Expecting baby #2 is a WHOLE lot different than expecting baby #1.
I truly tell people that I feel like I didn't have time to prep and prepare like I did with my first son. Which makes total sense as my priority is spending time with him! He keeps me busy!
So, here are
5 things I did to prepare for my second baby in the third trimester
- PREPPED OUR NEWBORN'S CARSEAT & BASSINET I washed my infant carseat, swing and our bassinet. Maybe it's just me, but I never took apart the carseat to wash it with Tate. It's quite the hassle and I'm so glad I did. It even encouraged me to wash my toddler's current carseat (hello, old goldfish!) and clean out my car! The nesting was very real that day.
- PREPPED BABY ITEMS Now, we aren't doing a nursery right away for this baby, so I didn't spend any energy on prepping and planning a nursery. Instead, I prioritized the things I know we will need right away. I went through my son's old newborn and 0-3 month clothing and washed, folded and prepped them, ordered bassinet sheets, and emptied a drawer in our dresser to fill with these items. I also made lactation cookies to freeze so that I can have midnight snacks while I'm feeding baby boy!
- PRE-REGISTERED AT MY HOSPITAL AND CALLED MY INSURANCE My OBGYN makes this process very simple- they have a QR code to scan to pre-register yourself for delivery. This helps making the arrival at the hospital easier so you aren't filling out tons of paperwork while you're in labor. I also called my insurance to find out any info I may need regarding hospitalization, cost, etc.
- PAMPERED MYSELF Yes, you heard that right. Who knows the next time I will have a few hours to myself when I have a 2 year old and a newborn!? So, I got my hair done, a prenatal massage, and a pedicure because we all know its impossible to reach our toes at the end of pregnancy. I also began weekly chiropractor appointments to help manage my back and hip pain near the end of pregnancy! The chiropractor has helped me immensely with both pregnancies- I highly recommend going if you are super uncomfortable or are chasing a toddler around daily!
- ORDERED MY BREAST PUMP AND PARTS Did you know that every mom qualifies for a free breast pump in pregnancy?! I used the website Aeroflow Breastpumps to order my breast pump- you can also upgrade and pay a smaller fee to get the pump you really want. I still had my old pump, which I will definitely use, but this way I was able to get new replacement parts. I didn't know you are supposed to replace your pump parts every few months (or more, if you're exclusively pumping) but I found out some insurances cover new pump parts frequently! It's definitely worth looking in to if you plan to pump or breastfeed.