Everything to do in weeks 28 through 40 including hospital bag packing, birth plan writing, pediatrician selection, car seat installation, freezer meals, and maternity leave paperwork.
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Hospital Bag (Pack by Week 36)
Pack comfortable clothing for labor and recovery
Bring a loose robe or gown you don't mind getting stained, 2-3 pairs of high-waist underwear, and non-slip socks or slippers. Hospital stays for vaginal births average 24-48 hours; C-sections run 48-96 hours.
Pack toiletries, phone charger, and entertainment
Bring a 10-foot phone charger cable since outlets may be far from the bed. Pack lip balm, hair ties, and your own pillow if you want extra comfort. Most hospitals provide basic toiletries but not your preferred brands.
Prepare the baby's going-home outfit and car seat
Bring a newborn-sized outfit plus a 0-3 month backup since birth weight varies. Include a hat, socks, and a blanket. The car seat must be installed before you arrive — the hospital will not discharge you without one.
Include important documents and insurance cards
Bring your photo ID, insurance card, birth plan copies (3-4 for shift changes), and a pre-registration confirmation number. About 80% of hospitals allow online pre-registration starting at week 30.
Pack snacks and drinks for labor and your support person
Granola bars, dried fruit, crackers, and electrolyte drinks keep energy up during long labors. First-time labor averages 12-18 hours. Your support person will need food too, and hospital cafeterias may close after 7 PM.
Birth Plan
Write a 1-page birth plan covering your key preferences
Keep it to one page with bullet points. Cover pain management preferences, who you want in the room (limit to 2-3 people), skin-to-skin contact immediately after birth, and cord cutting preferences.
Discuss pain management options with your provider
About 73% of women who deliver vaginally in hospitals receive an epidural. Other options include nitrous oxide (available in about 30% of US hospitals), IV medications, and non-medical techniques like breathing and positioning.
Plan for unexpected scenarios including C-section
About 32% of US births are C-sections. Discuss with your provider what conditions would lead to an unplanned C-section, and add your preferences for that scenario (clear drape, partner present, skin-to-skin in the OR).
Share the birth plan with your provider and hospital at week 36
Give copies to your OB and bring extras to the hospital. Review it with your labor nurse when you arrive. Plans can change during labor, so treat it as a preference guide rather than a rigid contract.
Pediatrician Selection
Interview 2-3 pediatricians between weeks 28 and 34
Most pediatric offices offer free meet-and-greet visits lasting 15-20 minutes. Ask about their after-hours policy, same-day sick visit availability, and vaccination philosophy.
Confirm the practice is accepting new patients and takes your insurance
Popular pediatric practices in urban areas may have waitlists. Call by week 28 to secure a spot. Verify coverage for well-child visits (typically covered at 100% under preventive care) and sick visits.
Check the office location and hours for convenience
The baby will have 6-8 well-child visits in the first year alone, plus sick visits. Choose a practice within 20 minutes of your home if possible. Saturday hours are a major convenience for working parents.
Car Seat and Safety
Install the infant car seat rear-facing by week 37
Read the car seat manual and your vehicle manual together. The seat should not move more than 1 inch side-to-side at the belt path. The harness chest clip should sit at armpit level.
Get the car seat installation inspected by a certified technician
About 46% of car seats are installed incorrectly. Fire stations, police departments, and hospitals often offer free inspections. Find a certified technician through the NHTSA website by entering your zip code.
Practice buckling and unbuckling the harness
You should be able to strap the baby in within 2 minutes. The harness straps should be snug enough that you cannot pinch any slack at the shoulder. Newborns need the harness in the lowest slot position.
Freezer Meals and Home Prep
Prepare and freeze 10-15 meals between weeks 32 and 37
Focus on one-pot meals that reheat well: soups, casseroles, chili, and pasta bakes. Each batch typically makes 4-6 servings. Label every container with the name and date — frozen meals keep well for 2-3 months.
Stock up on pantry staples and household essentials
Buy a 1-month supply of toilet paper, paper towels, laundry detergent, and dish soap. Stock easy snacks like trail mix, granola bars, and nut butter. Having these on hand means fewer errands in the first weeks with a newborn.
Set up a meal delivery schedule with friends and family
Create a shared online sign-up where people can claim dates for meal drop-offs during the first 3-4 weeks. Specify any dietary restrictions and preferred drop-off times. Even 2-3 delivered meals per week makes a huge difference.
Maternity Leave and Logistics
Submit maternity leave paperwork to HR by week 30
Most employers require 30 days advance notice for FMLA leave. File short-term disability paperwork at the same time if your employer offers it. Short-term disability typically pays 60-70% of your salary for 6-8 weeks.
Create a work handoff document for your colleagues
List all active projects, deadlines, key contacts, and recurring tasks. Share it with your manager and backup person at least 2 weeks before your due date. Include login credentials for shared tools in a secure format.
Set up an out-of-office auto-reply with a backup contact
Draft the message before you go into labor so you can activate it from your phone. Include the name and email of your backup, your expected return date, and a note that responses may be delayed.
Arrange pet care and household help for the first 2 weeks
Ask a trusted friend or family member to handle dog walking, grocery runs, and light cleaning. If hiring help, book a postpartum doula at least 6-8 weeks in advance — they typically charge $25-50 per hour for 3-5 hour shifts.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often do you see the doctor in the third trimester?
Visit frequency increases from monthly to every 2 weeks from week 28-36, then weekly from week 36 until delivery. These visits check blood pressure, urine protein, baby's heart rate, and fundal height. Starting at week 36, your provider may also check cervical dilation and effacement. Group B strep screening happens between weeks 35-37, with results typically back in 2-3 days.
What are the signs of preterm labor to watch for?
Warning signs include regular contractions (more than 4 per hour before 37 weeks), lower back pain that comes and goes, pelvic pressure that feels like the baby is pushing down, a change in vaginal discharge (watery, bloody, or mucus-like), and abdominal cramping with or without diarrhea. If you experience any of these, lie on your left side, drink 2-3 glasses of water, and call your provider immediately. About 10% of US births are preterm (before 37 weeks).
When should you install the car seat before the baby arrives?
Install the car seat by week 35-36 at the latest. About 46% of car seats are installed incorrectly, so get it inspected by a certified child passenger safety technician — fire stations, hospitals, and police departments often offer free checks. The car seat must be rear-facing at a 30-45 degree angle, with the harness snug enough that you cannot pinch excess webbing at the shoulder. You will not be allowed to leave the hospital without a properly installed car seat.
What is the difference between Braxton Hicks contractions and real labor?
Braxton Hicks are irregular, usually painless (though uncomfortable), do not increase in intensity, and stop when you change position or drink water. Real labor contractions follow a pattern — getting closer together, longer in duration, and stronger over time. A common rule: go to the hospital when contractions are 5 minutes apart, lasting 1 minute each, for at least 1 hour (the 5-1-1 rule). Braxton Hicks start around week 20 but become more frequent in the third trimester.
What should be in a birth plan and does it actually matter?
A birth plan communicates your preferences for pain management (epidural, natural methods, nitrous oxide), delivery positions, who cuts the cord, skin-to-skin contact immediately after birth, and feeding intentions (breast, bottle, or both). Keep it to one page — medical staff are more likely to read a concise document. Share it with your provider at week 36 and bring 3 copies to the hospital. Flexibility is key — about 30% of births involve unplanned interventions, so think of it as preferences, not demands.