10 Things to Do When Preparing for a Baby

Pregnant woman writing packing list for maternity hospital in kitchen; blog: 10 Things to Do When Preparing for a Baby

When you’re pregnant and preparing for a baby, there is a lot to get done. You may feel overwhelmed by all the things you need to do, but you’ve got this! When you break things down into a list and prioritize, preparing for a baby doesn’t have to stress you out too much.

1. Prep the House

One of the biggest things on your to-do list when preparing for a baby should be to get the house ready for the new arrival. That includes assembling and securing any furniture for the nursery. Even if the baby doesn’t sleep alone in their own room at first, you’ll be glad you have everything put together and in place when the time comes to use it. 

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that babies sleep in the same room where you sleep for the first six months. But the AAP’s position is that they shouldn’t sleep in bed with you. Therefore, it’s a good idea to research bassinets and cradles that will work with your space.

2. Make Sure You Have The Essentials for Baby

Research and purchase a quality car seat and make sure you know how to properly install it. This guide from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is a great resource to use. Make sure you have some basic clothes, blankets, and diapers ready as well. Other essentials on your list based on your preferences may include bottles and a breast pump.

3. Pack Your Hospital Bag

Different women find different things essential to have in their hospital bags but some basics include your insurance info and ID, your birth plan, comfy clothes, slippers, toiletries, drinks, snacks, a pillow, your phone, and chargers for your devices. For some ideas of what to pack, check out this list from What to Expect.

4. Schedule Medical Appointments

When you’re preparing for a baby, it’s important to think about taking care of yourself too. Make sure you’re up-to-date with preventive care appointments, screenings, and vaccinations. That includes making sure you’ve had a dental cleaning and an eye exam.

5. Get Prescriptions Filled

If you or any immediate family members are on prescription medications that you’ll need after the baby comes, be sure to have them filled.

6. Do Some Meal Planning

A lot of things you do when preparing for a baby are things that will save you time and energy when you are busy and exhausted by a newborn (totally worth it though!). Chances are, you aren’t going to feel like cooking and neither will your partner. Find some nutritious but delicious recipes you can batch cook, freeze, and reheat.

7. Stock Your House With Essentials

Make sure your house is stocked with the basics you use every day. Things you might want to keep on hand are paper towels, toilet paper, soap, detergent, cleaning products, and any toiletries you use on a regular basis. It may also be a good idea to make sure you have pet food and supplies if you have furry family members.

8. Pick Out Birth Announcements

Digital communication is the standard these days now that everyone has a smartphone, but many new parents find that they enjoy sending out birth announcements in the mail. You can also opt to go with digital announcements. 

9. Go Over Your Birth Plan

If you have decided to write a birth plan as part of preparing for a baby, make sure everyone who needs to be familiar with it has a copy. Print out copies for your hospital bag to keep close by when you get to the delivery room. If you don’t have a formal plan written out, you can take the opportunity to make one.  

10. Set Aside Some Fun Time

Preparing for a baby can mean checking a lot of practical things off of an important list. However, you should also make time to have some fun or relax a bit. Do simple things like having a spa day at home, reading a great book, or taking walks. Grab some takeout and have a makeshift date with your partner. Just carve out a little time to enjoy the relative calm before you’re wrapped up in newborn care.

The team at Triangle Physicians for Women is here for you in all stages of your life and are committed to providing you with comprehensive care during these uncertain times. Our top priorities are always the safety and health of our patients and staff. For more information on our policies for COVID-19, call the office at (919) 678-6900 or click here for details.

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Thank you all so much for taking such good care of me through both of my pregnancies and births, especially my latest one on 10/29! most of yall know how nervous I was from having gone through a lot (to say the least) with my first in 2016. You all made me feel so comfortable and at ease before, during and after. And going through a touch year with my dad, you guys always asked how he was doing at every appointment, which was so thoughtful and beyond your job description. I know that you all see many women go through what i did each and every day and deliver many babies and perform many c-sections. But I hope you know how special Ruby’s delivery was to me. You all have amazing jobs! I cannot thank you all enough. Merry Christmas!

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