I wasn’t going to speak up, how else would my partner understand me and what I was thinking?
So, whenever I needed something, or whenever I needed help, I spoke out – and I continue to do so until now.
It took time for me to realize that even though it seems obvious whenever there’s a problem, or whenever we need help with something, our partners are not mind readers. In fact, waiting for them to figure out what’s wrong causes even more stress and frustration on our part. So, one suggestion I’d like to make is to voice out your needs. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, because most of the time, your partner, and even those around you, are willing to give it. All you have to do is ask.
Lastly, when it came to intrusive, anxiety-inducing thoughts, what helped me the most was sitting with those thoughts, meditating (sometimes even journaling), and letting those thoughts go by the end of my meditation. Sometimes, it is through acknowledging what you’re feeling that you’re able to accept them and let them go.
I also manifested my reality a lot by telling myself what I wanted to happen, preparing myself for my little one’s arrival. “I will have a positive birth experience,” “Me and my little one are safe in the hands of our doctors,” “I will have a quick recovery,” “I have all the support I need,” are some of the things I told myself on a daily basis, and by God’s grace, they became my reality.
Preparing for Delivery
While a lot of what I’ve shared was to prepare me mentally and emotionally for what was to come, I of course also did a lot of physical preparation. While I’d suggest doing some pregnancy-safe exercises for mamas awaiting labor, I didn’t really do much given I was scheduled for a c-section at 39 weeks. However, I kept myself active by walking and getting those steps in!
I also made sure to prepare my hospital bag beforehand. As this was my second time to give birth, I already knew what the essentials were and what I could do without. Here’s a list of some of my must-haves inside my hospital bag:
I also made sure to prepare my hospital bag beforehand. As this was my second time to give birth, I already knew what the essentials were and what I could do without. Here’s a list of some of my must-haves inside my hospital bag:
For Mama
A comfortable robe – I didn’t want to be wearing the hospital gown throughout my stay because (1) it wasn’t comfortable (2) it wasn’t exactly the best for photos and (3) I didn’t want visitors to see me wearing just that. So, I opted for a comfortable robe, which was more pleasant than wearing a hospital gown but still gave easy access to my little one for breastfeeding.
A perineal spray bottle – Going to the restroom the first time after giving birth is quite an uncomfortable experience, but having a perineal spray bottle (filled with warm water) can help soothe you during the process, and so does a witch hazel perineal spray.
Nipple balm – It may (or may not) take your little one some time to get used to latching. Having nipple cream with you can help soothe the aches and pains that come with your little one learning to latch.
Hair Ties – It’s a lot easier to move around and care for your baby without hair covering your face!
Comfortable Slippers – Doctors suggest for mamas to start walking around as soon as they feel ready to do so. A day after my c-section with my first child, I stood up and tried to go to the bathroom to speed up my recovery and take my little one home as soon as possible.
Going home clothes – An easy-access breastfeeding dress was my outfit choice for going home, simply because it was the easiest to wear and the easiest to move around in.
For Baby
3 Sets of Clothes (Bonnet, Onesie/Frogsuit, Mittens, and Booties)
Diaper Rash Cream (just in case!)
Once our home, our hospital bags, and even our minds were all set and ready for my little girl’s arrival, all we did was take it one day at a time and enjoy every moment. Eventually, all the preparation was worth it when we finally had our beautiful little girl in our arms.
You got this, mama!
TAGS:third-trimester
