Preparing for Baby – 6 Things to Know Before They Arrive
Having a birth plan is great…
… but things don’t always go as planned.
Your birth plan will include things like where you’d like to give birth, who you want with you and what kind of pain medication, if any, you’d like to have. It’s a good thing to have to get you thinking about these things well in advance and to communicate them to your healthcare providers.
You can get a template for your birthplace from your doctor or make your own. The NHS website has a downloadable one you can fill in, too.
However, it’s good to remember that you might need to be flexible about your plans on the day if there are any complications or if any of the facilities like birthing pools aren’t available. So best to keep this in mind to avoid disappointment and remember that all that matters in the end is that you and baby are healthy.
Make sure you've got all you need
There are plenty of checklists out there for purchases to make before your little one arrives, but here are a few to add to that list:
- Lots and lots of muslins (you can never have enough)
- Front-fastening babygrows (buttons on the back are annoying)
- Machine for expressing and bottles (even if you’re planning to breast feed it may not be as easy initially as you hoped so useful to have backup)
- Nipple cream (see above – it hurts more than you think it will)
- Car seat (you actually can’t take baby home from hospital without an appropriate car seat)
Beyond your shopping list, it’s also a good idea to practice the drive to the hospital, including a couple of alternative routes just in case.
Take care of yourself too
Pregnancy and being a new parent are magical experiences, but incredibly tough, too. So give yourself a break and make sure you care for yourself as well – after all, this is also better for your baby.
So keep your body well-nourished and hydrated for your sake, too – this will give you the energy you need during labour. And if you feel up for it, gentle exercise is also a really great thing to do for yourself during pregnancy for that same reason.
Prenatal yoga can be especially helpful as it gives you exercise, a good stretch and teaches you breathing and relaxation techniques that are very useful during labour.
Try child’s pose and cat-cow pose to help with back pain. The former is also a great rest pose during labour. Malasana is a great pose for opening up the hips and helps to open up the birth canal – many women give birth in this position for this reason.
A maternity photoshoot is something nice you can do for yourself while also creating beautiful, lasting memories of your journey to parenthood.
While you may not feel radiant when your ankles are swollen and there are deep, dark circles under your eyes, trust me when I say you look radiant, and there’ll be a time you’ll look back on photos from your pregnancy with longing.
Ask for help
You might feel awkward doing this but trust me, when there’s a baby on the way, all your loved ones want to do is help. So don’t be shy to ask.
The first order of business is making sure you have the support you need during labour beyond the delivery room. If you have pets or other kids, make sure you’ve made plans with a trusted neighbour, family member or friend you can call at any hour to come keep down the fort at home when you head to the hospital.
After your baby is born, there’s no shame in asking your visiting friend to look after them while you shower and take a nap, or help you hang laundry or pick up older kids from nursery or school.
Maybe you could set specific days with people for help with specific tasks, whether that’s bringing over food, taking baby out for a walk or simply to have someone grown-up to talk to during the day.
Above all remember there are no prizes for being super-mum. Even if you see others who appear to be, trust me it’s often what they want the outside world to see. It’s ok to ask for help from those you love and trust.
Make Memories
Everyone says it, but it’s true: time flies by incredibly fast when you have a baby and before you know it, you’ve got a toddler! So make sure you document everything – you’ll be glad you did! Check out our article on five fun ways to document your baby’s first year for some inspiration.
You’ll be shocked to discover just how fast babies grow out of that truly incredibly tiny stage! It’s those first few weeks of their life when they look and feel brand new that go by the fastest as you get acquainted and settle into a routine of spotty sleep and nappy changes. So make sure to make lasting memories!
Newborn photography is a chance to do just that. This way, you capture your baby in all their incredible newness and get a chance to get your very first family photography done.
Ideally, you should book your photo session a couple of months before your due date and schedule a couple of provisional dates for when your baby will be 1-2 weeks old. This way, you can secure a photographer whose style you love and who you trust with your little one.
If you’re looking for professional newborn photography in Edinburgh, check out our work We would love to hear your ideas for your baby photography.
Remember Everyone's Winging it
When you follow glowing mummy bloggers, see influencers fit back into their skinny jeans just weeks after giving birth and read scary online articles on the top 12 ways you’re putting your baby’s life at risk every time you pick them up “incorrectly”, it’s easy to feel inadequate.
But let’s remember that every baby and every family is unique, so there are no one-size fits all. And it’s also important not to forget that people carefully curate the image they present of their journey of motherhood online.
Really, everyone is just doing the best they can with the information they have. You’ll become an expert at being a mum to your baby in no time. So relax – you’re doing great.
#BigBlueSkyLove,
Alie x
