The last weeks and days of pregnancy is a big transition from caring for your baby inside your body to caring for your baby outside your body. There are many different emotions that may surface when you don’t want to be pregnant anymore, but also feel nervous for labor or for caring for a newborn. There is also a lot of attention on preparing physically for labor and on gathering the supplies you’ll need for your baby and for yourself. However, often the biggest challenge at the end is waiting for the birth to begin. When everything is ready to go the waiting can feel endless! Instead of watching the clock waiting for your baby to arrive, you can celebrate the end of this stage and pass the time by planning dates and building memories.
Go out with your partner
On the days you feel up to leaving the house, plan dates with your partner, friends, or family since this will be on hold for a little while after your baby is born.
Go on a babymoon. Plan a special weekend getaway or vacation with your partner to celebrate your life as a family of 2 (or 3, or 4, or 5…. ;).
Recreate your first date or another memorable moment. Do you remember where you had your first date, first kiss, or proposal? Go down memory lane to when your romance started.
Go to a movie or a concert. Plan an event that will be more difficult to attend after your baby is born.
Make a reservation at a fancy restaurant. Since your baby will be going out to eat with you for the first few months, take advantage of dressing up without having to worry about nursing-friendly attire or finding a restaurant that is baby friendly.
Go out with friends or family. Include your friends or family on a date night for some extra social time.
Family outings with kids
If this isn’t your first baby then you’ll want to create memories with your children before your family changes.
Go to a movie. Going to the movie theater isn’t as appealing when you’re worried about a crying baby, but right before the baby is born is the perfect time to enjoy a new movie together as a family.
Go out to dinner. You’ll probably be ordering food in soon, but it can be extra exciting to eat out for children when you actually go into a restaurant.
Be a tourist in your own city. You won’t want to travel too far the last weeks of pregnancy, but there’s always more to discover and explore in your own backyard. Find something you’ve wanted to see forever, but haven’t made the time for.
Plan individual date nights. One-on-one time is more limited during immediate postpartum so planning an individual date night with each of your children is a great way to give attention and have fun with each one.
Go out on your own
At this final stage of pregnancy you may be craving some alone time before labor. For those activities you really want to do before the baby arrives make sure to plan a few weeks in advance, but doing spontaneous activities at the end can help pass the time.
Get a pedicure and/or manicure. When you can’t see your feet anymore it’s nice to sit back and let someone else massage your feet and paint your toenails.
Schedule a prenatal massage. There’s just nothing quite as relaxing as getting a massage. Some prenatal massage therapists even have tricks for inducing labor.
Get your hair done. Splurge on a blowout or a fun new hairdo that will stay fresh until you’re able to come in again.
Reading this list may make it seem that your life will be over when your baby is born, but this is not true! You will be able to do all the things you’ve enjoyed in a few weeks or months. But in addition to what you’ve loved in the past, you’ll also start many new traditions and memories when your baby arrives.