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| Preparing For New Baby's Arrival |
When you first hear you’re expecting a baby, it is almost like a dream. Something you want which seems so far off. Now that your pregnancy is progressing (and your waist expanding!) you believe it is the real thing.
So it is time to make preparations for the birth and the baby.
This booklet gives you plenty of ideas, lists and tips for what you all need to do and buy. Talking to people who already have children is a good way of getting advice. And health workers giving you antenatal care are also happy to answer any questions you may have.
Above all, do enjoy the coming months and don't be nervous about the big event - be excited! The following lists provide a few suggestions to help
you prepare for your baby's arrival at home.
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- Preparing For Your Baby
- Expectations and Birth Options
- Other Preparation Recommendations
- Miscellaneous Suggestions
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Preparing For Your Baby
- Prepare a place in your home for the baby: a sleeping area and a
place for clothes and supplies.
- Purchase essential nursery equipment. 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 bassinet/cradle (slats should be no more than 2-3/8 inches
apart)
- Crib bumpers (firmly padded with six ties to secure to crib
- Bottles (ounce) and nipples
- Nipple brush for cleaning bottle nipples
- Large tote or diaper bag packed with several diapers, recevigin 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
- If purchasing a used crib, make sure it meets current safety standards.
You can find a listing of these standards at www.nsc.org/library/facts/cribtips.htm
- Select a physician to be your baby's doctor.
- Attend a newborn care class. It will be helpful to attend a newborn
care class if you have not had recent experience caring for newborns.
- Attend a breastfeeding class if you will be nursing your baby.
- Check on cloth diaper service. If you are planning to use cloth diapers
from a diaper service, check to see if they will deliver on a 24-hour
notice, or before your due date.
- Be sure and wash all baby clothes, bedding, towels and washcloths
in baby detergent before using.
- Prepare a basic layette of essential clothing and equipment for the
baby. See our suggested layette list.
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Expectations and Birth Options
Pregnancy is a time of
heightened awareness. You become aware of the changes in your body, in
your way of thinking, and in your priorities. You must also become aware
of the choices that may help you to determine how you feel about your
birth experience, your baby, and yourselves as parents. One important
choice is the provider who will manage your childbirth experience. Some
women choose a physician while others want a certified nurse midwife.
The important thing is that you feel your physician or midwife is a good
fit with your personality and philosophy about childbirth.
You also have the responsibility to learn and question as much as possible
about labor and delivery through classes, your physician or midwife, and
research in order to make informed choices concerning your birth experience.
Sample Questions for your Physician or Midwife
The following are examples of commonly asked questions you may want to
raise with your physician or midwife:
1. Once I think that I am in labor:
a) When do I call?
b) Whom do I call?
c) Where do I call?
d) If you are not available for my delivery, what the names of other physicians/midwives
in your call group? Will I have a chance to meet them at a prenatal appointment,
or only when I am at the hospital?
2. What will happen if I go to the hospital thinking I am in labor and
it turns out to be a "false alarm?"
3. Once I am admitted:
a) After the routine fetal monitoring, will I have to be continuously
monitored or can I be monitored intermittently?
b) If I choose to have medication but do not want an epidural, what available
medications do you recommend?
4. What is your opinion about:
a) Activities or positions during labor such as walking, showering, bathing,
rocking or lying on my side?
b) Artificial rupture of membranes?
c) The use of Pitocin?
d) Positions for pushing and delivery including alternative birth positions
like squatting?
e) Length of pushing stage?
f) Episiotomies, perineal massage or hot compress?
g) The use of a vacuum or forceps for delivery?
5. I had a Cesarean section in the past. Will I be able to deliver vaginally this time?
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Other Preparation Recommendations
- Practice relaxation, positioning, and breathing techniques often.
- Pack your bags for your hospital stay by the start of your ninth
month. List of items you may consider having available in the hospital.
- 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.
- Take a hospital tour.
- If you plan to use a tub in labor, check with the hospital on their
policy regarding tubs. Make arrangements to rent a tub if the facility
allows them and does not have one available.
- 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.
- 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.
- If a car is not available, arrange ahead of time for alternative
transportation. Keep telephone numbers of taxis and other resource people
readily available.
- Consider renting a beeper if your partner is hard to reach. Many hospitals
rent beepers on a weekly basis. Check to see if this type of rental
program is available to you.
- Let friends know you prefer to have them visit after you are home
from the hospital. Reserve your hospital time for you and your partner
to learn about and get acquainted with your baby. If you have a telephone
answering machine or voice mail service, record a message that you will
call back as soon as you are able. For infant security, we recommend
that you not mention the newborn baby in your recorded message.
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Miscellaneous Suggestions
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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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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).
- 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.
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