Planning for the new arrival
There are so many things to do before the baby arrives and this can feel very overwhelming the first time, as it is likely
that you will have very little knowledge about what its like to have a new addition to your home.
You may have friends who have done it and it seems straightforward but they did not get to where they are without a bit
of forward planning. This is the time to decide where the baby will live, this is not the best time but if it is impossible
to fit a child into your home this is the time to move. If you have space this is when you get to plan your nursery, this
is a lovely thing for you and your partner to do and it will help to get your heads around the fact that you are going to
have a baby.
It is best to be methodical and sit down and make a list of everything that the baby will need. The list below will help
get you through the first few weeks it may seem really obvious but it will help as a guide, it’s really easy to miss
something basic like nappies!
Sleeping
-
Cot / Moses basket
- Sheets
- Several Light blankets
- Baby Monitor
- Storage
Feeding
- Nursing chair or pillow
- Nursing Bra
- Nipple Pads
- At least 6 Bottles/teats/Nipples (even if you intend to breast feed as you will need bottles to express milk)
- Sterilising equipment (microwaveable or electric)
- Bottle Brush
- Breast Pump (if you intend to breast feed)
- Formula (even if you intend to feed it is good to have some just in case)
Out and about
Bathing
-
Bath and bath products
- Towels
Nappies
- Nappies (either cloth or disposable)
- Baby wipes
- Cotton Wool
- Barrier Cream
- Changing bag
- Changing matt
Clothes
- At least 6 stretch suits for day and night
- 2 Cardigans
- 6 Vests
- Hat (warm for cold weather and sun hat for hot
- Mittens
- Socks or booties
This is a bare minimum, there is lots more but this will get the baby home and through the first few weeks, it seems so
much stuff for a tiny little person but it's only the beginning. At this stage you have time so you can save yourself a lot
of time and money by ordering online, this is a good thing to get your partner to help with, they can do the research for
you, check out our tiny little monster shop it offers good value at a time when most people really need it.
Planning the birth
The next thing to plan is where the baby will be born, this is an important decision and it is one that should be discussed
between you, your partner and a qualified medical professional. Most new mothers are advised to have their first child in
a hospital or birthing centre, this is purely precautionary in case there are any complications, all mothers with high risk
pregnancies will be strongly advised to give birth in hospital many of which will have a c section.
It is a good idea to go to the maternity hospital and see what they offer (stork walk), they can vary enormously so it
is worth taking the tour of several before deciding where you want to give birth. Some women with their second or third child choose to have a home delivery, this is fine if done with medical agreement
and with the help of a qualified midwife, some choose to have a communal birth so that their friends and family can be present
at the birth and can share in the experience, this isn't for everyone, most women want the minimum of people around them when
they are in labour, but everyone is different. If you choose to have your baby at home the midwives will be on stand by as
the due date approaches, it will be a case of getting someone to contact them when you go into labour, and speed dial comes
in handy here.
It maybe the case that you have been advised or chosen to have a c section, in this situation the date
and time will be known and it is easier to plan for. If you are having your baby in hospital then obviously you need
to plan the route, it is worth driving it a few times with your partner just so they are sure where you will have to go and
where you will park, it will help reduce the panic on the day. If you are going to use a taxi to get to hospital put the number
on speed dial and try to call them as soon as the contractions start it may take time to get them to you, if all else fails
call an ambulance. It may happen that you get to carry out this trip more than once as some women suffer from Braxton Hicks contractions, this is where the body is preparing for labour and the contractions feel real but the woman is
not in full blown labour, it is always better to be checked out by a medical professional so it is worth treating this as
if it were the real thing.
Send us your comments about this article or tell us about your experiences
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