How to Prepare For Your Baby as a New Mom

Make sure you are ready for your baby in your third trimester, before he or she gets here!

The last stretch of pregnancy can seem so busy. You are running around trying to make sure everything is done and ready for baby’s arrival, especially as a first time mom!

It’s important not to sweat the small stuff, but there are also a number of things you are going to want to have done and ready to make your life easier after baby is born.

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That’s why I came up with this short list of the main things you will want to have done before baby’s arrival.

These are the main things you will want to get done before baby arrives, from stuff baby needs to labor and everything afterwards!

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BABY REGISTRY CHECKLIST

I think all mamas can agree that the first things we tend to think about when preparing for baby are all the things that your newborn will need!

That is where it can be helpful to have a baby registry checklist.

I’ve created and edited an awesome checklist of all the things I got and actually used for my first baby, and will be needing or reusing again for my second on the way!

You can get that baby registry checklist here and also check out this post about everything you will actually need for your newborn baby!

HOSPITAL BAG CHECKLIST

Another list you will want to have prepared is everything you will want to bring to the hospital for you, dad/birth partner and your baby.

That list might look a little different for everyone. You can get a copy of my hospital bag checklist here! It includes everything you will absolutely need, some things you might not have thought of, and some different options for things like labor and postpartum entertainment during your stay in the hospital.

TO GET BOTH THE BABY REGISTRY CHECKLIST AND THE HOSPITAL BAG CHECKLIST IN THE MAMA PREP PACK BELOW!

Get my Mama Prep Pack complete with the two most important checklists you’ll need to prepare for your baby!

BREASTFEEDING CLASS

If you plan on breastfeeding I highly recommend you take a breastfeeding class! The Milkology Ultimate Breastfeeding Class is amazing! It’s online so you can do it in the comfort of your own home whenever you want. It’s yours to keep forever and to refer back to when any issues arise.

It teaches you everything you need to know from:

How to keep your milk supply
How to get a proper latch
How to know if your baby is eating enough
The first month, the second month and beyond
Troubleshooting common issues
Exclusive discounts on other classes and helpful products

I absolutely love this class and watched it all over again as a refresher for my second baby! Click the link above or the picture below to check it out!

Everything You Will Need for Your Newborn Baby: Essentials Registry Checklist

How to Set Up the Perfect Breastfeeding or Pumping Station

PREPARE FOR LABOR

When it comes to labor you never really know how things are going to go. But it’s not necessarily a bad thing to have a plan in place, and prepare yourself for any situation.

I highly suggest Hypnobabies to prepare your mind.

Hypnobabies is an awesome resource for expecting mothers to prepare for pregnancy, labor and childbirth, and beyond. They have tracks for how to get better sleep during pregnancy to how to release your fear of childbirth!

Whether you’re having an unmedicated birth, a cesarean, twins, or trying for a VBAC, there are awesome tracks to help your mind ease into any process.

Our minds are more powerful than we realize! There’s no harm in trying it out!

While you are still pregnant you can also prepare for labor by exercising. Walking and moderate exercise are not only great for keeping your body healthy and in great shape for labor, it’s great for getting labor started when it’s time!

You can also bounce on an exercise ball. Bouncing on an exercise ball strengthens your back and stomach muscles during pregnancy, and improves your posture. It can also help get baby into the right position for labor.

It helped me immensely with back pain and was eventually way more comfortable than sitting on chairs when I got really big in my third trimester!

PREPARE FOR POSTPARTUM

Recovering after childbirth is one of the hardest things I have ever done. You are going to want to make things as easy as possible on yourself.

I suggest prepping some freezer meals so you don’t have to worry about cooking for awhile. You may have friends and family who prepare some for you as well.

Make sure you have a good support system in place. You may not want visitors right away, but taking people up on their offers to bring you food or do a quick clean of your house can be a huge help.

Don’t forget the postpartum items you will need for recovery!