The Ultimate 3rd Trimester To-Do List (that isn't overwhelming)

What to Do in Third Trimester of Pregnancy?

You’ve made it to the third trimester- congratulations! Sometimes by the third trimester your energy will be waning and you’ll start feeling the pressure (literally, haha) of those last to-do items before your baby arrives.

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It’s good to have a plan for the last months of pregnancy for a few reasons:

To keep yourself busy instead of obsessing over when baby will arrive.
To get all the really important stuff done so you aren’t trying to do it with a newborn.
Soaking up the last bit of time you have before your life drastically changes.

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Things to do Before Baby Arrives Checklist

Make your birth plan.
Take care of yourself.
Go to all your last minute appointments.
Take time for yourself.
Install car seat.
Set up nursery.
Complete any deep cleaning.
Take a childbirth class.
Take a breastfeeding class.
Freezer meals.
Prepare for the postpartum period.
Stock up on newborn essentials.
Prepare your baby registry.
Pack all 3 hospital bags.
Auto payments for bills.

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Nursing Pillow
Reusable Breast Pads
Car Seat Canopy
Nursing Cover
Baby Leggings
Pregnancy Pillow– code will be for $50 off
Custom Pacifiers

Make Your Birth Plan

Now is a good time to figure out what you want on your birth plan and why you want it. It’s important to keep it simple and easy to follow. Only put the most important things you want to have happen on your birth plan.

You can print and download a free birth plan template here.

Take Care of Yourself

Do you have any aches and pains that need to be dealt with? Issues with sleeping that need to be helped?

Do what you need to and don’t push it aside. It’s important to take care of your physical and mental health before your baby gets here.

Go to All Your Last Minute Appointments

If you need to see your doctor or chiropractor, dentist or heck- even just get a pedicure, now is the time to do it.

It’s a lot harder to leave the house to do these things when you are in the thick of the 4th trimester.

Take Time for Yourself

This might be the most important item on this list. I don’t want to scare first time moms but really, truly, your life is going to change.

Getting time for yourself will be harder to do after baby is born. Enjoy reading a book in peace, drinking a hot cup of tea or heading out the door for doing whatever you want.

Install the Car Seat

Make sure this is done before you’re heading to the hospital. You’d think installing a car seat would be easy but it’s really not, especially if it’s your first baby.

Send your partner out to install the car seat and make sure it’s properly installed. This will make leaving the hospital so much less stressful!

Set Up the Nursery

This is kind of obvious but still worth mentioning.

You’d be wise to not only finish decorating but also setting up all the furniture you’d like in your baby room.

Are you buying a new crib? A change table? Organize the diapers and wipes, outfits, etc before you come home with a newborn baby.

But especially make sure the crib and furniture are all set up beforehand!

Complete Any Deep Cleaning

Do you have any weird things in the house you’ve been thinking about cleaning but haven’t got around to it?

Now is your chance to get it done!

We moved into a new house a couple of months before my baby was born (super smart, I know) so I was deep cleaning the craziest stuff but I’m so happy I got it done because after you have a baby everything kind of goes to shit for a few months after.

Take a Childbirth Class

If you haven’t taken a childbirth class yet, the third trimester is a great time to get that done.

Childbirth classes are important because you need to know what you’re going into and how you can advocate for yourself if there’s anything you want/don’t want to happen.

Hilary has been an OB nurse since 2001 and offers a free online prenatal classes from the comfort of your home. She’s super down to Earth and has made it her mission to empower women during childbirth. Check out her class HERE.

Take a Breastfeeding Class

If you’re planning to breastfeed, try to take a class before you have your baby.

You’d think that breastfeeding would come naturally but it really doesn’t.

Milkology is an online breastfeeding class for less than $20. You’ll be able to finish it in 90 minutes making it perfect for busy mama’s.

Stacey is a certified lactation consultant and mom of 3, she knows her breastfeeding stuff 🙂 Check out the course HERE.

Prepare Freezer Meals

These don’t have to be complicated. Anything you can throw in a bag to dump in the slow cooker one day after baby is there will work great!

Check out this list of super simple and healthy vegan freezer meals 🙂

Buy Your Postpartum Essentials

It’s a good idea to be stocked up for postpartum fun before getting home with your baby.

Perineal spray, nipple cream, giant pads and a peri bottle are all much needed. Read a full postpartum checklist here.

RELATED: DIY Padsicles

Stock Up on Newborn Essentials

You do not need a lot to be prepared for life with a newborn. They need to eat, sleep, poop and be cuddled.

The most important things are:

Diapers– you can grab a diaper bundle from HelloBello for $16 off plus free shipping through this link. Use the code SAVE16 🙂
Wipes
Comfy newborn clothing
Nursing pillow– you can grab a free nursing pillow from here, use the code NEWMOMMA20

Start Your Baby Registry

If you haven’t started a baby registry yet, no worries. It’s free to sign up for Amazon’s Baby Registry and they’ll actually send you a free welcome box of stuff worth $35.

Pack All the Hospital Bags

35 weeks is a good time to have your bags packed. It’s not too early but does ensure enough time in case there are any surprises!

Here is a free, no B.S. printable hospital bag checklist.

Set Your Bills to Auto Pay

Maybe you’ve already done this but if you haven’t- do it! It’ll make your life so much easier during the first few months with a newborn baby and dealing with that new mom exhaustion.

Third trimester Checklist PDF

Click here or on the image to download your free printable 3rd trimester checklist 🙂

3rd trimester checklist/third trimester checklist

Things to Do to Prepare for Baby

The last month of pregnancy seems to fly by and drag on all at once. Be prepared for the 4th trimester by going through this list and making sure you’re all set!

Don’t over do it though and don’t worry if you don’t accomplish everything- it’s more important to listen to your body than complete a checklist.

Enjoy your last bit of time and get excited to meet your precious new baby <3

The Ultimate 3rd Trimester To-Do List (that isn’t overwhelming)