Seasoned mothers will tell you
that nothing will ever beat the ones who are always one step ahead or those who
are just more prepared than others. This comes especially handy when you’re already
equipped with the necessary things that you need to have whenever a crisis or a
situation arises. The same can be said too when you’re at your very first
pregnancy. It’s, in fact, more required that you’re armed in this milestone, so
you’ll be able to endure whatever comes your way.
In this discussion, I’ll be
providing just about the right and essential list of things that you need to
prepare for your first pregnancy. This should also serve those who are only
wanting to be much readier in their succeeding pregnancies. Ultimately, this
article is dedicated for those who want to be in the loop on things that matter
most in this particular occasion. And if you’re a list type of person, consider
this as a godsend!
#1 The Birth Announcement
What else could be more
celebratory than introducing to your friends and loved ones your very first
baby? Well, that should depend on how you’ll announce it! You can pick on
something adorable on Pinterest and have it printed on a special paper and send
them accordingly, or you can spend on a photo website with some pre-made
layouts. Either way, this should give your baby a truly grand entrance.
#2 The Names & Addresses
We are way past the computer age
now. Everything is digital. And so, you don’t need to write each name and
address on a notepad where you can send your prized birth announcement to. You
can compile all of them in a Word Document along with a label template. After
that, print them out and finish them off with some cute add-ons to make them
extra special. You can do all of these while you’re pregnant so you’ll have
time to think about it. This duty can be a little too tedious once the baby is
already born.
#3 A Comfy Waterproof Bed Pad (For You!)
Yes. Your pregnancy doesn’t just
revolve on your unborn baby. Equally important is your state as well. A
comfortable waterproof bed should calm your nerves whenever you’re all about
thinking when your water will break on it. The amniotic fluid, while harmless
at the onset, can be quite damaging to your mattress if it’s not waterproof.
This investment should quiet your anxiety when your due date approaches.
Meanwhile, you don’t have to be
that choosy when selecting the best waterproof bed pad. Just go with the one
that does it simply. However, it is important that you don’t cheapen your
choice when it comes to it. Inexpensive ones often turn out to be producing an
irritating noise especially those that are made of plastic. This should make
your sleep disruptive and would cost you in the long run.
#4 Pack that bag and be ready to go
While there are due dates that
are being given duly by our doctors, you still won’t be able to know as to when
exactly your baby is going to get delivered. In that note, ensure that “that”
bag is all prepared. That bag should not only for your baby but should also
have one that contains your necessities — all of which have to be relevant
right when you’re already in the hospital.
#5 Picking a pediatrician
As early as possible, you have to
be looking for your baby’s pediatrician. It is not only a requirement but is
also practical and smarter to have one during your pregnancy. You can either
ask your friends for referrals or browse on websites. Be cautious enough to
read the reviews first before you head to his or her clinic.
Having a pediatrician this early
won’t only save you time at the time you delivered your first baby, it should
also assure you that the one you picked is already adept with your history.
#6 Pre-wash your baby’s clothes if you can now
This to-do list, in particular,
won’t have to be performed by everyone else as this should depend on your
preference. But if your family has a relatively sensitive type of skin, you may
want to wash your baby’s new clothes already as this will spare him or her of possible
allergies once she gets enveloped by them.
You can use any detergent you
want as long as it is OK’d by your doctor or if it’s already been an
established and safe one to use. Meanwhile, this should also address those
hand-me-down clothes. If that is the case, it is always better to wash them
beforehand.
#7 The nursing bra dilemma
One of the many things that might
confound you is whether you’ll be nursing your baby or not. For you to get
clearer thoughts on this, confide to your doctor your personal wants and
desires in this respect. Once you have decided that you’d be nursing, you may
begin investing on few nursing bras. Please be advised that you’re not supposed
to use an underwire one until you have been breastfeeding for three months. I
prefer the ones without wire as they make me comfortable while sleeping.
Owning a nursing bra should also
spare you the agony of putting nursing pads in a regular bra while you move
them up all the time which is essentially time-wasting.
#8 Enroll at classes as much as possible
While you’re waiting for your
baby to arrive, one of the few and significant things you can do is enroll in
classes either your hospital or specialized schools or seminars. These classes
can range from How To Give Baby A Bath, How To Care Once The Baby Is
Circumcized, right down to How To Swaddle A Baby and Breastfeeding Tips. But
perhaps the most basic and the most popular one is How To Change A Diaper. You
can enroll this particular workshop with your husband, and I’m sure there can
be a lot of fun when both of you finally do.
Meanwhile, enrolling in these
classes will not only widen your circle of expectant mothers to whom you can
confide your stories to but should also aid you in the other queries or
concerns that you may have during your pregnancy.
#9 The installation of your baby’s car seat
Yes. As early as now while you
still have an ample to do it, you may ask your husband or the supplier of your
chosen product to install the baby’s car seat accordingly. Believe me, once
your child is born and you’re in a situation that requires you to bring him or
her anywhere, this pre-installed equipment right at your backseat should give
you that much-needed relief.
#10 The waterproof mattress pads
for your baby’s crib
You know you’re smart when you
get to put a waterproof mattress pad on your baby’s crib during his or her
night time but this smartness gets into a practicality once you have two
mattress pads slid alternatively in between fitted sheets. In this regard,
you’ll be able to avert the crisis when your baby wets the bed or even throw up
in the wee hours of the night or when you least expect it; that another
protective layer should come in very handy whenever your baby goes into a
bed-wetting fit.
Meanwhile, this technique should
be able to help your baby sleep without that need to cry, resulting to a nice
baby sleep training points
for you!
Final thoughts
These essential tasks could go on
further as there are almost a many sets of responsibilities that beset a woman
during and after her pregnancy. This outlined list, however, should guide you
well enough to be prepared when your baby is finally born. As always, utilize
the resources that you can all get during your pregnancy such your friends, the
internet, your family, and your circle of expectant mothers for they can make
this special event in your life a whole lot easier and more fluffing all at the
same time.
