Nesting instinct

bella

has kicked in. I am finding myself dreaming about how to organize a particular drawer, or moving the pantry from one side of the kitchen to the other... Most of the things I do or plan to do don't even have anything to do with the nursery!:)
Do you have any advice, or funny stories to share?

9 years ago

Off Topic

12 replies

Latest reply was from Sara L.

Deborah

Veteran

Bella, I didn't really experience this during my pregnancy, but the day before I went to hospital (I was booked to be induced) I went crazy cleaning my house! I has to have everything prefect for bringing home our little one:)

9 years ago

JAileen

Veteran

Just a day or two before I went into labor I needed to organize my sewing box.

9 years ago

AviaMariah

Veteran

With DS1 I didn't have this at all but have had it since day 1 with this pregnancy. With my first I had the mistaken idea that I would have a little bit of extra time during maternity leave (ha, ha) so I thought I could do things then. I know better now and know that nothing will get done for the first year so I've been organizing, sorting, deleting, decorating like crazy!!

9 years ago

gardenchick

Veteran

We still have the rocker that I picked out at Buy Buy Baby -- totally exhausted from nursery decision making and 8 months pregnant, I sat in this chair and had to have it! Seven years later, it's fairly stained and may be exiled out of our living room soon.

9 years ago

Ornella

(website)

Veteran

Weeeelll, let me begin by saying I'm glad you sound great and I hope the rest of the pregnancy is smooth for you.

I love thinking back to the days I had my son, so thanks for the topic and bringing smile to my face.

I stopped working on Friday at 38 weeks and had him the following Monday! Totally unexpected. All my carefully planned activities for the time I was supposed to have off basically went into thin air. I remember texting the friend whom I was supposed to meet for lunch on that very Monday at noon "Lunch off! Beautiful boy born at 10:22." At least I had enough presence of mind to text her

So, my most important piece of advice, based on personal experience is - fill up the freezer. I know this is not nesting as such, no decorating, organising, etc, but this is one piece of work I don't get a chance to do when my nesting kicked in and we have felt it big time. My son was due on the same date my husband's PhD thesis had to be handed in, but the baby was two weeks early, so imagine two absent minded adults, one hormonal and another under the deadline of a lifetime, with no food sorted for the first couple of weeks. Well, except for the baby that is

The other advice - prepare the hospital bag AND explain to the hubby where certain things in the drugstore are, because no matter how many you've bought you'll need more.

My hospital bag was a joke - sometimes around week 30 I threw the basics and leftover crackers (aka "reminders" for the real thing) in thinking that later (later being those virtual two weeks between the last day at work and due date, which never happened) I'd go through it all and replace the packets with the full ones. Well, the baby was early, the bag was as I had left it weeks ago, so a day after the birth and adrenalin levels somewhat down I found myself awake at some crazy hour at the hospital, the hunger kicked in and all I had to snack on were a few old crackers and nothing else for hours.

And, on separate note, if I may add something else - if you plan to breastfeed the baby, I'd recommend to read a lot about it ahead... actually, this point has to do with the food too, now that I read it all again... Get to know the possible problems and issues (mum forums are great for that), so in case you have some issues - and most women do - you know you're not alone and it can all be sorted. Have the numbers of the support groups such as La Leche League or similar at hand in case you need them and don't hesitate to call - they are always happy to help the mums in need.

I've been out of action lately, so I have maybe missed the information - when are you due?

9 years ago

anne

Veteran

Some great ideas there from A!!

I kind of went on strike a couple of days before my due date - just rang out of energy. Then 4 days later I had enough energy to scrub the second hand pram linings, go for a walking outing with DH and made a 2 course meal - yes you guessed it - my labour started that night!

Oh and it was rainy and I kept taking knickers out of the hospital bag to wear them and ended up with not enough for the hospital stay.

How soon now Bella?

9 years ago

AviaMariah

Veteran

I just have to second Ornella on stocking the freezer. When I get a littler closer that is going to be my #1 goal. Friends & family were good about bringing meals and snacks for the first week but after that I was on my own and DH was working really long hours. I just remember being STARVED and having no time to make myself anything to eat unless I could quick throw it in the microwave. DH's #1 job after this one is born is to make sure I stay fed!!

9 years ago

Runcarla

Veteran

Went into mad cleaning mode. DH had to talk me down from the chair I was standing on in order to wash the top of the fridge. DS #1 was born the next day.

Didn't even have a hospital bag packed! Sent DH on a scavenger hunt ;-). Ran out of smalls (had 'sprung a leak' and didn't figure it for 'water broke' since it was only 38 weeks and my first.) Went to hospital in DH's jockeys!

9 years ago

Jjsloane

Veteran

My first one took me totally by surprise (11 days early and they kept telling me I'd be late) so I had not hit my nesting mode nor packed hospital bag. I do not advise packing this bag in the throws of labor.
So glad to hear you are well and I'm excited for you on this new adventure. Ornella is wise as always and has shared good advice. I'll just add - slow down and breathe. Take it all in, you only go through this first one once and you will survive it so roll with whatever may happen and enjoy.

9 years ago

bella

(website)

Veteran

Thank you very much for all your responses. It took me a while to get back to this thread. I've been very busy both on home front and on work front. Part of my preparation for baby's arrival includes submitting all the papers I've been working on to academic journals.:) So far, 2 down!
I'm on the 29th week of pregnancy.
We live very close by family (lucky!) and my MIL will be coming to stay with us for the arrival of the baby (I am not sure if that's lucky or not! lol!:), but I think we will be very well-stocked with food.
Thanks to your suggestions, I will make sure to prepare my hospital bag way ahead of time, this seems urgent and I don't want to get caught unprepared.
I think part of my organizational craze had to do with the fact that I can't really really do anything with the nursery right now. We have a study that we are turning into nursery, and the current furniture first has to be moved out before we can paint or bring in the baby furniture. I just heard though that my FIL will be taking the old stuff from our hands, and most probably tomorrow! So yay, I can finally get on with it. We also did scouting for the furniture that we want at IKEA yesterday, and once the room is empty I think I can get a better sense of the space, and see if everything fits. Then we can go and pick up everything this weekend or next week.
In the meantime, I've re-organized my kitchen. It is really better this way. I can transfer the glassware more easily on to their shelf as they come out of the dishwasher, and the pantry is now closer to the stove, which makes cooking easier. I've also gone through the cleaning supplies, and other odds and ends, so we have now more room for the soon-to-be accumulated baby supplies.

9 years ago

ManidipaM

Veteran

Exciting times, Bella!

i skipped nesting entirely in favour of sleep. unless prepping 4 dozen diapers counts.

9 years ago

Sara L.

Veteran

I never really nested but I did stock the freezer before all 3 babies were born. Smartest thing I could have done. The nursery doesn't have to be ready as long as you have somewhere for the baby to sleep. All three of my babies slept in a bouncy chair that vibrated for the first few weeks. They just slept better in that half upright position than flat in the bassinet or crib. I have friends who's baby slept in the car seat for the first few weeks for the same reason - semi reclining and snug.

9 years ago

Category