A few questions - planning ahead.

Hi there! You're getting close ... how fun! I LOVED the last part of my pregnancy for the most part!

1) Start researching pediatricians if you can. I asked my OB for a reccomendation and liked the woman he sent us to. I switched at a month old to a pediatricion my friends reccomended and I LOVE him.

2) birthing class - yep. The hospital you are delivering at will probably offer classes but if you want Lamaze, Bradley, Hypnobirthing, or another method they are about eight or ten weeks, so it would be a good idea to start enrolling. I can help you with questions if you have any. :-)

3) Other classes - In the hospital, there will be a lactation consultant who will visit you and help you, but it wouldn't hurt to find a breastfeeding class or support group near you. That was really helpful for me.

4) registering - Now. :-) People will really want to give you things you want for the baby, and it helps so much to be able to go off a registry.

5) Anything else I should start working on now? Relax. :-) Enjoy your belly and start bonding with your baby. Walk a lot and take good care of yourself.

6) Daycare. Ugh. Yep. Start asking around and see what will fit your needs.

Good luck with everything! 

Thanks ladies!! I am going to start working on everything as soon as I get through the holidays! I am excited to be able to do this and so thankful to have a group of people who are going through it and have been there done that to bounce things off!

OK So I had my OB appt last night. I'll be 17 weeks on friday and she told me to start thinking about a few things.

1) Start researching pediatricians. Now I see a family practice for myself. Can't I just take the baby to the family practice with me or do I need a separate ped?
You need a pedi, but if you like your family practice doc, ask them for their recommendations.

2) birthing class - she told me the schedule it now for around 30 weeks. Does that sound too early / too late?
Sounds about right!

3) Other classes - any you reccomend? Breastfeeding, Parenting etc? This is our first child.
ANYTHING YOU CAN GET YOUR HANDS ON! I wish I had taken a breastfeeding class. If your planning on cloth diapers, a diapering class is good.

4) registering - when did you start?
ASAP - people are going to ask where you're registered all the time.

5) Anything else I should start working on now?
You will not be able to do anything while you are home with your newborn, so if you want to shop someplace, do any projects around the house, etc, do it now.

ETA 6) Daycare? I am probably going to have to put the baby in day care 2-3 days a week - should I start looking into them now too?
YES! They often have waiting lists! You can usually put a deposit down to hold a spot open for yourself once you decide which one you want. I waited until I was around 6 months and a lot of places were already saying the wouldn't have openings at the time I needed one.

I did start painting the nursery. I have the base coat on it and after Christmas I'll start working on the mural. We are doing a "Coral  Reef" theme - think Finding Nemo
Thanks ladies!
You better be using low or no VOC paint, missy!

THanks!!

I actually painted the walls before I got pregnant. It was part of my "recovery" from the miscarriage. The mural is going to be painted with non-toxic acrylics in a well ventilated space.

Thanks for all the info too!