The third and final trimester of pregnancy can either zoom right by or move at snail speed as you anxiously await the arrival of your bundle of joy. In either instance, making the most of it and preparing for your baby is a productive way to spend the last few weeks before they arrive.
Most women participate in nesting. Nesting certainly isn’t a requirement and does not predict what kind of mother you will end up being. However, it can help you prepare for some chaotic and tiring weeks ahead. In this post, we will cover why women nest in the third trimester, what nesting refers to, and ten self care nesting ideas to complete before baby’s arrival.
Why do pregnant women nest in the third trimester?
Women nest to prepare for baby’s arrival. Whether you make a specific list or suddenly find yourself deep cleaning odd items, you can blame this phenomenon on hormonal changes and sometimes increased anxiety due to your impending life changes.
Pregnancy hormones, namely progesterone, are the cause of behavior changes as well as an increased sense of focus and energy. However, some research suggests that nesting is an evolved trait that once helped mother prepare and protect their child. Either way, it seems hormones and bodily changes are the biggest culprit when it comes to why women nest.
What does nesting refer to?
Nesting is simply the act of preparing for the baby’s arrival. Sometimes these acts can make sense, and other times, not so much. This is why it is important to try to be organized and not just impulsive. If you are impulsive you may end up spending your Saturday cleaning the tops of your cabinets, when you would have better benefited from organizing baby’s clothes. Weight the pros and cons of your cleaning list and try to consider what is really needed. Enlist help from your partner or friends so you don’t expend all of your energy prior to giving birth.
Ten Self Care Nesting Ideas
Self care and nesting can go hand in hand. Self care is caring for yourself, while nesting is preparation. So, if you put them together, you can care for yourself by preparing or nesting; care for your future self.
Organize the Nursery
Baby will likely be sleeping in the same room as you for at least the first six months. Once you have ensured they have a safe sleep space in your room, organize the nursery. The nursery will likely house all of their clothes, overflow of diapers and wipes, baby essentials, and the next size of clothes when they begin to grow.
Use this time to organize their clothes. Organize in whatever manner makes sense for your lifestyle. I like to have the next size of clothes also washed and ready to go. I’ve also used totes or old diaper boxes to store clothes that no longer fit. You can store the totes or boxes in the bottom of the closet or alongside the dresser for quick access and toss the clothes in when they no longer fit.
Freezer Meals
Your stomach will thank you for stashing away some freezer meals before the baby is born. Whether you make them homemade, enlist family and friends to help, or buy premade freezer meals – you will be grateful for your preplanning. After having a baby, my passion for cooking diminished, especially during the first few exhausting weeks of no sleep. Having freezer meals at my disposal was a life saver.
There are many free online resources to help you get started and organized. Personally, I started by making extra of my favorite meals and freezing them. Casseroles, soups, and certain components freeze well. Noodles and rice can get a bit mushy when frozen in soups, so sometimes it’s best to omit them and add them when cooking to consume. Don’t be deterred by the overzealous bloggers making three months worth of freezer food, just start with a few.
Plan for after Baby
What will your life look like after having your baby? Will you take a maternity leave and go back to work? Where will baby go? Try to think about your daily routine and how a baby will fit into it. If you are returning to work, find dependable and safe childcare. I recommend either a certified in home daycare or a daycare facility. Do your own research on the facility and make sure your child is safe and well taken care of.
If you are not planning on returning to a job, make sure to still plan your days. Make a loose routine, with the flexibility to change as your child grows. In the first year you and your child will go through many changes, so revisiting your daily routine is in your benefit. Ensure that you are satisfied with your life and schedule in self care and hobbies when you are able.
Pack your Hospital Bag
Make a list and check it twice. Some women pack all the things, and some women are more minimalistic. It can depend on how far you live from the hospital or birthing center and what you are comfortable bringing or not bringing. Personally, with my first daughter I under-packed, and although we made it through, it was a bit uncomfortable. How could I have foreseen a pandemic though? I thought my husband could go home and shower, so I only packed him one pair of underwear and never repacked because my daughter came early. It makes a funny story now, but I wish I would have put more thought into my hospital bag packing the first time around.
With my second daughter I was more diligent when packing. There are many free lists online to follow. If you think you may want to bring something but are unsure, you can always store it in the care to be retrieved later, if you still want it while inpatient.
Notify
Think about who you will notify and when. Will you call everyone the moment your water breaks, or will you wait until baby is born? Who is everyone? Make a list or create a group chat. Also, if you are currently employed, find out about your maternity leave process and how to notify your job when baby decides to make their grand entrance.
Consider how you want to share the new as well. Will you call, send a text, send a picture, or invite family and friends to the hospital? You may change your mind once baby has arrived, and there is no shame in having loved ones wait to meet baby until you are settled at home. Although everyone will be excited to see the new baby, they must realize that you have just experienced a huge life changing event and have undergone either labor or surgery (or both) and are probably exhausted. They have many years to get to know the baby, they can be patient.
Stock up on Essentials
Take a quick inventory of your essentials such as toilet paper, cleaning supplies, shampoo, etc. and write down what you could use more of. If you are a member of a warehouse store, plan a trip to have a back stock of items on hand for when baby arrives. Also consider stockpiling diapers. Proceed with caution as baby may be allergic to certain diapers and wipes. I have had great luck with the Target brand Up&Up diapers and wipes. If you have any unopened boxes of diapers, they can be exchanged without the receipt for a different size. Therefore, if you buy too much of one size, just take it back and get the size you need.
Many people don’t buy newborn diapers, but I would urge you to buy at least one box. If baby doesn’t use them, you can always take them back (especially using the above Target tip.) I made the mistake of not buying newborn diapers for my first daughter and paid the price once she was born and needed several boxes of them – she was tiny.
Declutter and Donate
Tripping over and cleaning your clutter is not what you want to be dealing with when you are sleep deprived and exhausted. Now is the time to declutter your old things, clothes, etc. and take a trip to the thrift store and donate them. Alternatively, you could host a garage sale or try your hand at selling on the Facebook Marketplace, if you are up for the task. If you are unsure if you want to let go of an item, pack it away for a month and see if you miss it. Decluttering frees up space in our physical world as well as in our mind.
If you need motivation, read The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up or look for Marie Kondo’s show on Netflix. If you’ve never read the book or watched the show, expect to have a whole different outlook on minimalism when you are done.
Diaper Caddy/Diaper Bag
A diaper bag is essential when taking your baby practically anywhere. Make sure it is stocked up. You’ll likely need to visit the pediatrician a few days after birth to ensure baby’s continued health. There are many lists online of what to include. I usually include 2-3 outfits, a few diapers, and wipes when baby is small. As they grow, I throw in a few books or toys as well and maybe some snacks.
A diaper caddy can be kept in your house wherever you will be changing baby. It can contain all of the essentials you need such as diapers, wipes, and diaper rash cream. You can certainly purchase a specific diaper caddy online, but I just use a basket that can be repurposed when I am done using it for diapering essentials
Nursing Corner/Rocking Chair
Whether you plan on nursing or not, set up a private corner for you and baby. It doesn’t have to be elaborate. Add some essentials for you and some essentials for baby. For you, add a phone charger, headphones, books, snacks, and anything else you can do with one hand (while the other hand holds baby.) For baby, add a sound soother, nursing pillow, and burp clothes. You could also add a diaper caddy here and a few outfit changes for baby.
You will thank yourself for having set up a nursing or rocking corner, especially in the middle of the night when baby doesn’t seem drowsy at all.
Final Thoughts
During the third trimester is the prime time to get all of your ducks in a row. After baby arrives, life may feel chaotic for a few weeks (or longer.) This all inclusive list should be a great motivator to get your life organized and prepare for your baby’s arrival.
As you near the completion of your pregnancy, I wish you luck in the following months with baby’s arrival and your newly transitioned life once baby is here.
What have you found most helpful or motivating in this list? What have you already completed?
*this post includes affiliate links
