Try to avoid moving households near the end of your pregnancy. Too many changes in your life at this time can add extra stress to your adaptation to parenthood.
Arrange for household help if possible. Outside help allows you more time to enjoy the new baby! Let someone else do the cleaning and laundry. If you have willing relatives or friends, be clear with them that you need help with the chores while you care for the baby.
At one of your last appointments, ask your physician or midwife whom you should call, and when you should call them if your physician or midwife is not available when you go into labor.
Review your health insurance policy to be knowledgeable of any recent changes. Make note of the length of covered hospital stay, visiting nurse services, and well-baby coverage.
If a car is not available, arrange ahead of time for alternative transportation. Keep telephone numbers of taxis and other resource people readily available.
Store as many staple items as space allows.
Freeze meals, clearly label their contents and include directions for heating.
Consider writing out two weeks of menus and have the ingredients on hand.
Start a file of restaurants with take-out menus and delivery services.
Consider covering your mattress with a plastic sheet or shower curtain a few weeks before your due date in case your water breaks. You may also want to keep a few towels and a couple of sanitary pads in the car.
Stock up on convenience items such as paper plates and napkins. Consider locating services such as grocery or drug stores that will deliver.
Purchase a supply of sanitary pads (tampons are not recommended for use until your period resumes later).
Keep plenty of gas in the car. Know the route to the hospital and approximately how long it will take to travel under varying traffic conditions. Consider making a trial run and make note of where to park.
Select birth announcements. You may want to address and stamp the envelopes ahead of time and fill in the blanks after the baby arrives.
Plan ahead for birthdays and anniversaries. Since shopping is often a challenge the first few weeks after giving birth, purchasing gifts, giftwrap and cards ahead of time can be very helpful.
While you prepare for a newborn, you should plan to set up everything the baby will need about two to three weeks before your due date, or sooner if the doctor feels your labor might be earlier. Assemble cribs, put together the changing table with supplies in convenient locations, and make sure to wash all of the things you'll want to use on the baby like clothes, wash cloths, diapers, spits cloths and baby towels. If you'd like to prepare for a newborn by painting or stenciling in the baby's room, you may want to plan to do this several months in advance of your due date, as opposed to just a few weeks before baby is born.
If you're new to parenting, you can also prepare for a newborn by taking some parenting classes, and in particular taking a class on breastfeeding can be very beneficial to new moms. Also interview some pediatricians and decide on the one you like. If you plan on using a diaper service, you should contact that service a few weeks before your due date. They will usually deliver diapers to you right away so that you'll have them on hand.
There are several ways to save money on baby items. Many items can be purchased second hand or through discount stores. Some items may be purchased by the case, such as disposable diapers. Suggestions for essential nursery equipment are:
- Federally approved car seat
- Crib or basinet/cradle (slats should be no more than 2-3/8 inches apart.)
- Bottles (ounce) and nipples
- Brush for cleaning bottles
- Large tote or diaper bag packed with:
- Several diapers
- Receiving blanket
- Change of clothes
- Plastic bag for soiled diapers
- Washcloth or baby wipe
- Diaper pail for cloth diapers
- Plastic lined garbage pail for disposable diapers
- Nursing Bras (2 cotton)
- Changing table or place to change diapers
Have a list of friends and/or family members you can call that can offer you advice or help you during the first few days after you bring your baby home. You don't need to call these folks unless you have to, but it helps to know where every one's number is in case you feel stuck or desperately need advice. Bringing home a baby is a wonderful but sometimes frightening experience and many people do need a little help at the onset. If you've taken classes, stocked the nursery and have assistance if you need it, you'll encounter less stress in the first few weeks of being a parent.
