The Best Pregnancy Checklist – Preparing For Baby

There’s a lot to do when you are expecting a baby. This pregnancy checklist will help you to get everything done when you are preparing for baby.

 

Preparing For Your Baby’s Arrival

I get it, you are in your first trimester. Your nauseous, sick and tired. There’s so much to do you feel like you will never be ready for baby.

 

You have a lot of plans to make and some big decisions to think about. There’s a lot of stuff to buy and you need to get the house ready. Preparing for baby can be a bit overwhelming, and it’s not always easy to know what to do when pregnant for the first time.

 

Don’t panic, with this easy checklist you will organised, peaceful and calm when the time comes for bringing baby home.

 

 

 

What You Need To Do When You Are Preparing For Baby

 

• Take progressing photos of your bump. Try to wear the same colour and style of clothing. I know a lot of the time you probably won’t feel like posing for pics every 5 minutes, but I promise you when you look back on them, it will be so worth it.

• Read all you can. You are new to this and nobody expects you to automatically know everything. Educating yourself is never a bad idea. Read up on the pregnancy, labour and birth, caring for your newborn, and all aspects of breastfeeding if you have chosen to breastfeed.

• Check out my list of free stuff for pregnant and new moms. Having a baby doesn’t come cheap and every little helps.

• • Declutter your home. Your tiny little bundle of joy is going to come with an awful lot of stuff. To be sure you’re not falling over it all use this opportunity to have a really good clear out. A decluttered home is a less stressful one and will appeal to your nesting instinct.

• If you wish to, look into attending a birthing class. Look into to prenatal classes in your area or you may find this online prenatal class much more convenient. This prenatal class allows couples who lack time to be educated in the birthing process, the postpartum period, and newborn care at their own convenience. 

• Create a birth plan. Give yourself plenty of time to make the big decisions about how you are going to give birth. Weigh up all the options, do all of the research you need. Think about where you want to give birth, any techniques you wish to use, if you will require pain relief and who you want to be there to help you. You will then have given yourself time to register at a hospital, take a tour of the delivery suite and ask all of the questions you need to. Get your free birth plan template here.

• Buy extenders for your clothing, as your waist starts to thicken in the first trimester you will be able to attach them to the fasteners of your jeans etc. The most important thing is to buy an extender for your bra, believe me you will thank me for this tip!

• Write a list of all of the items you will need to buy when getting ready for baby. They need such a lot that it’s easier than you think to overlook something. I was rushing round buying a car seat less than a week before my son was born. I don’t know how I thought I was going to get him home! This is also a good time to set up a baby registry.

• Stock up on items you will need for your postpartum recovery. Think about sitz baths and preparations, products for postpartum bleeding, nipple pads, and nursing bras.

• Moisturise your belly, hips and lower back daily. This will help prevent stretch marks.

• Take an online breastfeeding class they are affordable and perfect for preparing you to breastfeed.

• Work out your maternity leave as soon as possible. This is definitely not one to leave until the last minute. Have everything organised with your employer and then all you have to do is rest and wait for baby.

• If you are going to give birth close to Christmas then set a deadline for buying gifts. Have them all bought and wrapped before you give birth. You really won’t want to have to do it after.

• Think about what you are going to need for the hospital. Write a list.

• If you have friends and family in far off places then a birth announcement is a great way to inform them of baby’s arrival. Choose and order them so you are good to go when the time comes.

• If this isn’t your first rodeo and you have other children, prepare them for the new baby. Think about ways to include them in the process, buy gifts for when baby is born and organise childcare, so everything is in place when baby is born.

• Look out for offers on baby products, take advantage of bulk buying and think about stockpiling diapers in various sizes.

• Make sure the contact information for your Doctor/midwife/doula is always close at hand.

• Create a baby first aid kit.

• Just as you are waving goodbye to your obstetrician, you will be saying hello to a paediatrician. Take the time to select one that you are happy and comfortable with.

• Get some comfortable loose fitting clothing to wear after baby arrives.

• Get plenty of rest, take naps and long baths. Once baby is here you ever get to be in the bathroom alone ever again!

• If you have a partner then spend quality time with them. There won’t be many date nights once you have your newborn.

• Stock up the freezer with easy to cook meals and bulk buy non perishable groceries. Nobody wants to go on a big shopping trip after they have given birth.

• Organise baby’s clothing by size and put them away ready.

• Get all of the bedding and blankets you will need for your baby ready.

• Set up and organise the area where your baby will sleep.

• Clean your house, organise and tidy up. You are going to need all of time for baby those first few days.

• Do the laundry, ensure everyone will have enough clean clothes.

• Clean the inside of your car, get rid of any dust and fluff and throw out any accumulated trash.

• Now because you are not me you will have your baby’s car seat! Make sure you install that in plenty of time. So there is no last minute panic.

• Make up a baby essentials kit with diapers, wipes, muslin cloths etc. Leave this in your car. You never know when you are going to need it.

• Get a baby book, so you can start recording every magical moment right away.

• Write a top priority contact list of close friends and family family phone numbers. They will be waiting for news of baby’s arrival and if you organised nobody will get left out in the excitement.

• Check to see if your hospital has a newborn photographer, if not you can then look into hiring your own should you wish.

• Pack your hospital bag with items for you and your baby. While we all hope for a short labour there really is no way of knowing so it’s best that your partner has a fresh change of clothes and some toiletries.

• Do a test drive to the hospital. Make sure you know the shortest route, how long it will take you and where to park.

 Preparing for baby during your pregnancy will ensure you get the time and the rest that you need.

 

Pregnancy Checklist – Preparing For Baby