The moment you find out that you’re expecting, you’re met with a wave of emotions. Excitement, joy, and eagerness, but also nervousness and stress. You want to ensure that you’re doing everything you can for your expected newborn, and also make sure that everything around you is in order.
So what do you need to remember to do? Keep reading to find out 7 things to do before having a baby.
1. Make Sure You Are Living Your Healthiest Life
The moment you begin trying to conceive a baby, your health should become your top priority (if it wasn’t before). Why worry about it before you’re even pregnant?
As soon as you miss your first period, the fetus has already undergone 80% of organ development. For many women, they may not even realize that they are pregnant until after that point. That’s why not drinking, not smoking, and living healthily are essential if you’re trying to have a baby.
If you do find out that you’re pregnant later than you would’ve liked, don’t worry about what has already happened. Just make sure you begin living your healthiest from that point on!
2. Stop Working and Relax
Exhaustion is a common symptom of pregnancy. How do you cure exhaustion? By sleeping all the time!
Now is the time to sleep unabashedly. Later on, once you have your baby, these days will seem like a happy and distant memory. Instead of sleeping, you’ll be busy burping a hiccuping baby, changing diapers, and arguing with your partner over who’s turn it to go check on them.
Meanwhile, make sure you inform your boss that you are expecting. Most women choose to wait until their second trimester, due to the lower rate of miscarriages. Odds are, your boss will respond positively, so don’t be afraid!
Eventually, you’ll need to stop working. Depending on your situation, this may happen earlier, or right before you deliver. Make sure you’re not doing any strenuous tasks while on the job!
3. Consider Childcare Options
Knowing when to begin looking for childcare options can be difficult, but it’s still essential to do it before birth.
In some places, particularly urban areas and those with high childcare demand, it can be difficult to find an opening. If you wait too long, they may not have availability. Beginning your search as soon as you know that you’re pregnant may be a good idea.
In other locations, childcare centers and daycares may have no idea what their openings will be like in the future. In that case, it’s okay to wait a little longer. Waiting until a few months before you need the service may be a good idea.
Reaching out early on will ensure that your baby has a spot.
4. Pick a Pediatrician
Picking a pediatrician before your baby is born will make things much simpler later on.
Ask your friends for suggestions, read reviews online, and see if your hospital has any contacts they can recommend. In some instances, the pediatrician will be able to visit your newborn immediately after delivery.
Having your pediatrician lined up beforehand will ensure that you’re not caught off-guard when the nurse asks you who they are. You’ll also need to schedule your newborn’s first appointment very early on.
Having the pediatrician picked out beforehand allows you to get home, schedule the appointment, and not have to stress as to whether or not they are reputable.
5. Attend Classes
Many hospitals offer classes for expecting parents. Whether you’ll be a first-time parent or have already given birth before, free baby classes can help you feel much more comfortable and ready for parenthood.
Topics can cover a huge variety of baby-care related topics. Learn how to bathe a baby, how to swaddle a baby, and even how to change a diaper (if you haven’t changed a diaper until now, get ready!). You can also get tips on topics such as how to breastfeed.
Bring a notebook, and be prepared to learn a lot. You can also meet some other expecting parents in the process!
6. Think About Baby Names
Choosing a baby name is something that happens very early for some, and much later for others. Some couples wait until two days until their baby is born to decide, while others decide when they are still dating.
Other couples have their baby and then realize the name they picked out doesn’t match.
Regardless of which category you and your partner fall into, at some point, you will need to choose. Read through some baby-name books, do some research online, and make a list of some of the top choices.
7. Make Sure Your House Is Ready
Preparing your home for your newborn early is a good idea, as later you might not have the energy.
Make sure you have all the required furniture: a crib with waterproof mattress pads, a baby’s car seat, a changing table, and a high chair.
You should also make sure that the rest of your home is prepared to have an infant crawling (and eventually running!) around. Chic countertops and coffee tables look nice but make sure the edges are properly covered. Anything delicate should be put out of reach, and your general floor plan should be rearranged for safety.
Looking for a more detailed guide? Following these easy steps will make sure that your house is all ready for your newborn.
Don’t Forget These Things to Do Before Having a Baby
The moment you find out that you’re pregnant, begin making sure that you and your surroundings are ready. Doing this early on and ensuring that everything is prepared will help your pregnancy and delivery be smooth and worry-free.
Do you have any other top things to do before having a baby? Let us know! Be sure to check out our other blog posts for more lifestyle tips.