What things do you actually have to take care of before baby comes?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many pediatricians require a new patient visit where you go in while you're still pregnant to have a conversation. Get that done.

My first was unexpectedly born at 37 weeks. I called a pediatrician after he was born and asked to be signed up, they scheduled the first appointment for later that week with no problem. A new patient visit is not necessary.

Two pediatric practices do rounds at the hospital where I delivered. They asked me to choose one when I checked into the hospital.

[Anonymous]

-Work stuff done (including leave paperwork)
-Car seat
-safe place for baby to sleep
-Pediatrician
-A bunch of onesies or sleepers for the first week.
-big box of size 1 diapers, if you need newborn size you can steal them from the hospital and have your first visitor bring over a pack.
-Haircut and pedicure at 36 weeks. Re-do pedicure on your due date if baby hasn't come.

[Anonymous]

Decide whether you're going to circumcise the baby (if it's a boy)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd get a car seat and figure out how to install it. Honestly, it's SO easy to do this ahead of time.

If you don't want to research here's my advice:

-buy the Chicco Keyfit 30
-get two bases
-install bases in both of your cars
-DONE. back to Netflix

Buy the Chicco Keyfit 22 and the appropriate number of bases. Install the bases. It's lighter and you won't be using it up to 30 lbs or 30 inches anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wash all the new clothes and have them organized in drawers.

Don't do this. Baby may not fit into the clothes and you can't take them back washed .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wash all the new clothes and have them organized in drawers.

Don't do this. Baby may not fit into the clothes and you can't take them back washed .

+1. FTM with a 7 month old. I was SO happy to wash all the little clothes and fold them and put them in drawers. I wish I hadn't! Not only were we gifted a bunch of clothes, but I didn't need 50% of what I washed and folded.

Especially all of the receiving blankets. Ugh. I should've just kept everything in the packaging and washed as needed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:-Work stuff done (including leave paperwork)
-Car seat
-safe place for baby to sleep
-Pediatrician
-A bunch of onesies or sleepers for the first week.
-big box of size 1 diapers, if you need newborn size you can steal them from the hospital and have your first visitor bring over a pack.
-Haircut and pedicure at 36 weeks. Re-do pedicure on your due date if baby hasn't come.

I got so many compliments on my pedicure during delivery!

[Anonymous]

Sorry you aren't feeling too well. There have been a lot of good ideas so far.

From the couch you can compile a list of your favorite take-out places and your favorite order. Then, when baby comes and you are planning dinners you can just give people the list and ask them to order something for you, without having to pull up the menu and decide in that moment. I know it sounds like a tiny thing but I was so glad to have people stop asking me questions and just doing them. If feeling particularly energetic you could write a short grocery list with your favorite snacks to hand people. I made an index card for the fridge and when friends called to say they were coming by and asked what I wanted I just read a few things from the list!

Also, as soon as I went into labor we called a housekeeper to schedule her to come the following day while I was still at the hospital. It was great to come home to a clean apt. So, another to-do would be picking a cleaning service if you don't have one already?

[Anonymous]

Put all bills on auto-pay.

[Anonymous]

Get things ready at home for YOU. Everyone forgets about mom. Stock your bathroom with large maxi pads, a sitz bath, preparation H wipes, Colace, and breast pads. Even if you have a C section, your pelvic area will be very sore and you will be constipated from medicine.

[Anonymous]

What's with all the "go back to watching Netflix posts" some of us work full time up to giving birth. Between doc appts, housework, and work I barely had time to watch anything on TV less browse Netflix all day

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sorry you aren't feeling too well. There have been a lot of good ideas so far.

From the couch you can compile a list of your favorite take-out places and your favorite order. Then, when baby comes and you are planning dinners you can just give people the list and ask them to order something for you, without having to pull up the menu and decide in that moment. I know it sounds like a tiny thing but I was so glad to have people stop asking me questions and just doing them. If feeling particularly energetic you could write a short grocery list with your favorite snacks to hand people. I made an index card for the fridge and when friends called to say they were coming by and asked what I wanted I just read a few things from the list!

Also, as soon as I went into labor we called a housekeeper to schedule her to come the following day while I was still at the hospital. It was great to come home to a clean apt. So, another to-do would be picking a cleaning service if you don't have one already?

This is brilliant! I'm expecting #3 and never thought of keeping my favorite take out orders. It seems like a chore on a regular day to figure out what to order, it would be so nice to just tell DH to place the order without our usual waffling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What's with all the "go back to watching Netflix posts" some of us work full time up to giving birth. Between doc appts, housework, and work I barely had time to watch anything on TV less browse Netflix all day

They are responding to the OP, the person who started this thread and is watching Netflix. If you'd like advice specific to your situation, perhaps start your own thread?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many pediatricians require a new patient visit where you go in while you're still pregnant to have a conversation. Get that done.

My first was unexpectedly born at 37 weeks. I called a pediatrician after he was born and asked to be signed up, they scheduled the first appointment for later that week with no problem. A new patient visit is not necessary.

Two pediatric practices do rounds at the hospital where I delivered. They asked me to choose one when I checked into the hospital.

You don't need to use the practice you use in hospital.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What's with all the "go back to watching Netflix posts" some of us work full time up to giving birth. Between doc appts, housework, and work I barely had time to watch anything on TV less browse Netflix all day

OP here, I do work FT. And I'm exhausted when I get home so I'm trying to minimize unnecessary errands so I can relax as much as possible in my down time. I said all I feel like doing is watching Netflix, which I think is a common sentiment. I don't think any of us are sitting around eating bon bons all day. Sorry if I offended.

Thanks to everyone else for the helpful comments. This actually made me feel decently prepared, so I will be spending this long weekend watching Making a Murderer.