If you’re pregnant (congrats!) and here are 6 ways to prepare for your baby’s birth so you feel confident, relaxed and organized!
Adding a new member to the family should be an exciting experience. You get to create new memories that’ll last for the rest of your life. However, the pregnancy journey is different for each mom, dad, and the family as a whole.
It’s easy for some and extremely difficult for others. Either way, everyone hopes that both the mom and the baby are in good condition after the delivery.
If everything goes well, it can be a joyous milestone for the entire family. Unfortunately, in case of a loss or other complications, the mother and other family members should consider professional help to cope with the unfortunate situation.
What To Do Before The Baby Arrives
As the entire family, some friends, and other relatives await the due date, each should ensure maximum support for the soon-to-be mom. There are several ways that everyone can lend a hand. For instance, assisting with chores around the house can be stress-relieving for expectant moms. Also, you can help out by giving them foot and back rubs whenever necessary, giving thoughtful recommendations for baby boy names or girl names when the parents ask you for suggestions, and taking them for clinic visits.
There are also many ways that the dad-to-be can provide support. For instance, they could show more affection to their partners by sharing their feelings more regularly. Dads could also ask their expectant partners how they would want them to participate during the labor and delivery process, assist them in eating healthy meals, and accompany them in exercises and childbirth classes.
Moreover, if you’re a new dad-to-be, it’s essential to consult experienced fathers if you need more insights or encounter certain challenges. Additionally, the internet has resources that could be of great help to you.
6 Ways To Prepare For Your Baby’s Birth
As the due date nears, both parents must ensure that everything is in order before the baby’s arrival. If you’re farther from your delivery date, preparation is also essential to avoid any last-minute rushes. Below is a list that outlines how to get ready for your newborn:
1. Prepare Your Home
There are many ways to prepare your home for the newest member of the family. First, you could redesign a spare room within the house to be the baby’s nursery. Alternatively, you can remodel your bedroom to share it with the baby.
Some parents may consider baby-proofing their house even before the child’s birth, while others wait until the baby starts crawling. You could choose either. However, doing it before the arrival of your child may be better. Besides fixing furniture edges that could hurt the baby once they get mobile and curious at 6-10 months, other essential changes are required within the house for a younger child. For instance, you need smoke detectors, first aid kits, and sufficient medical supplies.
To ensure that your living space is safe for the baby before their arrival, ensure you engage the services of professionals in the childproofing process.
2. Have A Birth Plan
A birth plan is a simple summary of the expectant mom’s preferences for labor and delivery. Some of the items you may consider adding to your birth plan are a list of individuals who should be with you in the labor room and your most preferable positions for labor. Also, include the pain medications you’d want and identify how you’d like to feed your newborn after birth.
To ensure that everything is covered in your birth plan, try talking to an experienced mom or a professional midwife for help. You can also look through the web for further research.
3. Choose A Pediatrician
Once your baby is born, it’s many people recommend that you visit a pediatrician after three to five days. In the first visit, the specialist will weigh the baby, inquire about any issues, and carry out a physical exam. Thus, it’s crucial to ensure that you have a doctor ready to avoid the overwhelming process of choosing one after birth.
After identifying your pediatrician, keep updating them on your progress. Also, make sure you inform them of your due date. This will help them plan for the first visit and schedule future clinic dates.
4. Baby Shopping
A newborn baby requires several essentials that should be bought in advance. Luckily, many friends often take care of the gifts for expectant parents. Some of the things you should secure are sufficient diapers, nappies, toys, baby utensils, clothes, soaps, oils, and detergents.
5. Have Your Hospital Bag Ready
Labour can come at any time. It can help you predict when your newborn is coming by observing signs like headaches, painful contractions, or your water breaking. Usually, it won’t be easy to prepare a hospital bag at such a time. Therefore, pack a bag with nappies, your changing clothes, the newborn’s coming home outfit, and baby blankets ahead of time. It’s also advisable to ensure that the maternity bag sits close to the door at all times to avoid any delays when the time comes.
Recheck your hospital bag at least thrice to make sure everything is in there. Make a checklist to make sure you don’t miss anything. As the big day approaches, it is understandable that the level of anxiety increases. And sometimes, when under a lot of stress, we sometimes overlook the small but necessary things.
- Did you pack a comfortable enough change of clothes?
- IDs?
- Insurance cards?
A newborn can get cold easily. Does the coming-home outfit include comfortable, soft socks for keeping the newborn’s feet cozy and nice? These are just a few basic things you should tick off on your checklist. Lastly, organize your hospital bag so that even a stranger can find where everything is. If necessary, categorize the items inside, place them in individual Ziploc bags, and label them.
6. Prepare Your Car
It’s essential to make sure that you have a reliable means of transportation on the due date. At all times, ensure that the car has enough fuel to get you to the hospital to avoid any inconveniences.
Conclusion: Preparing for Baby’s Birth
It’s important to see to it that everything is ready for the arrival of your newborn beforehand. This practice helps prevent any last-minute emergencies or inconveniences. To ensure that you’re ready for your baby’s birth, prepare your house for the baby, ensure your car is always fueled, and make sure you choose a pediatrician for the child. Also, consider packing a hospital bag, having a birth plan, and shopping for all the baby essentials ahead of time.
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