Third Trimester Checklist: 10 things to do before your due date

A month before your due date you may think you have time to get your must-haves together but this is still calling it close. You don’t always get that full 40 weeks whether you are a first-time mom or not. Let this third-trimester checklist guide you into getting ready for baby. Here are ten things you need or need to get done in your third trimester. 

1. Note pad + charging cord for your phone 

The notepad is so you can write down any questions you may have. Some doctors can’t turn off the doctor talk vs. layman talk. A notepad will be handy to jot down anything you don’t understand. So you can bring it up later or talk it over with your support team.

Hospital beds tend to be far away from wall plugs, so you need at least a 10-foot charging cord for your phone or any other device you want to bring with you to the hospital that will need charging. 

2. Postpartum Kit 

You can purchase postpartum kits online like our Postpartum Care Recovery Kit. Our kit includes traditional postpartum care recovery products such as our sitz bath and a perineal balm but it also contains items like our Organic Mother’s Milk tea to help boost your supply. 

The hospital will provide you with some of the basic things but it’s a good idea to have your own. Consider purchasing items such as the FridaMom peri bottle, which comes in handy after a vaginal delivery. 

3. Your Birth Plan a/k/a Birth Wishes.

Full disclaimer, we prefer to use the word birth wishes vs. plan. With so many combinations and ways your labor and delivery experience can pan out, we’re here to take some of that pressure away. So they are all “Birth Wishes”. 

Writing down your birth wishes and having it physically present when you arrive at the hospital can help to ensure your preferences are taken into consideration above all else. Even if your preference is for your team of doctors and nurses to do what is best for your baby, you should write that down. Having this, especially in the event (God Forbid) you become incoherent. 

Make your strongest preferences known to your team ahead of time so you can have the birthing experience you want. 

4. Prepare your House for the Baby 

When you read that statement, what did you think? Setting up a nursery? Setting up a nursery is not the only thing you need to do to prepare for your baby. A newborn will need your constant attention and so preparing the home for them means also doing some preparation for yourself. Yes of course there will be the buying of diapers and formula too but what about you? You will need to prepare your home for a new baby so you do not end up being burned out. That means you may need to do some bulk food prep and have frozen meals you and your family just need to reheat. 

We have a whole other blog post on that, and we recommend you read it. It gives you some tips on ways you can prepare your home for your baby. 

For some women, the most important way and the only preparation they can afford to do is to create a safe sleep space for their baby. If that is the only thing you can afford to do in preparation for your baby, then do it. There are many options available and if you can’t purchase something new, you can always check websites such as eBay, Offerup, Craigslists, and even Facebook Marketplace. You can also find some used items on Amazon for a lower price. 

5. Buy Formula 

Even if you plan on exclusively breastfeeding, we recommend you purchase a small amount of formula. If you plan on exclusively breastfeeding this is just here for backup or for emergencies. And then of course, if you don’t plan on exclusively breastfeeding you may need to start stocking up before the baby gets here so you always have a stash and never have to make an emergency run to the store to get formula. 

6. Make Sure your Car Seat is Properly Installed 

If your car seat is already installed, you should check to ensure the installation is done properly.  If you haven’t even looked at the car seat, girl what are you waiting for? I know, the first time I saw it I was scratching my head - so what goes where. But have no fear, you can find a certified carseat installation inspection station near you. Some even offer virtual inspections. 

7. Build Your Breastfeeding Station 

You want to be comfortable when breastfeeding and this means not just a comfy chair but also means having everything you may need within close reach. You want to sit down for a feed or a pumping session and have everything within reach so you don’t have to interrupt your baby or your pumping. Here are a couple of things to keep at your breastfeeding station: 

• Burp cloths 

• Nipple Balm - ours ofcourse!!  

• A nursing pillow

• Haakaa 

• Breast pump and accessories 

• Water bottles for mommy 

• Protein bars/ healthy snack options 

• Hand sanitizer

• A portable night light

You can keep these in a caddy, a basket, or on a rolling cart. You can even retrofit your bedside table to store these items if you will be sitting in bed and breastfeeding. 

8. What to Eat Postpartum

We have a blog post detailing what food you should consider and a shopping list as well. You can prepare for your postpartum meal times ahead of time. You can do your meal prep and freeze meals or you can plan to order take-out more often if you can afford to. There is also the option to have family members and friends help to make meals for you or you can join in some sort of meal train. 

A meal train is where friends, family members, or other support networks band together to prepare and deliver meals to you on a schedule. This helps you since you will have a constant supply of meals delivered and the burden doesn’t have to be on one family member or friend. The meal train can run for as long as your network can support you or until you no longer need regular assistance. 

9. List of Support Individuals 

Make a list of friends and family members that have offered assistance. You may feel like you won’t need the help now that you are pregnant but it is good to have a system set up if you indeed do. 

You can list their names and what their helping roles will be. If you need to set boundaries you should also list those as well. Here’s a list to get you started.

10. Siblings and Pet Care 

If you have other children and pets at home, designate someone to take care of them while you are at the hospital and someone who will help with them when you get home with the baby. It doesn’t have to be the same person for both. This ties into point number 9. Make your list of support individuals and make a note of what each person will be doing to support you when they will be offering their support services and what their boundaries will be. 

We hope these tips for your third trimester will help you to be ready for a baby when he/she gets here. And remember you need a village, you may even need two. A village to support you and a village to support you as you take care of your brand new baby.