Pregnancy Nesting - Making the Most of It

Nesting Is a Real Instinct

It's one of those "birds and bees things". All animals do it instinctively - and so do humans. Nesting. Any expectant mother, whether animal, reptile or bird, has an instinct that gives her a surge of energy and prompts her to do everything necessary to prepare for the arrival of her young. The closer to the birth of the baby, the more likely the urge is to hit. Not all women nest and really, it has no bearing at all on what kind of a mother you will be. But, it isn't an old wives' tale - it's a real instinct.

Many women end up using that burst of energy to find missing socks and clean things that are already clean. Why not plan to make good use of that energy and deal with some of the last minute stuff you have probably either forgotten about or left until almost too late. Remember life is going to take on a whole new dimension very soon and you just won't have the time to get to some of this once baby comes.

Stock the Fridge ...

Make sure the fridge is stocked with current-dated items. Toss the old stuff, especially the things you've been keeping forever and have long passed their best-by dates. Stock up on fresh dairy items like yogurt, cheeses and milk and be sure your fruit and veggies are fresh as well. Lots of salad fixings and a couple of pre-cooked chickens are good items to have in the fridge. If the baby doesn't come this week, do it again. You will always need fresh foods and by cleaning out the older stuff, you make sure what is in the fridge is good to eat.

... and the Pantry

Go from the fridge to the pantry. Stock up with fast and easy food prep items like pasta and jars of sauce. One thing is for sure, you'll find there are days when preparing food for yourself will feel overwhelming. By having a good stock of quick-to-fix foods you'll be more inclined to eat well instead of having a bowl of cereal (or two or three) rather than a prepared meal. Stock up sufficiently because getting out to the grocery store isn't going to be quite as easy as it was before the little one came on the scene. Nuts, dried fruit, granola, healthy cereals and wholesome crisp breads make snacking healthy.

Cook, Bake and Freeze

Load up the freezer with homemade goodies. If you love to cook, use this time to cook up a storm and fill the freezer with foods that are nutritious and homemade. Cook extra portions of your favorite sauces, lasagna, muffins, and meats and freeze them in individual containers of one or two servings. Don't forget to label them - a surprise meal is fun once in a while, but you don't want a burger when you were going for zucchini loaf. It's just a lot easier to grab something from the freezer and pop it into a pan or microwave than cook from scratch. You still get the benefit of wholesome food without the time (which you won't have a lot of anyway).

Wash and Clean Everything

Launder all of the things you don't usually wash regularly. Duvet covers, shams, throw rugs and the linen from the guest room can all be cleaned before baby's laundry takes over the washer and dryer. If the shower curtain and sheers in the living room need a wash, this is the time to do it.

A thorough cleaning - the kind you do once a year - is good to do at this point. Just don't poop yourself out. Use this energy burst to get down and dirty with dirt and clean all of the things you don't clean regularly. That would be the top of shelves, blinds, under the sofa cushions (you just might strike it rich), and picture frames. Just be sure not to overdo it and stay off ladders and other items that might be precarious.

Take Care of Baby & Yourself

Fill in the blanks in the baby's layette (don't overbuy tiny things) and be sure you've got a good stock of diapers, and newborn essentials. While you're at it, make sure you're well stocked, too. Buy some nursing bras, nursing pads, and shirts that open easily so you can nurse without stripping down. You might want to consider some large size cotton panties (the kind you'd never wear any other time) to wear during the first six weeks after the baby is born. You may find your underwear will become stained with discharge and blood that won't wash out. Be prepared to toss them if you need to.

Make sure you're well prepared with all of the little things you'll need - a baby manicure set, diaper rash cream, cotton pads, a rectal thermometer, nasal syringe, rubbing alcohol, soothers, and super absorbent pads and ice packs.

 

Using the nesting instinct to its full advantage will be a great way to ensure you've got everything just the way you want it when your precious bundle of joy arrives.