things I’m doing in my third trimester of pregnancy

The third trimester of pregnancy is often referred to as the “nesting” phase, and boy do I feel it. I suddenly have the urge to organize and make space for this baby to arrive. In this post, you’ll find a few of the ways I’m preparing myself for those early postpartum days.

making a big batch of bone broth

It’s no surprise that bone broth is absolutely PACKED with nutrients. I wanted to be sure I’d have some on hand for my early postpartum days. Warm drinks are excellent when it comes to healing the body.

washing baby clothes with homemade laundry detergent

So far, a majority of my baby clothes are secondhand. I knew I wanted to wash those before dressing baby in them, and I decided to throw a couple of the newborn outfits I’ve gotten as gifts in as well. My homemade laundry detergent is extra gentle and doesn’t contain any toxic ingredients or fragrances.

stocking up on homemade cleaners

I make my own multi-surface cleaner along with a few others. I wanted to make sure I was stocked up with a full bottle – I had a nagging feeling that there would be a few spills in my future. While this is extremely easy to make (literally ½ vinegar, ½ water), it’s nice to have it ready to go.

organizing the bathroom

I organized the bathroom to make room for various postpartum things to go near the toilet – like pads, perineal spray, peri bottle, etc.

lots of self care throughout pregnancy

I’ve been doing hair masks frequently during my entire pregnancy, along with taking the time to massage lotion on my belly and resting as much as I possibly can to prepare for labor.

gathering a few postpartum things

• reusable pads – I went with Rael organic cotton pads.
• manual breast pump – I plan on exclusively breastfeeding, so I didn’t think I’d need an electric pump. However, I wanted to have a manual pump on hand in case I felt too engorged.
• nipple butter – I received the Earth Mama breastfeeding pack as a gift, which came with a few breast care items.

packing my hospital bag

If you’re curious what I’m packing in my hospital bag for a natural birth, check out the post below.

finishing up my birth course

I decided to do the Pain Free Birth Course, and I’m so glad I did! It taught me so much about physiological labor, and I went into my natural birth feeling confident and empowered.

READ MORE >> how I prepared for an unmedicated hospital birth

repeating positive affirmations

While this can sound a bit cliche, our words are powerful. The way we speak to our bodies makes a big difference, so I’m speaking kindly to mine – reminding her that she is incredibly capable.