[Pregnancy] Final preparations before baby #2 arrives

At 38 weeks, I’m in the last lap of pregnancy, waiting for baby #2 to arrive. Obgyn predicts D-day to be this weekend, while we’re aiming for next weekend. Anyway, here are the final preparations that have been keeping us busy:

1. Washing, Laundry, Re-organisation

This was the most time-consuming part. Fortunately, Vee’s baby stuff have been kept rather neatly in the wardrobe, so it was easy to find them. (I love using these vacuum bags reviewed here.)

• Baby’s clothes and cloth diapers: All the fabric items were washed over many days, and I was so looking forward to sunny weather! I felt especially good washing the tiny cloth diapers because they’re soooo cute and of course, going to save us a big deal of money.
• The big items: It was hectic scrubbing out the wardrobes, changing table, cot, mini play-gym, rocker, infant car seat, and miscellaneous large items. Good chance to do spring cleaning and re-organise Vee’s items as well.
• My clothes: Then I dug out all my nursing wear, breast pads, cloth pads, and other essentials. Again, a good chance to tidy up my wardrobe.

2. Getting the Hospital Bag Ready

With a prior experience, I now know what would be provided at our chosen hospital. So this time, my hospital bag is very compact. For a full list of what to consider bringing, read my Hospital Bag Checklist for Delivery here.

Initially, I wanted to buy milkmaid tea and nipple butter only at the hospital, for convenience. Then when shopping at iherb.com, I realised that the prices were rock-bottom low! Immediately, I ordered 3 packs of the tea and 1 jar of the butter. Great that they arrived in time. Feel free to check them out here:

• Earth Mama Angel Baby, Organic Milkmaid Tea, 16 Tea Bags*: at USD3.96 (about RM12.64). In KL, it costs about RM40+.
• Earth Mama Angel Baby, Natural Nipple Butter, 2 fl oz (60 ml)*: at USD9.59 (about RM30.60). In KL, it costs about RM69.90.

3. Perineal Massage

During my previous pregnancy with Vee, my ob-gyn recommended that I do perineal massage from about week 36 onwards. This is to help prevent an episiotomy or tear. I diligently did it as a nightly routine. Though I’m petite while Vee was a relatively big 3.48kg baby, I avoided the need for an episiotomy (which is equivalent to a second degree tear).

Because Vee stretched one hand out during delivery, I’d a first degree tear, which was easily stitched up and healed quickly and painlessly.

This time, I bought Mothercare’s Perineal Gel again and have just started doing the massage. Hopefully, no tear this time round.

For details on how to do perineal massage, visit Perineal Massage: Your How-To Guide from iVillage here.

4. Discussion with Hubby and Briefing Him on Vee’s Routine

Since Vee has been solely taken care of by two of us, we know that it’d be drastic to simply hand him over to someone else when I’m in the hospital. It’s highly possible no one would be able to put this fussy sleeper down for a nap or bedtime at night.

And we certainly don’t want him to feel any tinge of being “abandoned” just because baby brother is arriving.

So for now, we’re likely to bring him to the hospital with a family member along. Then hubby could babywear him for a nap. At night, both of them can head home to rest and visit me again in the morning. I should be able to manage with the nurses’ help.

This toughest situation is if I deliver in the middle of the night. Then he’d have to wait with the family member outside the delivery room, until Daddy can pick him up.

5. Letting Vee Sleep Without Me

To help our fussy sleeper sleep more independently, I started eliminating body contact with him at nap and bedtime.

Previously, he needed me to put one hand on him until he fell asleep. Several weeks back, I began to limit this contact to 5 minutes. I count down to him as every minute passes, until finally “3, 2, 1, 0, Mummy’s hand is very tired and needs to recharge its battery.” I remove my hand and keep it to myself. Surprisingly, he accepted this excuse and hardly fussed! Since then, he has been able to fall asleep without any body contact.

At night, hubby introduced a new part to the bedtime routine by whistling his favourite songs to him. They’d lie down together and enjoy the short whistling session. I’d take this chance to leave the room to do my own things. Then hubby did the same 5-minute body contact finale. And Vee would fall asleep on his own. A great milestone for him indeed!

6. Getting Gifts for the Brothers

Many mums have practised gift exchange for their children when the newborn arrives, so we’re giving it a try too, hoping to give the brothers a good headstart in their sibling relationship.

Previously, Vee has helped to choose a Charlie Banana cloth diaper in a beautiful print for his brother, so that’s his gift. (Yup, I’d be reviewing this.)

Then today, I secretly bought Mega Bloks Thomas 3 in 1 Buildables: James On the Move* on behalf of his baby brother. Vee has been eyeing this little red train for the longest time, so I’m sure he’d be elated!

All right, that’s about all on what’s been keeping us busy. Coming up on Tuesday (provided I don’t pop so soon), there’d be a review and Giveaway on GroVia All-in-Two Cloth Diapers. Stay tuned!

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