Your belly is getting rounder and rounder and your due date is getting closer and closer. The last trimester is flying by and you are wondering whether everything is really ready for the arrival of your baby. In this blog article, we have put together a few things that you can tackle shortly before the birth. Decide for yourself which to-dos are important to you and make sure that you do everything you still want to do at a pace that feels right for you and your body.
Pack your hospital bag
An important part of preparing for the birth is packing the bag that you will take with you to the hospital or birthing center. Even if you are planning a home birth, it is a good idea to lay out everything important that will accompany you through the labor. Don't just think about clothes and hygiene products for you and your baby, but also clothes for those accompanying you. Every body reacts differently to birth, so try to take comfortable clothes with you. On average, you can base your decision on the clothing sizes you wore towards the end of the second trimester. Just see what clothes you are comfortable in.
Aside from clothes and hygiene products, anything that will keep you busy between contractions is worth considering taking with you. But think carefully about what you can actually use and what can stay at home. From technical stuff like a cell phone, charging cable, headphones, etc. to a book, a magazine, or whatever else you like. Some moms-to-be also put together a playlist that accompanies them through all phases of labor. You can get musical support with a speaker box or headphones.
And of course, important documents should not be missing from your bag, such as your maternity record, identity card, family register or marriage certificate or your birth certificate, as well as your health insurance card.
Final touches at home
Now is the time to do the last little things, like washing the first bodysuits and rompers, having the last piece of furniture assembled, checking that you have everything ready for the time after the birth. Have you already looked into getting a nursing bra if you want to breastfeed? It's actually a good idea to buy one relatively late so that you can be sure that it fits. If you want to bottle feed your baby, you should also have enough bottles, cleaning equipment and of course milk powder. You've probably written or thought up a small list of things that you still want to tackle at home. Be sure to get help with the tasks.
Securing food supplies
It is a good idea to cook a few meals in advance and freeze them, especially for the postpartum period. This way you can quickly satisfy your hunger during the postpartum period! There are a few companies, such as Mama Muun , Mother's Finest or Gesund & Mutter , that have taken up this idea and where you can treat yourself to a postpartum package without having to use a wooden spoon. All kinds of food delivery services are also becoming increasingly popular. Your weekly shopping is conveniently delivered to your door and you can spend more time at home with your loved ones and - yes! - do the laundry in a more relaxed manner. ;)
Seek help
We have already touched on the subject of help above. Make sure that you get help in good time, if you want it. This can mean that someone from your family or friends stays with you for the first few weeks and helps you look after the baby. Organize, for example, that the older siblings stay with relatives for the first few weeks. It is also a good idea to use a dog walking service for the postpartum period, if you are worried that your dog may not get enough exercise. It may also be worth it for your relaxation to hire someone to help you a few times a week, or to ask family or friends if they can help you out with vacuuming or cleaning the bathroom. You will see how your loved ones are happy to lend you a hand in the first few weeks. It is best to have several people on your helper list who can come and help you if one of them is unavailable.
Preparing for the birth
In order to prepare for the birth, every pregnant woman has the opportunity to attend a birth preparation course, financed by the health insurance company. You can also make an appointment with your midwife, for example to initiate labor induction measures or to use acupuncture to reduce the pain of childbirth.
Forms
There is a lot of bureaucratic organization and documents that you should take care of both before and after the birth. Before the birth, this includes, for example, registering with your employer for parental leave, applying for maternity benefit, and if you are not married to your partner, you can also arrange for paternity recognition before the birth. This can also be done after the birth, as is the case with stepchild adoption for same-sex couples. You just have to see what applies to you and your partner. After your child is born, the birth must be reported to different places: with the health insurance company, with the registry office, you must have a birth certificate issued, e.g. at the registry office or even in the hospital, and child benefit and parental benefit must be applied for. If you do not feel strong enough to take care of the necessary paperwork and go to the office in the first few days, you can also issue a power of attorney to someone who can help you so that you can hand over the task.
Mindset for birth
And a super important task for you: get yourself into the right mindset. Be open to the experience of birth and also to the fact that it might be completely different to what you imagine or what someone else has told you about. It is your individual experience and you should appreciate it as such.
Use the time before the birth to consciously have a nice date with your partner. Have a little spa day at home for yourself if you like. And calmly get in the mood for soon to be a mommy.
