Caring for a newborn is exhausting, so you may want someone in addition to your partner — a friend, relative, or postpartum doula — on hand to help bathe the baby, do laundry, run errands, or simply fend off visitors so you can rest.
Start the search for a pediatrician by 28 weeks, says Parents advisor Jennifer Shu, M. Some factors to consider: location, whether you prefer a group or solo practice, and the availability of weekend and evening hours. Find an infant-care class for tips on changing a diaper, swaddling and bathing a newborn, and more. Also helpful: infant CPR and breastfeeding classes. Buy a car seat. By law, in order to drive off from the hospital with your infant, you must be able to prove that you've installed a car seat that meets current safety standards.
Head to your local police or fire department to learn how to install it correctly. Get screened for Group B strep, bacteria that is harmless to you but can be lethal if passed to the baby. Your doctor will take an external vaginal culture around 35 weeks; if Group B strep bacteria are present, you'll be given medication during labor to prevent transmission to the baby.
Pack your hospital bag. Include items to keep you comfortable like your iPod or a pair of soft slippers , snacks for you and your partner, a roomy change of clothes to go home in, plus an outfit for the baby. Sit back and relax. By now, you should be done with most of your preparation and ready if you go into labor early. As your baby's due date approaches, find a comfy chair, put your hand on your stomach, and enjoy the calm before the storm.
Love these ideas - especially the prenatal prep! There are tons of items you won't need, but there's also a ton more that you may need depending on your babies' temperment! March 07, Save Pin FB More. Parents Magazine. Do them at the same time each day so they come routine. Nesting is real, and putting together things like artwork, rugs and sweet toys can be really fun.
Consider a regular meditation routine to calm your mind. There are even some apps specifically for pregnant moms. Pack a few things for baby, as well, and remind your partner they might want to pack a bag too.
Ask friends, coworkers and neighbors for recommendations. Your own doctor or midwife might have some people they like as well. Assign that list to your BFF, sister, mom or someone else you trust so they can let everyone know the happy news. In between naps you may find yourself muttering questions like, "Why does the stench of oatmeal make me throw up but eating a hunk of cheese as big as an apple seems like a good idea?
In either of those cases you're dealing with a nutritional deficiency, so call your doctor right away for medical intervention. More than any other topic, the best time to find childcare depends on where you live, and the time to begin is hard to pinpoint. Start too early in some places, and daycare centers will have no idea what their openings will be.
In other mainly urban places, start too late and you'll get shut out. But in other areas, she says, it makes more sense to seek childcare a couple of months before you need it. If you're hoping a family member will swoop in to provide help, start those discussions early. For many women, this is the most nerve-racking task of pregnancy. Seraphim Carlson, of San Francisco, remembers being terrified about revealing her pregnancy to her new boss, but in hindsight she didn't need to worry.
Most women wait to tell their boss until they're in their second trimester, when the risk of miscarriage declines. Sarah Rogers, of Iowa City, Iowa, told her colleagues when she was 23 weeks along, or more than halfway through pregnancy. If, like Rogers, you're uncomfortable broadcasting the news, then wait, but at some point everyone will notice your growing belly no matter how many untucked blouses you wear.
It seems there are two types of women: those who love maternity clothes , and those who avoid the maternity stores until no amount of rigging can hold up their old jeans. Either way, most women don't need maternity clothes until their second trimester -- especially for a first pregnancy , when it takes your belly a long time to pop. For her first pregnancy, Provanzana waited to go shopping until she was more than five months along.
By the second trimester you've probably dreamed up a color for the nursery and listened to other parents talk about strollers. Tori Binau, senior vice president of marketing at Babies "R" Us, says most women register in their sixth month, a time frame she sees as ideal.
It makes sense to give yourself time to add to, change, and tweak your registry and do the shopping while you have energy. Use your nesting instinct to set up files for bill paying, recipes, or whatever else could use organization , clean storage areas, and put away things like old photographs.
If you're lucky, your nesting instinct may have kicked in now. Take advantage of it! Get the house cleaned, dusted and vacuumed. If you're too tired , try to just do the basics, such as organising your baby supplies.
Every little helps to make life with your newborn a bit easier. You may be surprised by how many nappies your little one will get through, so stocking up now is essential! If you're opting for reusables , the number you need will depend on the type of nappy you choose.
Some retailers offer trial packs, so you can see what works best for your baby. Pack all the things you'll need for labour and for after the birth, such as your birth plan , nappies and a change of clothes, and put the bag by your front door. See our guide to what to pack in your hospital bag for more tips. Katie Rain. Make sure you have all the numbers you might need in your phone.
This way, there'll be no delay if you need to contact your midwife, GP or local hospital. It's also wise to have a few options for who to call if you need transport, or someone to care for your other children. Choosing what outfit to take your baby home in is one of the really fun decisions to make! Make sure it's washed and packed in your hospital bag, ready to go.
See our slideshow for outfit inspiration. If you plan to give birth in a hospital or birth centre, the last thing you want is car trouble on the big day. Get it checked over in advance, and make sure there's always plenty of fuel in the tank. Make sure that your phone is fully charged, and keep your charger with you when you're in labour.
This way, you'll be ready to update your family and friends with the happy news and take that all-important first photo! Is there anything else that you can do during pregnancy to help your baby's birth go more smoothly?
Find out in our video on making labour easier.
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