Childbirth is undoubtedly a miracle, but it’s a miracle you definitely need to prepare yourself for. It doesn’t matter whether you’re pregnant for the first or the seventh time – there will always be exhausting challenges waiting for you ahead. But how exactly do you prepare to have a baby? After all, every childbirth and every baby are a bit different.
To help you prepare for having a baby, we have compiled a list of things to do before the baby arrives and make sure the first few months of raising a newborn go smoothly, from babyproofing to taking some time off.
1. Get All the Necessary Baby Gear
When preparing for a baby, it’s crucial to gather all the necessary items before your baby arrives. Make sure your baby will have a nice, quiet, and safe place to sleep, either a bassinet or a crib. It’s always good to assemble items such as a changing table or infant swing way before the expected due date. If you or your partner drive a car, get a functional baby car seat and install it properly.
Of course, after you assemble all the necessary equipment, test it to see whether everything works as it should. This might not necessarily feel like a chore to you (many people actually love preparing and decorating a nursery) and will help you keep your baby safe and comfortable at all times.
2. Prepare Frozen Meals
When it comes to things to do before the baby arrives, don’t forget about preparing and freezing meals for yourself in advance. Doing this will help you manage your time better after your child is born, but it will also help you eat properly and not rely too much on the food your friends and family members may give you. After all, plenty of it can be safely frozen and then reheated, so your selection is quite wide.
If you have no idea what sort of frozen foods to prepare, just double the recipe for something you’re making for dinner. Remember, it’s extremely important to care for a newborn, but your health matters too. You need to eat properly after giving birth, but you won’t always find the time or the strength to make your own food those first few weeks or months after returning home with your new baby.
3. Make Sure to Fill Prescriptions
If you or someone in your closest family needs to take meds on a regular basis, make sure you get your prescriptions filled in advance. Preparing for the baby properly also includes stocking up on over-the-counter medications and first-aid kits. Otherwise, you may have to rely on friends or family members to purchase them for you after you give birth, which obviously won’t always be possible.
4. Don’t Forget About the Pets
If you have any house pets, you may not be able to give them your full attention and care for them as you used to. It would be good to stockpile food and supplies for your four-legged friends as well as for yourself. Make sure they have enough supplies for a month, at the very least. If your pet takes any medications on a regular basis, stock up on those as well.
Of course, you also need to arrange for someone to stay with them while you stay in the hospital, especially if you live alone. Otherwise, your furry friends may suffer from lack of attention or separation anxiety.
5. Take Some Time Off
After your baby is born, you most definitely won’t have much time just for yourself. It’s not a bad idea to take time off for yourself before the expected week and just rest for a while. It’s amazing if you still work at this point, but the final few weeks are there for you to relax, lay down, and simply enjoy good music or a book.
Some women also go on a special vacation called the babymoon. While this is rather fun, you should consider your current condition. Do you still have the energy and means to go traveling and adventuring? Late pregnancy can be both mentally and physically draining. It’s perfectly fine to just feel like staying at home and not getting out of bed unless you really have to. If, however, a babymoon sounds like something you’d love to experience, don’t hesitate to just go for it.
Still, it would be in both your and your child’s best interest to check whether it’s fine to go with your doctor. A trusted gynecologist and obstetrician such as Dr. Allison Halstead, MD, will always be there for you every step of the way.
6. Start Baby Proofing Your House
We cannot stress enough how extremely important babyproofing your house is. Do this well before your baby grows older and becomes mobile. It might not be a bad idea to get a little jump start as this will mean much less work for you in the future.
That said, this could also be one of the things to do before the baby arrives if you have the time. Note all the possible ways your child might get hurt while running around the house and consider various methods of lowering this risk. After all, once your kid becomes mobile, they will try to explore everything. Baby proofing your house in advance will calm your mind in the future.
7. Plan Your Birth Announcement
Birth announcements are a longstanding tradition when having a baby. It’s not something you have to do per se, but your family and friends will definitely appreciate it.
If you are going to do a birth announcement, remember to decide whether you’re settling for a digital one or prefer sending it to your closest ones via traditional mail. You should, however, make this decision ahead of time. The earlier you select the most appropriate concept and decide what your announcement will look like, the more time you will have to polish the details. In most cases, you have the option to sync your address book, which means you won’t have to address or stamp an envelope.
8. Get Ready for Your Hospital Stay
Of course, you’ll most likely be admitted to a hospital once the time comes. And getting ready for your stay is also a part of preparing for the baby to arrive.
First of all, learn all the available routes to the hospital, especially if your partner or family member will take you there (as opposed to an ambulance). Also, you may want to pack the suitcase in advance; after all, the possibility of preterm labor is something you should always keep in mind. Although most essentials will be provided to you by the hospital staff, being well prepared will help you manage the few days you’ll have to spend there more comfortably.
Preparing for a baby is often a process that starts well before the baby is even conceived. After all, the biggest and most important preparation is for you to be healthy. If you wish to plan for pregnancy or have any other gynecological matters that need to be addressed, don’t hesitate to reach out to us at University Park OBGYN. We’ll make sure you feel safe and protected, and provide you with the best possible service tailored specifically to you.
