Ah, the 3rd trimester of pregnancy. It’s the last stretch and you’re nearly there, mama! Whether you’re feeling tired due to the weight of your baby bump, or feeling energetic and want to nest, we’ve rounded up your third trimester checklist that you’ll need to do before your little one arrives.
1.) Pack your Hospital Bag
Save yourself the stress of having to toss everything into your hospital bag by preparing it weeks before your scheduled delivery. A great time to start packing is a month before your due date.
Have a list ready for mama, papa, and bub. Here are some essentials you should definitely have in your bag:
Mama
- Birth Plan
- Valid IDs
- Insurance Papers (If Applicable)
- Hair Ties
- Towel
- Toiletries
- Sippers
- Electronics & Chargers
- Going Home Outfit
- A Comfortable Robe/Gown
- Nursing Bra
- Heavy Duty Sanitary Napkins
- Hairbrush
- Nipple Cream
- Hospital Grade Postpartum Binder
- Witch Hazel Perineal Spray
Papa
- Fresh sets of clothes
- Blanket
- Pillow
- Toiletries
- Towel
- Snacks
- Valid IDs
Baby
- Swaddles
- Baby Frogsuits
- Mittens, Booties, and Bonnets
- Hooded Baby Towel
- Muslin Wraps
- Newborn Diapers
- Baby Wipes
- Going Home Outfit and Blanket
- Car Seat
2.) Prepare your Breast Pump and Nursing Bottles
If you plan on feeding your little one breastmilk, having your breast pump and nursing bottles ready and sterilized before you give birth saves you and your partner a lot of time and energy. Whether you plan to exclusively pump, or use it to increase your milk supply, cleaning and sanitizing all breast pump parts before heading to the hospital will definitely come in handy.
Here are some trusted breast pumps by mamas worldwide:
- Spectra S1 Plus Hospital Grade Rechargeable Double Electric Breast Pump
- Spectra Manual Wide Neck Pump
- Haakaa Silicone Breast Pump
To supplement your pumping, here are some mama-favorite storage bags and feeding bottles you can consider:
- Cuddly Breastmilk Storage Bags (200ml) (30s)
- Chummy Baby Breastmilk Storage Bottle 3-Pack
- Philips Avent Anti-Colic BPA Free (PP) Bottle 2-Pack (4oz)
- Hegen PPSU PCTO Feeding Bottle 2-pack (5oz)
3.) Buy Your Postpartum Supplies
When your little one arrives, you might be thinking about them solely, but it’s important to care for yourself too, mama. Having your postpartum supplies ready will help you in your recovery.
The first few weeks of postpartum life will bring you soreness, swelling, bleeding, hair loss, and fatigue. While it will definitely be challenging, there are some products that can help you through this journey:
- Witch Hazel Perineal Spray
- Nursing Bra
- Heavy Duty Sanitary Napkins
- Nipple Cream
- Postpartum Binder
- Recovery Herbal Bath Soak
- Malunggay Capsules
- Breast Pads
- Lactation Massager
4.) Stock Up the Pantry
You and your partner will likely be too busy to keep heading to the mall to buy your household essentials, so stocking up before the baby arrives is wise. Aside from buying food to fill up the pantry, don’t forget to stock up on these too:
- Laundry Detergent
- Baby Laundry Detergent
- Dishwashing Liquid
- Baby Bottle Cleansers
- Toy and Surface Cleaners
- Multi Action Cleaners
- Hand Soap
5.) Baby Proof the House
Your little one might not be crawling yet by the time they get home from the hospital, but it’s best to keep them away from potential hazards at home. Go through each room at home and remove all risks to baby:
- Place baby gates on your stairs
- Put safety covers on electrical outlets
- Prepare a First-Aid kit
- Add an Air Purifier to your rooms
- Put corner guards on all sharp corners
- Make sure all furniture are properly latched with furniture wall straps
- Unplug appliances when not in use
- Keep toxic detergents, bleaches, and other chemicals away from reach
6.) Install the Car Seat
Buy your little one’s car seat beforehand and install it inside the car. This is especially important during the weeks nearing your due date, so you need not worry about installing the car seat properly while rushing to the hospital.
7.) Finish Cleaning the House
A common 3rd trimester symptom is “nesting,” or the sudden urge to clean and organize everything at home. Make the most out of your nesting energy by cleaning every nook and cranny at home. Remove things you no longer use to make way for your baby’s mounting needs, change linens, deep clean your furniture, and sanitize every room your little one will be in.
8.) Wash Baby’s Clothes with Newborn Laundry Detergent
You’ll want your little one’s clothes ready to go by the time you’re ready to pop, so wash them with newborn laundry detergent weeks before your due date. You’ll likely enjoy looking through all the adorable pieces of clothing that you just can’t wait for your baby to wear!
9.) Go to your Doctor’s Visits Religiously
Your doctor will ask to see you more frequently until your due date comes, so keep your lines of communication open and prioritize those prenatal visits. Expect a number of 3rd trimester ultrasounds, as your doctor will want to monitor how your little one is growing until he or she makes their grand entrance into the world.
10.) Create Your Birth Plan
Although what exactly happens during the delivery of your baby is out of anyone’s control, creating a birth plan will make your wishes clear to your doctor. Here is a list of things you can have on your birth plan, but remember that a birth plan can be as simple or as complex as you want it to be.
- Your Full Name and Partner’s Name
- Due Date/Induction Date
- Doctor’s Name
- Hospital’s Name
Please be informed that I:
[ ] Have Gestational Diabetes
[ ] Have group B strep
[ ] Have Rh Incompatibility with my Baby
[ ] Am under medication for ___________
My delivery is planned as:
[ ] Vaginal
[ ] C-Section
[ ] VBAC
[ ] Water Birth
During labor, I would appreciate:
[ ] The lights dimmed
[ ] The room as quiet as possible
[ ] As few interruptions as possible
[ ] As few vaginal exams as possible
[ ] The lights dimmed
[ ] The room as quiet as possible
[ ] As few interruptions as possible
[ ] As few vaginal exams as possible
My preference is:
[ ] To have an epidural
[ ] Not to have an epidural
[ ] I would like my partner to cut our baby’s umbilical cord
11.) Pack Your Baby Bag
Have everything your baby might need in a baby bag. You might want to pack everything inside such a small bag, but it’s actually possible to keep it light by packing only the essentials:
- Changing Pad
- Diapers
- Baby Wipes
- Diaper Rash Ointment
- Hand Sanitizer
- Zipper Bags
- Burp Cloths
- Pacifiers
- Baby Bottle/s
- Change of Clothes
- Mittens, Booties, Bonnet Set
- Muslin Blanket
- Breastfeeding Cover
- Rattle/Teether Toy
12.) Get Moving!
3rd trimester pregnancy pains might discourage you from wanting to do pregnancy exercises, but this is essential to jumpstart labor. This could be as simple as going for walks, going for a swim, or doing some hip circles with an exercise ball. Whatever it is you’d like to do, be sure to get a sign off from your doctor to make sure it’s safe for you and your baby.
Once you’ve checked all of these off your 3rd trimester checklist, you’re good to go, mama! We hope you make the most out of this time before your special bundle of joy arrives. You’ve got this!
TAGS:third-trimester
