When is it normal to start nesting in pregnancy
With all of the furniture assembled! And baby-proofed to boot! Speaking of furniture, you keep rearranging all of it, all over the house. Everything in the kitchen, bathrooms, and bedrooms must be shuffled around. At least 25 times. If you have an older child, you're organizing their clothes obsessively. You suddenly need all of the cookbooks. Even if you don't cook anything from them.
You've gotta have a go-to collection STAT. You're driven to declutter. Who needs the KonMari Method when you're in your third trimester and razor-focused on ridding your home of unnecessary stuff? On the other hand, you might be buying all of the things. Not just baby items, no. Maybe some new sheets, a nice, new doormat, all of the organic cleaning supplies!
Anecdotally, however, the nesting phase can be an indicator that delivery is near. Every parent experiences nesting differently, but there are a few common signs of nesting to be on the lookout for. You might be experiencing signs of the nesting phase during pregnancy if you have the sudden and intense urge to:.
Nesting during pregnancy certainly is not a negative experience. The biggest risks are exerting too much energy before your baby arrives and becoming obsessive over every little detail. Learning how to effectively act upon your nesting urges can lead to a stress-free end to your pregnancy. Completing some items on your to-do list is a great way to manage your tendencies to clean, organize, and prepare, but knowing how to pace yourself is key.
Avoid burnout or injury by following these tips for nesting during pregnancy:. Pregnancy can spur a lot of these feelings related to the upcoming delivery and transition to motherhood. If you find yourself feeling overwhelmed, nesting within reason can be a good outlet, but also consider talking to your OB-GYN, midwife, or someone else that you trust. Instead of facing a daunting list of nesting chores, approach it with a plan that prioritizes tasks within a realistic timeframe. This will also help empower you to prepare your environment in a positive way.
Take time to nurture yourself as you prepare for childbirth and your new mommy status. With pregnancy comes a lot of advice from family, friends, and even complete strangers. Some of it may be welcome, and some of it can seem intrusive or confusing. Talk to your OB-GYN or midwife for sound medical advice, and know that you are the ultimate expert about what feels right for you and your baby. Nesting is a natural instinct experienced by many expecting mothers, most commonly in the last trimester.
While it can cover a wide range of activities and behaviors, the central driver is taking control of your environment to create a safe, calming, and welcoming space for baby and motherhood. Many women experience anxiety during pregnancy. You've been dying to know whether everything you've heard about childbirth is true. Moms spill the beans, once and for all. Labor and delivery tends to occupy the minds of expectant parents the most.
Other goods to get as you prepare for birth: whole grain crackers and cereal, canned beans, fruits and vegetables, pasta, brown rice and sauces. If your nesting instinct is accompanied by the joy of cooking, indulge while you can.
Make extra servings of your favorite frost-friendly foods — lasagna, mini-meatloaves, pancakes, bran muffins — and store in single-meal containers in the freezer. Feel like throwing in the towel? Once baby arrives, your washer and dryer will have to work hard enough just to keep up with the spit-up stains.
Finally, get around to dusting the picture frames before that baby photo explosion makes the dusting more daunting. Be sensible, though, in your quest for clean. If you intend to breastfeed, buy nursing bras , nursing pads and nursing or easy-to-open shirts. Know you may have to throw them in the garbage about six weeks after your baby is born. Babies need more than the clothes on their backs. They also need the diapers — and diaper rash ointment — on their backsides, along with a host of other crucial consumables.
Stock up also on baby soap, cotton pads, a rectal digital thermometer, rubbing alcohol, a nasal syringe, nail clippers, bottles, nipples and more. And for you, pick up plenty of super-absorbent maxi pads, Tucks medicated pads and ice packs — not the kinds of things you want to run out of in the middle of the night. This way, they'll be ready to go as soon as you know the final baby stats. Or compile a list of people to email — you can use it later to digitally send your birth announcement to the whole crew.