Maternity Leave

Hospital bag for sure. Witch hazel wipes is a must, a change of clothes for you and baby, toiletries, a hair brush, water bottle, maybe a book, and adult depends underwear you will be bleeding a lot; the hospital provides a mesh underwear and megapad but you won’t feel comfortable wearing that when you get discharged. I took the extra effort of bringing a face mask to detox and relax. Depending on the hospital you may not get enough sleep when they check on the baby at odd hours of the night so you may want to have an adult family member stay the night if you need sleep!

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Thank you so much ❤

pack an extension cord for your phone charger ☺️

Not related to your post but you are absolutely gorgeous and your bump is adorable.

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💜💛

Omg thank you lovely girl!!💙💙

Breast feeding class even if you don’t plan to. Super helpful important to know about the challenges and any tips because unlike you might have been told it’s not super easy and natural for all moms. I loved watching funny postpartum videos too.. @whatsupmoms is awesome and concise with advice

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Thanks girl, I have one booked 💋💋

Eat a huge meal every day because post delivery for breast feeding you forget to eat and get enough nutrients if you choose to breastfeed and sleep... because they say you’ll get rest but there is someone coming in every hour poking and prodding at you

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To be honest and I think a lot of people may disagree with me but al the hoopla of classes help a bit but why sign up for all that and go there etc when we have platforms like this at our fingertips to benefit from... also a lot of what comes after is straight instinct and trial and error.... my son didn’t sleep without movement for first 3 months because I was always on my feet during day and that’s when he slept in womb and was so used to the movement and we tried 3 different swings and stabilizers for head etc but nobody can tell you that and each child is different .... I’m also not knocking classes I took them but nothing that was shared there transpired after I had my son

Omg thank you everyone!!🧡🧡

Pack your hospital bag, make sure the car seat is installed, meal prep, get a haircut or pamper yourself, wash all baby clothes, sheets, and blankets in dreft, and schedule a newborn photographer if you haven’t already. My son came a month early and unfortunately I couldn’t do all this like how I wanted. Enjoy maternity leave and rest up!

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Thank you !! X

It might be a good time to take an infant cpr/first aid class.

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This is a fab idea ! cheers 💋

Relax!!!! Do some early spring cleaning “nesting”. Purge some crap on FB market place 🤣 pedicures like once a week 🙌🏾 make sure you have all your thank you letters done from your shower.

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Yes girl!! Thank you! Xxx

Go to a movie matinee. get brunch with girlfriends. NAP. Spend all day vegging out in front of the tv. Sit in a coffee shop and read for hours on end. Stay up late and sleep in!

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Love this! 🧡

Definitely make sure you bring pacifiers because it will help you out so much. Chap stick is also a big plus. If you are doing a c section then splurge on the last meal you'll eat. I had a c section with my twins almost a year ago and these were my 3 big things that I needed. I couldn't get a pacifier because the hospital didn't want the babies to get confused with my nipple and the pacifier. Totally your choice but it's a sanity saver. I also couldn't eat for almost a day after the c section because the numbing medication would have made me throw up; this is where the chap stick is involved because lips get dry from not being able to even drink water.

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Thank you so much honey! That's loads of help ❤

Definitely get your sleep now because you won't even be able to sleep much after your baby is born. Every little peep they make your eyes will pop open and check on them. Get every help you can because we all need a break sometimes so don't feel guilty to leave baby for a few hours if you have reliable help. Congrats on your baby and you have the cutest baby bump!

I’m going to second a few things already mentioned and a few extras that were helpful or that I wished I’d done: 1. tidy up the house to how you’d like it for post hospital; 2. get some easy meals and snacks together for post baby (I didn’t do this because my hubs is the cook, but his dad died unexpectedly 4 days after baby was born, so it was a whirlwind and we just ate whatever was around; get bottles and feeding supplies ready in case breastfeeding doesn’t work out; 3. REST 4. Go out with and spend as much time with your spouse as you can; 5. Talk about your expectations with your spouse about raising your baby and expected parenting styles; 6. Take a breastfeeding class and parenting classes. Some are pointless, but we took one called “the whys if cries” and we learned valuable things that we use everyday to calm our baby. If you can’t find one like that, research the 5 S’s; 7. Set up your diaper station; 8. Have nursing bras and tops ready; 9. know how to use your breast pump Good luck mama!

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Oh, and wash and organize baby clothes by size!

Thanks so much honey, you're a star!!!!💚

Sleep sleep sleep sleep!!! Organize/clean in between naps. Make a bunch of food to put in the freezer for after baby comes. And then sleep some more.

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Thanks girl ❤ just do hard to sleep recently !!!!

If you have family that can help you definitely get with them to see what days/times they can come over to help. You have no idea how your delivery will go or how well you will recover. Having my mom help me for the first 2 weeks was a life saver especially since I was recovering from a nasty vaginal tear. Plus it gives you a little break to get a nap if you have issues with baby sleeping.

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🙏🏼❤

They making freezer meals!!! I had 2 done by the time my babe came bc I worked until he was born but they are UGHMAZING to have on hand! Beats fast food or frozen chicken tenders (in my case). Good luck hun!

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Hahaha aw thank you girl!!🧡

Nothing. Do absolutely nothing. This is your last chance for the next decade or so to have that luxury!

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Hahaha agreed!!

Congratulations!! Definitely stock up on pads!!! All sizes! You’ll need them for a while. Wet and freeze some pads too. It helps with the pain if you deliver vaginally. And as the other ladies said, SLEEP NOW! I’m two months in and my little one just started sleeping through the night 🙌🏻 I promise it gets easier after the first month 💗 you got this mama!

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Thank you honey !!❤❤❤

I second the pads! And the tucks witch hazel pads. And buy all the nursing tank tops. And make a ton of lactation cookie dough and freeze it (if you’re planning on breast feeding).

Clean whatever u want taken care of now because regardless of what u think, u won’t have much time later!

#paperplates

Nap. Nap. Nap!

I had someone come clean the house before my little one was born. I washed organized his clothes and double checked my hospital bag.

Make sure to stay in touch for play dates

Sleep! Lol.

Clean! Organize clothes by size, also diapers by size. Put a little caddy next to your bed or the main place you will be (for us it’s the living room) with diapers, wipes, bottles, formula (if you aren’t breastfeeding), bibs, water, and snacks. Also a little bucket or caddy with your bathroom needs for the first few weeks. Also do a big food shopping trip and plant out your meals for the first at least week. I did crockpot meals since I would just dump them and didn’t have to constantly check up on them.

Take a maternity ward tour at the hospital you’re delivering at :-)

SLEEP! NAP! REST! Have some “me time”! You’ll definitely miss it when the baby’s out. And don’t forget to pack your hospital bag. Good luck!

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Thanks girl xoxox

Yes I agree enjoy doing nothing! I miss that so much

Don’t do anything just relax. Maybe have relatives clean the house. Just make sure you put your hospital bag and car seat in car and ready to go.

Get a lot of sleep. Declutter your home so task/chores can be easier. You and your partner are a team so make sure ya know each other duties. Get some Yoga in. Get to know other Mamas for support ❤️.

All of the above, esp hypnobirthing - I was all up for drugs but for various reasons they couldn’t give me them until 6cm - hypnobirthing was a god send. But.... go to the cinema, go for lunch in places buggies won’t fit, go swimming, visit friends and family, have a pregnancy hydro massage (magical), Pre-order yummy freezer meals.

Pedicures! Naps! Shop for easy meals/snacks!

Make sure you have everything when baby comes. If you want to breast feed take lactation class it will help a lot.

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I've got one booked for tomorrow, thanks girls 💖💖

I agree with lactation classes. Also. Don't give up when it's hard, because it WILL get easier and almost second nature

Read Ina Mays guide to childbirth :). I took a hypnobirthing and breastfeeding class at the hospital I was giving birth at and made a bunch of freezer meals! Exciting! Good luck

If you like getting your nails done, shaving your legs.. do it now! Make freezer meals and make sure you have quick to eat, healthy snacks. I had an emergency c-section and I couldn't do a lot on my own for a few weeks. Ideas for snacks would be veggies/hummus, things from Costco like quinoa/rice bowls. I didn't do freezer meals mostly because I never had any energy through my pregnancy, but DO IT or have someone help you do it.

Make 4-5 frozen meals something that you can throw in the oven! Go on a date- just be with your significant other and soak up that time before your boy is all you can think of! Buy yourself some postpartum shirts/pjs something comfy soft

Get lots of rest! And have a plan for food/meals/freezer meals. In the beginning I’d only have 10-15 minutes at best to grab something to eat. Also, pamper yourself too! Do something fun! I had a scheduled c section so I spent most of summer indoors with my sweet munchkin but was bummed because I couldn’t really leave the house.

Nap as much as you can now because there'll be no sleep after delivery! Take long walks, helped me with delivery a lot.

Have you done any birthing classes? Those are great!

Relax, make sure hosp bag good, sleep sleep sleep, your body may naturally start to nest anyway so jus get yourself organized and relax as much as possible I had 8 days to relax from the time I went of for mat leave to the time my son decided to come meet the world . I'm jus saying those 8 days went by quick and after my son arrived things got chaotic just a little bit . Organize your kitchen that's one room u dont think about but for easy midnight feedings make sure he has a cabinet or something with all his kitchen stuff from bottles to boob pumps to small feeding containers and spoons and things... idk I say tht cause my son is 6mos now it went by quick and he has alot of his own personal dishes

Just sleep, relax, etc. If you're in pain go to physical therapy. It really helped me. I made a bunch of freezer meals.

1. Go on dates! Have some awesome quality relationship time! 2. REST REST REST 3. Wash & organize all of baby’s things...final touches on the nursery. Pack your hospital bag! 4. Make some freezer meals so that you can just pop things in the oven! 5. PAMPER YOURSELF! Get your hair cut, get a mani/pedi, get a massage! This is all about you time..take advantage of it! 🤗

Go to a Webster trained chiropractor to help baby get in position and your body aligned for birth.

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Hi Jenessa, where/how did you get one?

I highly suggest doing light yoga every morning to help with any body pains you have and to help prep you for labor. I didnt really think much of it at first and i only tried it cause my mom suggested it but it ended up helping more than i expected. It helped me not feel so tense and i just felt better in general.

SLEEP.

Make freezer meals. You aren’t going to want to cook so just pre make some things that can go Straight in the oven and take minimal effort while keeping you nourished so You can heal and feed baby

Prioritise putting your feet up… get to know how to use your car seat safely, maybe practice with a teddy. You can also make some freezer meals for when baby is here and you can be bothered with dinner. Wash and organise baby’s clothes and prep the hospital bag and your birthing partner (my son can 5wks early so I am very happy I did this)!