The Waiting Game: Tips On What To Do During Those Last Few Weeks Of Pregnancy

Oh, the never-ending last month of pregnancy. As you reach the home stretch, it can feel like forever before baby arrives. While this last stretch definitely comes with its share of difficulties and discomforts, it is also an amazing opportunity to get some last minute things ready and to really pamper yourself and prepare fully for motherhood. As I sit here waiting for my sister's first born to arrive, I have decided to create a short list of ideas of what you can be doing now as you prepare to meet your little one!

• Rest!! I know that everyone says this, but for real, DO IT! Pretty soon your sleep habits will be turned upside down and you will be longing for a good nap and a full nights sleep. Give yourself the gift of rest now - your body needs it.

• Create a Postpartum Plan. You can read more about that here. Essentially, this is a list of pertinent information: contacts for your care provider, doula or support person, hospital, pediatrician, lactation consultant, babysitter/petsitter, friends or family that have offered to help, as well as insurance info, take-out food info, meal ideas, etc.

• If you have other kids (or pets), get in touch now with your babysitter/petsitter to make sure that everyone is on the same page and that you have everything as prepared as possible for an easy hand-off.

• Triple check to make sure your car seat is installed properly. Check to see if you have a car seat expert in your area or if your local fire department will look it over for you to make sure that everything is installed correctly. Most people do NOT have their carseat installed properly and trust me, you do not want to be dealing with this at the hospital with a newborn.

• Go on a date night with your partner or a girls night with your best friend. These will soon be hard to come by, so go enjoy some adult company! Take your time getting ready and go somewhere fun!

• Prep freezer meals and stock your pantry. There is nothing like having an already made meal ready to go in those early postpartum days. Do some meal planning now and stock your pantry with frequently used ingredients, as well as healthy snacks to grab after baby comes. This can be a great way to involve those who have offered help. Invite some family or friends over to help with a meal prep day. Ask others for their favorite (and easy) recipes.

• Do a good clean (or better yet, have it done) of your home. If you do it yourself, do not overdue it; clean one thing a day and focus on those little details that you likely won't get to with a newborn at home. A professional cleaning service makes a lovely gift for a new mom (something to consider when creating a registry for a shower).

• Make time for self-care. This will look different for every momma, but the main point is that you take some time to focus on you. For some this may look like a long warm bath or maybe it means going to get a pedicure or a new hair cut or a massage. Love on your body, it is amazing and is working hard creating that miracle inside of you!

• Enjoy a movie or a good book. Give yourself the freedom to just sit and chill for a bit.

• Get out and move your body! Light exercise is key during your pregnancy and you want to do your best to stay active. Movement will not only heighten your mood, but also prepare your body for labor and help baby to get into an optimal position for birth. Prenatal yoga classes are fantastic, as well as getting into a pool.

• Practice some contractions with your partner. This may sound silly, but this exercise is wonderful as you prepare for the big day. Practice comfort measures and positions so that things feel more natural during the real thing.

• Tune out to tune IN. Take some time away from distractions (social media, phone, computer, TV, etc.) and really try to meditate and focus on where you are now and connect with your baby. This is such a special time in your pregnancy journey so try to enjoy it and cement in your memory the feeling of those kicks and rolls in your belly, and the excited anticipation you feel to meet your little one! You might even try journaling so that you can really remember how you felt during your pregnancy. Take some pics of your beautiful belly, stare at your belly as your baby moves around, and enjoy these last few weeks of being truly together.

• Most importantly, listen to your body and do what is right for you. This may mean saying "no" to people or activities, but even that is a good skill to practice now before your little arrives!