I'm a STM. I'm a planner, and making and checking off lists helps me get excited for baby, but YMMV on how much you want to do ahead of time. I don't think buying a lot of gear/clothes/stuff in advance makes sense , but since things are infinitely harder to do after baby comes home, I try to stock up on as many essentials as possible so I don't have to worry about it after the birth. Of course you can always order online or send DH out, but it's nice to have what you need at your fingertips. My list includes:

- Amazon/Target/Costco order of: diapers, wipes, diaper cream, baby shampoo/soap if you plan to use it, pacifiers, bottles and formula (ditto), overnight pads for you, nipple cream, deodorant, TP, paper towels, bathroom essentials (shampoo, soap, toothpaste, etc.), kitchen essentials (sponges, dish soap, etc.)

- Grocery stock up on non-perishables and snacks - you will be SO hungry, esp, if you BF

- Wash covers and test/replace batteries for any RNPs/bouncy seats/swings you plan on using

- Set up diaper caddy (I use just a regular Ikea bin) with diapers and wipes on each floor of your house

- Test/replace batteries on all smoke alarms/carbon monoxide detectors

- Set up crib/bassinet or wherever you're planning on having baby sleep

- Have a box of thank you notes or blank cards and stamps at home so that you can begin writing thank you notes when you're ready

These are great tips for any of us. Thanks!

Packs of postpartum pads in the bathroom - good idea. I liked the 7th generation ones (available on amazon) and I also had some cloth ones that were awesome from partypantspads.com.

Don't get too hung up on the hospital bag, esp if your hospital is close to home/civilization. I ended up not needing much and what little I did need people were easily able to bring me after the fact. There was literally nothing I needed from that bag the day of the birth. If I had gone home the next day I wouldn't have needed anything from it. I wish I hadn't spent more than 5 minutes contemplating what to pack beforehand! But of course if you're the type to need makeup or a fleece robe or something then this advice will not apply. Good luck!

Anonymous wrote: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.

Everyone who visited my first week, I asked to stop by CVS and bring me pads. Much more vaginal blood than I was prepared for, and for much longer. Take home some of the padded disposable underwear from hospital.

That said, after second delivery, it was much less blood than first. So either I was ready for the bleeding, or it varies with pregnancy.

Also, remember to bring soap, shampoo, body wash in your hospital bag.

JUNX/JINX

Having adopted a baby with just 3 days notice, I did not want to junx myself and buy anything prior to birth mom signed the consent form....I was out of state, so I went to a local Target for the basics (car seat, diapers, formula, onesies, swaddlers, etc.) I found health insurance AND A pediatrician.....and dealt with EVERYTHING else when I returned to my home state 10 days later.

For March/April due dates, get your taxes done or file an extension before baby arrives!

Anonymous wrote:

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

+1.

Yes, pediatrician. Put the # in your phone now so you can call from the hospital after the birth and make the appt.
Insurance - including registering with the hospital (GW you can do online in advance). Fill out the forms now and have them ready to go.
Maternity leave decisions made, documented, and communicated to management (including FMLA paperwork).
Keep up with your own laundry and at least minimal cleaning now so you don't have to worry about it for the first couple weeks.
Pet care arranged.

The only things you need to bring to the hospital are those Lansinoh nipple gel pads, socks, and maybe a toothbrush (and your phone and charger of course). Maybe snacks if your hospital is not near food places. Take my advice, order the gel pads from amazon now!

Everything else you can do later. You will be able to google things later on, like lactation support, which is easily arranged in this area.

Oooh I had not thought of gel pads at all. Thanks for the tip!

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

+1.

Yes, pediatrician. Put the # in your phone now so you can call from the hospital after the birth and make the appt.
Insurance - including registering with the hospital (GW you can do online in advance). Fill out the forms now and have them ready to go.
Maternity leave decisions made, documented, and communicated to management (including FMLA paperwork).
Keep up with your own laundry and at least minimal cleaning now so you don't have to worry about it for the first couple weeks.
Pet care arranged.

The only things you need to bring to the hospital are those Lansinoh nipple gel pads, socks, and maybe a toothbrush (and your phone and charger of course). Maybe snacks if your hospital is not near food places. Take my advice, order the gel pads from amazon now!

Everything else you can do later. You will be able to google things later on, like lactation support, which is easily arranged in this area.

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Lord I received so many blankets too! But no one gives gift receipts and when I took a couple things back I barely got half price credit for them. So I ended up keeping a lot but haven't washed them all. I did wash our newborn clothes- a lot were hand me downs anyway, surprisingly most of the new clothes we received were 0-3 months rather than newborn. I haven't washed those yet but like having the newborn stuff ready to go.