Everything I’m Doing To Prepare For Baby #2: The Last Month Of Pregnancy

March 23rd, 2026

Written By: Clarice Hielema

This pregnancy has honestly flown by for me! I think it’s because I already have one that keeps me very busy and attentive towards her. The weeks just seem to come and go, and I’m getting bigger and bigger, and closer and closer to giving birth. I’m very much looking forward to meeting this baby, finding out their gender, and letting my body recover. I’d say the toughest part of this pregnancy has been the nerve pain: in my lower belly, my hips, my lower back, my legs. It’s just getting tougher to move around, maintain energy, be active, sleep comfortably, get things done, and get up and down with ease (or at all). Despite the pain, I’m very grateful that God has sustained my body, brought relief when the pain seemed unbearable and unending, and kept this baby healthy and safe over the past 37 weeks. 

I could write a whole other post on viewing your pregnant body and all you go through as a sacrifice of love, but I’ll just give a little blurb here of my recent thoughts. The pastor of my church often explains how love can be defined as “joyful sacrifice for the sake of another”. Often we think of showing this kind of love to our friends, strangers, and neighbors. But I realized the other week that I am already being called to show this kind of sacrificial love to my unborn baby. Being pregnant can often feel like an unbearable struggle, but I’m learning that instead of throwing myself a pity party, I should be showing this baby the love of Christ by joyfully sacrificing my body for their sake. This revelation has brought me great motivation and determination to gracefully “get through” this pregnancy. I feel honored that God is using my body to grow, sustain, and eventually bring this new life into the world. It’s such a miracle how God designed the female body, as well as conception and birth!

Now I’d like to get on to everything I have done and am currently doing to prepare for this new baby. Things will definitely be different this time around since we already have a one year old, but I’m looking forward to the transition and learning as we go. So let’s get into it!

1. Prayer. I don’t want to leave this important preparation factor out, so I’ll put it first! God cares about your pregnancy, your labor, your birth, and the health of you and baby. I try to be specific in my prayers about my birth and any anxieties I have concerning my labor. Take your cares and worries to the Lord because He is in control, and nothing will happen outside of His perfect will.

2. Nutrition. I’m continuing my supplements (beef liver, magnesium, and calcium), as well as drinking red raspberry leaf tea and eating dates. I started drinking 1-2 cups of tea per day in my third trimester, and eating 3 dates per day since 35 weeks. I did these same things my first pregnancy and feel they supported me in having a smooth labor and recovery. Look up the evidence for yourself!

3. Activity. With my first, I was in less physical pain, so this time around I honestly have not stretched or walked as much as I did before. All this to say, I’m just trying to get in any movement I can, doing light stretching, and I began pretty much exclusively sitting on my exercise ball. It’s comfortable and good for getting baby in an optimal position.

4. Rest. I try my best to get good sleep every night (7-9 hours). I can’t always get comfortable, and I often have to get up to use the restroom twice a night, but I make sure I go to bed when I’m tired and get an adequate amount of sleep to help my body prepare for what’s ahead. 

5. Housework. I am the type of pregnant lady who is itching to get her nest properly prepared. I have a “Get It Done List” that is a full page of things to check off, and I love it. I feel more purposeful and motivated in these days leading up to labor, and I love to get my “spring cleaning” done before welcoming another little one. I make plans to deep clean appliances, mop and dust everything, organize and declutter, and clean the nooks and crannies you never see but feel good knowing they’re tended to.

6. Purchases. I didn’t have much to purchase for baby #2 since we have gender neutral newborn clothing and we cloth diaper. However, I did need extras of certain things as well as some new hygiene items. I feel all prepared now! My husband and I also stocked up on things like paper products, toiletries, canned items, etc. You don’t want to have to run to the store to get toilet paper a couple days after giving birth haha.

7. Meals. I have been trying to meal prep more this time around. I’ve currently made mainly breakfast and dinner meals, and I plan to do more in these final weeks. There’s endless ideas of postpartum freezer meals on Youtube and Pinterest. I have also just been making big batches of our dinner and freezing enough for one meal later. It slowly adds up, and I just know I’ll be thanking myself later for the work put in now.

8. Set Up. I have been getting newborn clothing and different essentials out, washed, and organized. It makes it all feel so real and close! I am planning another home-birth, so it is also part of my preparation to get all my home birth necessities together and the room set up in the next few weeks. 

9. Savor. The last thing I’m doing to prepare is just trying to live in the moment and soak up this time as a family of 3. I love watching my daughter play, learn, and grow, and I’m just trying to give her all the snuggles and attention she ( and I) need in this last month. I have definitely shed many tears over thinking about how big my daughter is going to look compared to the newborn, wondering if she’ll adjust well, and thinking about dividing my attention between two. But, above all these worries, I know that the Lord has a plan and growing our family is the biggest blessing! I’m taking in these last few weeks of our current normal, and getting prepared to transition to a new one.

I hope this list of what I’m doing to prepare for our new little baby has helped or inspired you! Conception, pregnancy, labor, postpartum, motherhood… it’s all such a beautiful journey that I am blessed to get the opportunity to experience! God bless you, friend!