There’s this funny moment late in pregnancy where everything feels kind of real all at once. It’s like, okay, the baby is nearly here, there’s still loads to sort out, and the brain keeps bouncing between nesting mode and panic mode. Oh, and you want to sleep all the time too, because there’s no energy (and a lot of pain).
Oh, and to mixed into all of that is the thought of returning to work one day after maternity leave, which just adds this extra “life keeps moving” feeling. But overall, the third trimester becomes this weird combination of excitement, last-minute prep, and trying to remember every little thing people keep mentioning. And honestly, planning a few things now saves a lot of stress later, especially when those first newborn weeks feel like an adorable blur.
Planning Food Before the Baby Arrives
Yeah, sure, it’s an obvious one for most parents, and yeah, food sounds simple, but it becomes one of the biggest stress points once the baby is home. Those first weeks are beautiful, but they also turn the entire schedule upside down. Basically, cooking becomes this far-off dream because there’s either no energy, no time, or both. Some people have help or a meal train from loved ones, but loads of new parents don’t. Actually, that whole meal train thing is kind of fading out (because the village concept is also fading out).
And yeah, it’s amazing how fast a freezer full of meals becomes absolute gold. Planning food in advance feels like one of those things you’ll get around to eventually, then the baby arrives, and you’re wishing you had a magic button for dinner. Even a few extra meals or snacks tucked away make life easier.
Try and Book Important Things Early
Okay, but what exactly? Well, it’s really going to depend on what. There are certain things that need booking much earlier than people realise. Just like for maternity shoots, a newborn photographer, for example, fills up so quickly, especially someone like the very talented newborn photographer Louise Mallan, because they also do other types of photography.
But those newborn sessions happen in such a tiny window, so it’s one of those things you want sorted before everything gets busy. The same goes for hair appointments, dentists, any last-minute beauty things (a lot of moms in the last trimester like getting pedicures), and even basic admin. It’s so much nicer to have those checked off before the baby arrives and life gets a little more unpredictable.
Setting Up Little Systems at Home
No one talks enough about the tiny systems that make those early weeks easier. Things like a basket of essentials in every room, somewhere easy to stash laundry at 2 a.m., extra nappies in more than one spot, and a simple place to drop bottles or clothes without feeling guilty about it. Feel free to check YouTube or even TikTok, because a lot of mums on there tend to show off baskets and tiered trolley carts of what they stack in them for their newborn.
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