Getting Ready for Baby
Whether you’re expecting your first child or your 4th, you’ve probably been preparing for baby since the minute you got the test results. Many of you have likely been preparing for baby even longer - you’ve been yearning to start a family, searching for the right doctor to deliver the baby you’ve been praying for, and staying aware of baby name trends.
But preparing for baby is about more than praying that the birth process will be painless or imagining your child one day heading off to Harvard; it’s about preparing yourself both physically and mentally for the unfathomable changes that lie ahead. Because even in your wildest dreams, it is impossible to comprehend just how fabulous-and frazzling- motherhood can be. Preparing for baby with these four tips in mind is the best way to ensure a stress-free pregnancy and a smooth transition into motherhood - because the best way to take care of baby is to take care of mommy too.
- Get Your Other Children Ready for the Baby
Preparing your older child or children for the upcoming new addition is a wonderful way to reduce fighting and tension in the house after the baby comes home. Allow your other children to help you with the baby so that they feel ‘big’ (this may also give you five minutes of extra peace). Give your other children presents when you get home from the hospital so that they feel special too and do not feel threatened by the new baby. Many children like to have their own ‘baby’ to tend to when you are feeding, clothing or bathing your newborn. This way, they feel a sense of purpose and importance. - Prepare for Baby with a Birth Plan
Preparing a birth plan is a wonderful way to relieve your own anxiety about the birthing process. Learn about birthing techniques with an experienced teacher or birth coach, and discuss the experience with your friends, so that you will make a comfortable and informed decision. Draft your birth plan no later than the eighth month- it is easier to create a birth plan when you are in a calm state of mind, something that may not be possible in the throes of labor. Decide whether you want an epidural or whether you will want to tough out a natural childbirth. Consider whether you would like to do a water birth or a home birth, or whether you prefer a midwife over a physician. Choose the music that you will want to listen to during labor, and pack the snacks that you will crave when you are ravenous after the physically exhausting birth. Find a birth coach who will support your plan and make sure that your husband is on board. With a birth plan in place, you will relax in the knowledge that you have done everything you can to ensure that your baby’s delivery will proceed how you intended it. - Reduce Stress
Although every pregnant woman knows that exercise and a healthy diet are important for the development of a baby, many mothers may not recognize that reducing stress is also critical for the growth of a healthy baby and for making sure that the baby is carried to full term. Many mothers, especially those with other small children or with demanding careers, try to believe that when they are on maternity leave or have help when the baby is born, things will be less hectic and everything will be fine. However, reducing anxiety during pregnancy will bolster the baby’s health in utero and will help new mothers deal with the stresses and tensions that are born with the baby. Expectant mothers can reduce stress both during and after their pregnancies by reprioritizing and learning how to make time for them selves. Remember that it’s natural to feel conflicted about relaxing (especially at first) and that it may even be normal to not feel immediately relaxed when you’re trying to relax (especially if you’re not used to it). Nevertheless, relaxed mothers will deal better with the demands of their newborn, the needs of their other children and the challenges of their career. Start relaxing early on in the pregnancy by making time for yourself- take an hour a week to go shopping, get a facial, or watch a movie. You’ll be glad you did. - Find the Perfect Baby Name
Finding the perfect baby name has the potential to cause serious pregnancy tension. Considering the following questions will help you narrow down your options while reducing unnecessary stress.
1 - Does the name rhyme? You may think that Jenna McKenna sounds cute, but will she be miserable later on? Likewise, while it may be adorable to give your twins rhyming names (like Ryan and Brian), you may find your tongue stuck in knots in the foreseeable future.
2 - What do the child’s initials spell? In most cases, a child’s initials aren’t important, but for some people (Andrea Sara Smith), initials can create an unpalatable monogram that can easily be avoided.
3 - Does the name provide a nice nickname? Baby Marcia, for example, might get shortened to Marsh. She may ended up getting called “Harsh Marsh” or “Marshmellow”- so make sure when you give your child a name that you can live with the way it might be shortened.
When preparing for baby, the most important thing to remember is that as much as you prepare, life is full of unexpected surprises. You may look at your child and decide she looks like an Alison, not like the Callie you had planned. You may predict a torturous delivery, but get blessed with a quick arrival. You may have been sure that it’s a boy but get surprised with a girl. Whether you’re dealing with surprises or looking for solutions to the everyday challenges of parenthood, you’ll find the resources and products that you need at My Dear Child. So sit back, relax, and enjoy every moment with your child- both in utero and out.
