Hi there! Are you a soon-to-be mom who’s worried about how she’s going to go about taking care of and adjusting to a new baby in her life? That’s perfectly normal. It can be scary to think about a new infant and the plethora of duties and challenges that they bring. You’re supposed to suddenly learn all new skills, from budgeting for the baby to washing cloth diapers. There’s a lot to do and learn!
However, we have some great tips for you that will help you organize your time before the baby comes, so you feel better prepared and less stressed.
#1: Chart out a birth plan
You should prepare some useful notes about the kind of birth you want to have, as well as what to do if an emergency occurs. This information will be useful whether you’re going to go with a midwife or a doctor. List down what painkillers you’d want and if you want to have skin-to-skin contact with your baby right after birth. This will decrease hassle on the day of the baby’s birth and save you some stress.
#2: Communicate with your partner
You’re going to bring a new life into the world and communication is uber important! You need to sit down and discuss every possibility with your partner, from their role in labor and birth, to who will be doing what chores. This discussion will also expand to include the days when your infant is tiny. Lay out all the expectations you have from your partner and discuss who will be taking night shifts, as well as who will be changing diapers and more!
#3: Talk to other moms
There’s nothing like knowing that someone else has been through an experience you’re about to undergo. Reach out to friends who have given birth and speak to them about how they dealt with it. They might have lots of useful tips that you can use to aid and assist in your own delivery experience. Don’t be afraid to ask them about any concerns you may have as it will only help you!
#4: Arrange for outside help
The first few weeks can be daunting with an infant. When you are lucky enough to have friends or family who are able to help out, it is worth holding a pre-birth conversation about the particulars. You’ll need them more in the first few weeks, for example, even after your partner’s paternity leave is over. You should plan this out in advance, so you can rest easy and relax when the time comes.
#5: Prepare your new baby’s clothes
The skin of your new infant is going to be incredibly fragile. And it’s a smart thing to use a non-biological detergent to wash their clothing and bedding before you decide to use them. It will reduce any risk of inflammation or allergic reactions when you put them on your new baby for the first time. And of course, a happy baby means a happy you!