28 weeks pregnant

By now, the baby bump your partner is supporting is growing faster than ever. It is the beginning of her third trimester; a milestone that every expecting couple should take very seriously. These few weeks always seem to fly right by, and before you know it there will be a crying babe interrupting everything you can possibly imagine. A good night’s sleep, a peaceful dinner, or even a day in solitude is going to be a thing of the past. Without a doubt, it’s crunch time.

The third trimester is when most of the preparation work for the new baby is probably being done. Baby showers come and go, and couples are left with the daunting task of preparing for the baby. For first time parents especially, this is a nervous time in pregnancy. Some couples have even less time than others, and let’s face it premature births can often throw a wrench in parent’s plans.
28 weeks is the beginning of the third trimester, and that means dad is probably running out of time to build that sweet new crib for the nursery. Now is the time to finish off all of the tasks on your partner’s to-do list. Make sure that your nursery is good to go, and make sure that you have emergency bags packed in case of early labor. As the weeks progress through the rest of the pregnancy, it is easy to go back and change some of the items in the emergency bags. One bag should have everything that mom will need for a few days in the hospital, and another bag should have everything you will need for the baby. Here are a few helpful ideas for what to pack in the emergency bags:
In mom’s bag:

• A clean change of clothes
• Personal hygiene wipes
• Make up
• Cell phone charger
• Reading material
• A few days’ supply of vitamins/medications
• Toothbrush and toothpaste
• Digital camera
• A warm blanket for comfort
• In baby’s bag:
• Breast pump(s)
• Bottles
• Baby wipes, rash cream, powder and diapers
• A newborn size binky
• Bulb syringe
• A few clean and warm outfits for baby to come home in
• Several burp cloths and receiving blankets
• Emergency formula

28 weeks is one of the last major milestones in pregnancy. It is the beginning of the end. Therefore, it is time to make the final preparations before you welcome baby home. Being unprepared is not an option when welcoming a baby home. Even if you think you’re completely prepared for the baby to come home, there is going to be an inevitable curveball thrown your way. But if you’re watching for the curve, you can easily hit it out of the park.

Travis Newville
Breckenridge, Michigan