Ways to pass the time and not go crazy while waiting for your baby to arrive

So here I am, in my 39th week of my 4th pregnancy, going a little crazy not knowing when this little one will arrive.

If you are planning on a completely natural birth and have no intentions on being induced, not knowing when your body will start working to bring your little one into the world can be a little nerve-wracking.

It’s especially tough waiting when your body has reached it’s limits.

Between the sore feet, aching back, restless nights, braxton hicks contractions, round ligament pain, sciatica, and perhaps some lingering nausea, waiting for your little one at the very end is easier said than done.

I’ll be honest, I am finding it challenging this time around – and the biggest reason I sitting down to write this post (as it keeps me busy and distracted, ha!).

But instead of sitting around the house & twiddling my thumbs until the big moment, I’ve come up with some ways to stay preoccupied during this exciting and unknown amount of time you might have left.

Many of these things can be done at home if you’re on bed rest or just simply don’t have the energy to go out (raises hand up high).

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Stock up on household items

The first few weeks after having your baby might be a tad crazy and hectic, so make it a bit easier on yourself by supplying your home with the home essentials.

Toilet paper, paper towels, dish soap, trash bags, laundry detergent, toothpaste, shampoo, and anything else your home needs on a daily basis to keep running.

And if you’re anything like me and don’t want to make a trip to the store, buying them online can be a huge time & energy saver!

Check out this list to order your essentials now & be done with it.

Wash clothes & bedding

If you haven’t already done so, now is the perfect time to wash your bedding, baby’s bedding, and clothes.

I spent my entire days yesterday washing all the blankets and bedding throughout the house and now I feel ready that we will at least have clean sheets for a week or two – making it one less thing to worry about after our baby arrives!

Pack your hospital bag

Or re-pack and double check.

Sometimes something can be overlooked and missed the first time around, so take a few minutes to make sure you have all the things you’ll want for a happy delivery & peaceful stay at your birthing place.

Install baby’s car seat

If you haven’t already done so, then now is the time to install your baby’s car seat so you’re all ready to go.

You won’t be able to leave the hospital or birth center if you don’t have a proper car seat for your baby, so make sure this goes at the top of your list if it hasn’t been done already!

Freeze meals & meal plan

This is another time-saving hack you can do now to make your life much less stressful in the coming weeks.

Over the past 3 weeks I have been storing meals in my freezer like a chipmunk – so when our baby arrives, I won’t have to lift a finger to make a delicious homemade meal.

Quick tip: double or triple batch your nightly dinners and freeze 1 or 2 extra. This way you aren’t spending a lot of extra time or energy making a variety of meals, but will still have plenty of food stocked up in your freezer.

Treat yourself

While you haven’t gone through labor just yet, you’ll appreciate a gift after your baby comes.

Labor is HARD WORK and treating yourself ahead of time is a totally acceptable practice – not to mention what you’ve gone through these past 9 months growing your baby.

For me, I am treating myself to a robot vacuum so I won’t have to sweep the floors on a regular basis.

With 4 kids, I know it’s something I will appreciate – and it’s practical, so it’s a win-win.

Create a labor playlist

If music is your thing and something you’d like to use during labor, then start creating a playlist now so you’ll be ready.

Make sure the device you will be playing it from is fully charged and ready to go so you won’t have to worry about it during the main event.

Charge your camera

Speaking of being charged and ready to go, now’s the time to ensure that your camera is all set and ready too.

If you plan on taking your camera with you for your team to snap a few during or after the birth, make sure you have your battery fully charged (and extra packed just in case), along with extra memory cards.

If you plan on using your phone, then make sure to pack your charger and make space on your device for plenty of new photos.

The last thing you want during these precious moments is a dead battery or full capacity on your phone. Take a few minutes today to make sure you’ve got it all set up.

Purge & de-clutter

If you have the motivation and energy, now is the perfect time to de-clutter your home & get rid of things that you don’t need.

The less things you have in your home, the less chance of large messes being made – and that’s the last thing you want when you’re recovering from birth.

If it’s something that doesn’t hold much value or get enough use, then put it in a box and be done with it!

I have been doing this for months. Simplifying all the rooms in the house has been very satisfying and it’s a comfort to know that there will be less stuff to make a mess with in the future.

Get a massage

Growing a baby is not easy Momma, so go treat yourself now because your body could use it.

Not only is prenatal massage helpful in soothing sore and tired muscles, it can also be a great way to prepare your body for labor.

Be on the lookout for a therapist who is skilled in prenatal massage, as you’ll get the most bang for your buck.

Not only will your body thank you now, but it could lead to a more relaxed and shorter labor!

Create a movie or TV show watch list

No time like now to catch up on your Netflix binging.

Or, if you’ve been currently doing that, creating a watch list for when baby comes is also a good idea.

While taking care of a newborn can be stressful, it can also be a bit slow-going at times – especially if you are used to being a busy person.

It’s best to stay home and rest while you are recovering, so a good TV show or a movie list can come in handy to pass some of the downtime and keep you entertained while your body heals from labor.

Read a book

You might have some time to read after the baby comes, but you just never know!

Catch up on a book you’ve been dying to read now before the sleepless nights & tiresome days set in.

Bake

What better way to pass the time than spend it in the kitchen cooking up some yummy treats?

Best part? You can bake your favorites and freeze them for later.

So when your little one arrives, you’ll have some homemade goodies waiting for you in your freezer that you can take out any time you get a hankering for a sweet!

Get a pedicure

One of my favorite things to do right before labor is to get a pedicure.

Trying to reach for your toes these days is like an Olympic event, so treat yourself to a spa day!

Not only does it feel good getting a foot massage, but my toes always look pretty for the big event & several weeks afterwards.

Schedule a haircut

Another way to pamper yourself before baby comes.

I rarely get my haircut, but always make sure that I schedule one a few weeks before my babies arrive so I have a fresh cut that won’t need much attention for a few months.

Schedule this on the same day as your pedicure & massage for a more complete day at the spa!

Grab dinner with a friend

Now that you’ve been all pampered, why not go out and show off your new look?

It’s the perfect time to catch up with a friend you haven’t seen in awhile (and most likely won’t have time for soon enough) AND grab a delicious meal.

Plus, it’s always nice chatting with like-minded girls who understand the struggles of pregnancy and these last few weeks.

A little bit of girl time could be just what you need right before your baby comes!

Spend quality time with your kids

If you have other kids, this is the perfect time to spend some quality time with them.

Once the baby comes, you won’ have as many chances right away to devote as much time to them, so use this time now & make the most of it!

Stock up on postpartum supplies

While the first few weeks after having a baby can be magical, it can also be messy & uncomfortable.

Stocking up on essentials now so you don’t have to worry about it later will be one less thing to worry and stress about – and you’ll be glad you did.

Things like a good water bottle, disposable chucks pads, heavy duty pads, healing herbs and creams, and breastfeeding supplies will be your new daily essentials for awhile.

Check out this list to see what you might need & what you can order now to stock up and be ready!

Prep your business for maternity leave

If you’re a fellow Momboss, then now is the time to make the final arrangements for your business while you are away having a baby and recovering from birth.

Simple tasks that you can do right now would be setting up an email away message, schedule social media posts, drafting blog content, and organizing things to make the transition much quicker once your newborn arrives.

Take an hour or more each day to work on these simple things to make life and business a bit more manageable for when baby does arrive!

These last few days and weeks might seem like forever, but your baby will arrive sooner than you know it.