Revelation - there are lots of pregnancy / labour / post baby things I haven't done

Despite my usual excellent organisational skills, it seems some stuff has gotten a bit away from me. The revelation that I am 36 weeks today has hit me somewhat. mmmmm...

I was reading 'Up the Duff' but stopped for no real reason when the book got to 22 weeks. Last night I pulled it out and started reading. I guess it just made it more real.

So, in order to be honest, here is a pretty comprehensive of stuff I haven't done. Some of this has to get done and some just isn't really gonna happen.

Pregnancy
- Pelvic floor exercises - I never really got into the routine of them. I have started now, twice a day using a podcast that I listen to when I am in the car. It guides me through a 5 minute routine. However my dream of being a total legend at them is kinda out the window.
- Regular exercise - Before getting pregnant I used to go to the gym 3 times a week, twice with a personal trainer. Indeed, I attribute my exercise to my getting pregnant in the first place. However since getting preg that has gone out the window. I was very sick in the first trimester (continual vomiting, trips to hosp for dehydration) and never got back into it. I once went to a class at my local gym, but that really hurt so never went back.

Labour / Hospital
- Hypnotherapy - Despite knowing the benefits of this, I just haven't got the hang of it. I have two main tracks that I should be listening to. However I end up falling asleep about half way through.
- Baby bag - Haven't packed this, haven't thought about it. I don't think I have a big tshirt for labour that I am happy to lose if we can't get it clean again. Might have to go shopping.

Post baby
- Food stock up - Every book / pamphlet says I should cook food to stock up so we aren't worried about cooking when baby comes. At the moment I barely have enough food to cook at that moment, let alone cook in advance.
- Normal doubts - will I cope, how will it all work etc - not much I can do about this one, but still plays on my mind.

My husband is away from Sun to Thurs, then again Sun to Thurs next week. I think this has made me feel anxious and is probably contributing to all of these issues.

Anyway, that's me. Off to have a bit of a teary now.

Fiona

i'm 32 weeks and in the same boat... haven't done a lot of things... i just went out and bought some bottles and a steriliser a few days ago that are now sitting in the cupboard which is at least one thing... still have to get another car seat and a few other things.... nothing is packed, house is chaos, time off work is not yet organised for my DP to look after our first born.... etc etc etc

don't stress too much, it will all work itself out.....

ooops just realised i don't have any newborn nappies etc.... i completely forget what i need, and what i will need for hospital.... think i'm just going to wing it while i'm in labour like a headless chicken.

Honestly, it's not important, most of that stuff. It's good that you're doing your pelvic floor exercises now, but you can also do them after the birth as well, which will help, so not a lost cause yet! If you're worried about how you'll cope in labour because you haven't done an exercise programme... I guess you never know how labour will go, and it's no use tiring yourself out now! Go for gentle walks, you might have a few weeks left still, and I found walking really helped me relax, especially in the week or so before our first was born (and our second, incidentally!)

With the food - we were really struggling financially around the time S was born, and immediately afterwards, and I had little to prepare with. You'll manage, just have lots of fruit around and it's not the end of the world if you're too tired to cook some nights and have baked beans on toast or something :)

The labour bag? I packed while in labour :D I was so excited I couldn't sit still anyway, so it was kind of handy. We had a box of nappies but stuff like breast pads, botty cream, pads for me... just had to wing it a bit and then got my mum and my sister to bring them round heh heh.

It seems like such a lot to think about, but when it all comes down to it, you'll muddle through and come out the other side, with a baby who just wants to be loved and fed :) (and changed. Nappies of some description are kind of important, I suppose!!)

Big hug! It will be fine, really.

dont worry, I dont think I did anything on that list either! It will all sort itself out, so don't stress too much, just enjoy the last of your pregnancy!

My labour bag only had a few things in it, I packed the rest after my waters broke!

i didn't pack my bag until it was time to leave for hospital & i never did as many pelvic floor exercises as i was meant to. i had two meals in the freezer...

the one thing i'm glad i did do was to relax & get as much sleep as i could. if i could change anything, i think i'd sleep even MORE!

The big one that I stressed out about not having done was having meals in the freezer for after. We had 3 other kids already, dancing, football etc & I thought it would be a nightmare...it wasn't that bad.
You will find you can get by just fine with whatever you have ready. Anything else can be picked up as you need it.
For me the rest of that stuff was an 'ideal' (as in, for once in my life can i be organised about this & do it properly :lol:) but not life-ending :p

Very normal to feel anxious & a bit teary :hug: you will do just fine :hug:

Sweetie, you are steps ahead of me if that is the last of your list... I am only a week or two behind you and I have done NOTHING... No car seat, no cot, no clothes ready, no hospital bag, no birthplan, no sleep, no exercise, etc...

These last few weeks get so hard there is no point in beating yourself up over a few things not quite finished... Just relax and do what you can, and breathe and think of the moment when you will be holding your little one and all that you have not done will fall away.

:hug: hang in there... xo

Thanks for all of this. I was just having a bad moment yesterday.

Therefore to make myself feel better (rather than do anything on the list) I went and had an emergency pedicure. Feeling much better!

lol!!!
i'm having an 'emergency' facial tomorrow night...

actually stuff like that is more important than most of the other stuff which can fall into place when you need it, getting a pedicure or having time like that to yourself will be a complete luxury once bubs comes along...

i had actually planned to treat myself to something like that once a week for the last couple of months of my pregnancy, but it hasn't eventuated.... i know i will regret it once bubs comes...!