8 Things to do before you have a baby

April 13, 2016

There's no doubt, life is going to change when you have a baby. We've put together a list of the seven things we think you should do in the months leading up to giving birth. OK there are loads of practical things you should do, like see an OB or midwife, and pack a hospital bag, but this is a list of just the fun things for you to enjoy.

1. Go out for an impromptu meal

Spontaneity is one thing that can be hard to do once you've got kiddies in the house. See if you can go out for an impromptu meal with your beau, it doesn't have to be anything fancy, just a chance to catch up and enjoy each other's company.

2. Go shopping

We love an excuse to shop! And there are so many cool little things you can buy for the little human growing in your belly. Prams can be a bit like wedding dresses (the shop doesn't always have the one you want in stock) so best to start looking for those around the 20 week mark. Car seats usually have an expiry date or a recommended period of use from date of purchase, so you can leave buying that until a little bit later. Clothing is fun to buy, but don't forget that you'll probably be given lots as gifts.

3. Have a massage

Your body will ache in places you didn't know existed - if massages felt good before you were pregnant, they'll feel amazing now. There are a few places that specialise in maternity massage, where they'll be able to position you on your side with pillows supporting you, bliss! We recommend Bella Mama in Belmont.

4. Get fitted for a nursing bra

Your boobs are going to grow. You might be able to make do with your normal bras for a while, by using the different hooks on the back, but eventually you'll probably need to get something a little bigger. If you go straight to a nursing bra you'll get full benefit from it, as you'll be able to use it once baby arrives. Bonus: nursing bras don't have underwires so they're ultra comfy. We recommend Avokado in Newmarket. You can read our tips for finding a nursing bra here.

5. Do some cleaning

They say that scrubbing the floors is a good way to bring on labour, so get out the rubber gloves and attack all the little jobs that you mightn't get to in a while; floors, skirting boards, kitchen cupboards, and glass balustrades are all strangely satisfying things to clean.

6. Go on a babymoon!

OK this sounds a bit extravagant, but any holiday that you take during the 9 months that you're pregnant could be called a babymoon. Enjoy the chance to kick back and relax, sip a mocktail and see if you can convince your beloved to rub your aching feet. You can read our babymoon travel tips here.

7. Read a book

Don't worry, we're not going to tell you that once you have a baby you'll never have time to read again. If you enjoy reading now you'll find time once baby arrives. But it's a good idea before baby gets here to read a book about how to look after babies. There are loads of books out there, and some of the advice can be quite conflicting (annoying, right?) so if you just read one you might find things a bit less confusing. We recommend Dorothy Waide's You Simply Can't Spoil A Newborn, but we also think you should take it with a pinch of salt, you- gorgeous mama, posses instincts and intuition, and you know your own baby like no-one else, so trust yourself, and enjoy yourself.

You Simply Can't Spoil a Newborn- Book by Dorothy Waide

$39.90

8. Take a selfie

Even if you don't love the way you look right now, you'll be amazed when you look at the photos in a few months or years time. PS, you look amazing right now.