I’ll get straight to it: I was not ready for baby #3.
Not just because I had already donated nearly all of our baby gear to friends and local charities — but because my first two were still very much babies themselves (ages 3 and 5 at the time of writing this). My 3-year-old was still in nighttime diapers, for goodness’ sake! What third baby?!
But pregnant I was — and ready or not, we had a new little one on the way. We knew we had to prepare, both mentally and physically.
A Surprise (Again!)
One of the first decisions we made was to keep the baby’s gender a surprise. We did the same thing with our second daughter, and it was truly one of the best surprises of our lives. So, we kept the tradition going.
3rd Pregnancy Was TOUGH!
This third pregnancy, though, wasn’t easy.
From relentless morning sickness to multiple scares with subchorionic hematomas, awful heartburn, and overwhelming physical discomfort — it was a tough ride. On top of that, I was working full-time and taking care of the kids: school runs, dinners, lunch preps, dance lessons… you name it.
My husband helped when he could, but he was also wrapping up full-time studies. There were definitely days when I felt like I was solo-parenting. Some days were really hard.
Work was stressful, and by the time I got home, I was completely drained. I often felt guilty — like my kids were getting the tired, cranky version of me instead of the best version. That was tough to sit with.
Giving Myself Breathing Room
As my due date approached, the stress and discomfort only intensified. I knew I needed to give myself — and my family — some breathing room. So, I made the decision to start my maternity leave four weeks early.
It was the best decision I could have made.
Nesting Mode: Activated
In the weeks that followed, I went full nesting mode. Here’s how I prepared:
🍼 Gathered Baby Essentials
Since we didn’t know the gender, I grabbed a few gender-neutral onesies, sleeper pajamas, bibs, and sleep sacks from Facebook Marketplace.
🚼 Got the Basics Ready
We assembled the bassinet about a week before the due date and installed the car seat. (Fitting three car seats into a smaller vehicle? That’s a story for another time — oof!)
🍽️ Meal Prepped Like a Pro
I hit Costco, stocked up on meats, marinated everything, and froze it in meal-sized portions. We ended up with about 10 easy dinners — total lifesaver!
🧽 Deep Cleaned the House
With a bit of time and lots of motivation, I broke out the steam cleaner and tackled every nook and cranny, starting with the kitchen and bathrooms. Classic nesting phase, in full swing.
👚 Organized My Closet
I packed away my office clothes and pulled out comfortable, spring-ready, nursing-friendly pieces. Postpartum wardrobe: ready to go.
💕 Spent Extra Time with My Older Kids
Little outings, snuggles, storytimes — I soaked up every moment. I wanted them to know they were still so loved, even as our family grew.
Nest. Rest. Repeat.
Once the cleaning and prepping was done, I tried to rest — but honestly, it was hard to stay still. Lying on my side was painful (hello, rib pain!), so I found myself constantly shifting around.
Nest, rest, repeat — that pretty much summed up those final weeks.
And Then… She Arrived
Our sweet little girl — baby #3 — another beautiful daughter! 💕
Looking Back
Now that I’m on the other side of it, I realize no amount of prepping will ever make you feel 100% ready — and that’s okay.
What matters most is giving yourself grace, doing what you can with the time and energy you have, and trusting that love (and a little flexibility!) will fill in the rest.
If you’re getting ready to welcome another baby into your family — whether it’s your second, third, or beyond — just know: you’ve got this.
Take a deep breath, let go of the pressure for “perfect,” and trust that your family will find its rhythm, just like we did. ❤️
Let’s Chat
Are you preparing for a new baby — or have you been through it already?
What helped you the most?
Share your tips, stories, or even just some encouragement in the comments below. Let’s support each other on this beautiful, wild ride. ✨
