WARNING: If you need to be somewhere at a specific time…PLAN ON LEAVING 20/30 minutes before you normally would. Blowouts, additional feedings, and anything you can think of WILL OCCUR!

Options for getting out and about include…

*Stroller Walks/Runs- Meeting up with other moms for a stroller walk is a great way to get out of the house, get exercise, and have a free therapy session! There is nothing like chatting with another mom when you have a newborn, you will quickly realize that all the emotions and feelings you have are totally normal!

*Wear baby in a carrier while you walk your dog.

* An outdoor mall area is a great place to go if you just want to get out and walk around.

*Outing to the store: Target is always a great place to go burn some time! (You will feel like you’re packing up for a camping trip or the end of the world but this will get easier)

The first few times you head to the store with Baby it could be a little overwhelming. You’re sleep deprived, your body is going nuts and you feel like you have been clubbin’ for about 20 days straight. Take your time and don’t be nervous! Tips include…

*Park near buggy return

*DON’T PUT INFANT CARRIER ON TOP PART OF BUGGY. INFANT CARRIER ALWAYS GOES IN MAIN BASKET PART.

* If you want some privacy while breastfeeding,  locations to feed include a dressing room or in your car.

*Changing locations include family restrooms or in the back of your car.

* You can always take your stroller in a store and place things in your basket below. (I worried at first that people would think I was stealing but it’s totally fine! Haha!)

If you search far enough down the Amazon wormhole, you can find some pretty great deals on clothing. The hard part is knowing what the quality is like and how the sizing runs. I’ve ordered my fair share of clothes from Amazon that arrived looking nothing like the picture and the medium size might’ve been able to fit my XS sister. I have, however, found some awesome pieces that were a super deal and have lasted over a year in my closet. This dress is around $20 and comes in a variety of colors. I’m 5’7” and with flats, it drags a tiny bit in the back. Wedges make it a perfect height. For you petite girls, there is a short version of this dress. It can be worn pre and post baby and is also bump friendly! It’s a true wrap dress, so you can adjust the waist. It does run a little small, so I’d size up one size. I’m a standard size medium / 8 right now and I’m wearing the large.

And there I was, 38 weeks pregnant with my first child. My sister came over and we had a little photo shoot and this is one of my favorite pictures carrying my son. My sister didn’t have any kids at the time and since this was my first…neither one of us really knew what was about to go down. Haha! I’m not going to lie, I ran from all birthing classes and educating myself on the birthing process. I didn’t want to know, it would have put too many “what if’s” in my mind so I just wanted to have a “fire drill” delivery. Some people attend all the birthing classes they can and some people don’t do anything…it’s totally up to you and what you want to do!

I didn’t learn much about the birthing process but I get prepped for the hospital and got my personal items together and ready to go. I didn’t want to leave it up to my husband to pick out the extra absorbent breast or panty liners I needed. YIKES!

Extra toiletries: get doubles of all your “I can’t live without” items and go ahead and pack your toiletries bag so when the time comes you only have to grab your razor and make up bag.

Boobie Pads: super absorbency and light absorbency, a few boxes of each.

Large Underwear that you can throw away. 

Big Pads: you will bleed for a couple weeks post delivery and tamponds are a No-No. You will change your pad about as often as you change the babies diaper.

*WE ARE NOT GOING TO SUGAR COAT IT…Bottom line: after delivery you will feel like you are putting pads all over your body…this is only a short phase and it WILL pass!!!

Nursing Tanks: great ones at Target and even Walmart! 

Robe: soft and comfy

Gowns: In case of a total explosion of your lady parts, yes it happens, gowns will be more comfortable post delivery. They are comfortable to wear at night!

Pajama pants: you will want to wear these during the day at the hospital when visitors are there. Black is always a safe choice with the bleeding.

Throw away Flip flops for the shower

Cheap throw away Slippers

When the excitement (and sometimes shock) of finding out you’re pregnant begins to fade just a bit, the feeling of WHERE DO I BEGIN can become super overwhelming. We hope you find this info helpful as you begin your journey of being a Mama!

Week 8 until delivery– start something like Palmer’s Tummy Butter NOW! Buy a couple tins at a time or else you will be running to the store constantly. I probably used 20-30 tins during my pregnancy. You can’t put a price on having little or no stretch marks.

Men’s undershirts– you will eventually get so big that you can barely fit in much. The belly butter is super greasy and you will only want to wear old shirts or ones you can throw away after delivery. I found buying packs of men’s undershirts was a great option (I got a size XL) and I threw them all away when I was done with my pregnancy.

Week 16 until delivery– Start using a Doppler to see if you can hear your little peanut! Rubbing baby oil on your tummy before you use the Doppler will help it move around!

Sleep issues? I highly recommend the Boppy Pregnancy Pillow. It helped me sleep and my back!

Week 34 until delivery– Start Lansinoh nipple cream . Your boobies will thank you when you have a little person stuck to them 24/7.

Week 35– pack your hospital bags and instal your infant car seat.

Week 36/38– get your hair did!

MATERNITY CLOTHES FAVS:

Target: Their maternity section is amazing!

Old Navy: Jeans & black over the tummy workout pants

Ross: Super deals on cotton short sleeve and long sleeve tops and you never know what else you will find in their small maternity section!