Preparing For Your First Child – A Baby Essentials Checklist
Becoming a parent for the first time is definitely daunting, and everyone knows that children do not come with instruction manuals! Below you will find some valuable information that may help new parents, in the form of a baby essentials checklist.
Get Everything That You Need Before The Baby Is Born.
You will find that there are a thousand and one things you need to be thinking about before your baby is born. So start to make a list and check it twice well before the baby is due.
The obvious things you will need are baby clothes, as well as hygiene items such as diapers, baby powder and feeding bottles (even if you intend breast feeding). You may also want to invest in a breast pump in case breast feeding proves to be a problem.
Speaking of which, it’s important that you find a good pediatrician. He or she will be able to advise you what’s best for your new baby and keep them in good health.
There are literally thousands of books available relating to babies and how to bring up your child. Trouble is you will find a lot of these are contradictory and you will just get confused. They may help with some general stuff, but your circumstances are unique to you and so is your baby. You will probably find that some of the best advice will come from Moms and Grandmothers.
Setting Up The Ideal Nursery.
You should also get your nursery prepared ahead of time. It’s best to go with soft pastel colors that will create a pleasant feel in the room. You will also need a change table and somewhere to store clothes and diapers.
Don’t scrimp on the crib. You pays your money and you takes your choice, but make sure you get one that’s well built and will last – especially if you plan on having more children in the future. If you get one that converts into a toddler bed then even better. This will save you some added expense down the road.
When your baby is first born you may not want to put them in a crib straight away. It may be best to put them in a bassinet or cradle which will make them feel more cozy and secure – they may find a crib a bit overwhelming at first until they are a little bigger and more aware of their surroundings.
Are You Ready For When Mom Goes Into Labor?
The day of the birth is one that is usually extremely challenging for the new Mom – physically, mentally and emotionally. However with a bit of preparation you can help to make things run smoothly. Preparing for this day is a very important part of your pregnancy.
Check with the hospital staff about their policies and what you should pack for the new Mom and her baby. Ask them about any items they provide so that you don’t pack anything that won’t be needed. Items that should be packed in her bag should include things like toothpaste and toothbrush, hairbrush, makeup and things that will make her comfortable such as extra socks.
What about the car? Is it reliable? Does it have any problems starting? The last thing you want on the day of delivery is for your car to break down. Apart from anything else you would feel pretty foolish J So get it checked out ahead of time, especially if the birth is during the cold winter months.
How Do We Cope With Labor?
Many women want to know what labor pain is like. Yes – It hurts! But labor pain is one of those mysterious things that varies from woman to woman and even from one labor to another for the same woman.
Giving birth is somewhat like an athletic event. You need to be prepared both physically and emotionally and your husband or partner should be encouraged to be your coach.
Childbirth classes are often recommended to get both partners involved. Your family doctor or pediatrician should point you in the right direction.
While some women may opt for having everything natural with no drugs for pain relief, most will prefer to at least have the pain dulled. Probably the most popular is an epidural which acts as a blocker to the pain without pumping drugs into your system.
In the end, most women will agree that while giving birth wasn’t the most fun time of their lives, it was probably the most exhilarating.
What Challenges Will I Face In The First Few Days?
Perhaps the most common after effect of giving birth is postpartum depression. This usually happens within the first couple of weeks of Mom returning home. The telltale signs are usually episodes of sadness, crying, mood swings, headaches and anxiety.
Don’t forget that as a new Mom you have just been through a life-changing experience which will take some getting used to. Fortunately, in most cases, these symptoms will gradually disappear as you get used to your new daily routine.
To alleviate some of this it’s a good idea to plan ahead and reduce the stress. While Mom is focusing on resting, recuperating and feeding the baby this is the time to call on Dad for help and get him to do the things that you aren’t quite up to yet.
How To Deal With A Lack Of Sleep
As a new Mom you have just been through a pretty traumatic experience, so it shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise that you feel tired and exhausted. Now add to this fact that your new baby is going to give you many nights of interrupted sleep.
If you’re lucky you may have one of those babies that sleep for long hours right from the start. But in most cases Baby will wake every 2 to 4 hours wanting to be fed.
So just try and catch up on your sleep when you can. It’s reckoned that parents will lose about 350 hours of night time sleep during the first year. So try and take a nap when baby is napping. Sleep in on weekends if you can. Try and work out a schedule with your partner so that you can take turns catching some shut-eye.
If you are breast feeding then night time feeds can be trickier. So why not invest in a breast pump? This way you can share night time feeding duties with Dad and Baby will still be getting the essential nourishment of Mother’s milk.
Try to keep up a routine of gentle exercise. A walk in the fresh air will help blow away the cobwebs and help counteract the lack of sleep. Make it a family affair so that you all can benefit.
Having a baby is a fun, exciting and at times overwhelming time in your life. If you are as prepared as you can possibly be, it will make the process much smoother. Will it make you want more? That, my dear is up to you!
