5 Things you can do to help yourself before the baby arrives!
The baby shower is over, you got a ton of baby gifts and baby gift baskets full of wooden toys and baby clothes, you even saved your baby shower favors as a memorable keepsake and now the day is here. You are in labor! Don’t panic. The most important thing is that you are calm and relaxed and the rest will take care of itself. Here is a list of things you can delegate to friends and family so you can take care of the important job of having your baby!
1. Install the car seat – Most hospitals won’t let you take baby home without it. Installing one can be a tricky task the first time around, so you may want to have it done by a certified safety expert. The find one in your area, call 1-866-SEAT-CHECK or visit their website at seatcheck.org.
2. Write a birth plan – While you cant control every aspect of labor and delivery, a well-written birth plan will remind your doctor and his team how you’d like your baby’s birth to be handled.
3. Set up at least two weeks of postpartum help. Family, friends, neighbors – all of these people care about you and will probably be more than happy to lend a hand during your first weeks of new motherhood. Plus, they’ll get to meet the baby while they’re helping out.
4. Load up on diapers, wipes and baby bath and body products – Look for diapers that are designed specifically for newborns, some even feature an opening to comfort baby’s umbilical cord stump. And be sure to choose mild soap that is specifically formulated to soothe and nourish your baby’s sensitive skin.
5. Stock your fridge and freezer – With a newborn, finger foods and microwavable meals are about the only culinary skills most new parents can handle. Make it easy n yourself by having a fridge full of food and prepared meals so you can forget about grocery shopping for at least a week and focus on more important things – namely your adorable baby.