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9 Best Ways to Prepare for Your Baby’s Arrival

It might feel like your pregnancy will never end, but before you know it, you’ll be holding your baby in your arms. Meanwhile, you should take advantage of the long wait to prepare for the coming changes as best you can.

Early preparation will make it easy to relax and enjoy your pregnancy as your due date approaches. Here are a few helpful ways to get ready for the arrival of your baby:

1. Create a Financial Plan

It’s a well-known fact that having children is expensive. So, one of the smartest things you can do is to create a budget, not only for your baby’s first year of life but also for more long-term costs like college and other activities.

It would be great if you can set up a savings account for him or her and then contribute monthly to the account. You can even invite close family members and grandparents to chip into the account as well.

2. Start Saving Early

Financial experts suggest that parents should try to save up to 3 months of their salary to prepare for the birth of their child. It’s doable because you will get about 7 to 8 months heads-up about your pregnancy.

If you are worried about how much you can save, don’t because it’s the saving habit that really counts not how much you are putting away. If you start squirrelling away $10 a month, for example, it can go a long way.

3. Choose a Reliable Healthcare Professional

When you are pregnant you should call to schedule an appointment with a healthcare provider. That will give you the opportunity to start getting to know each other.

You can also ask any questions you have about the care of your baby, such as: how long after you have been discharged from the hospital should you take your baby for a first visit?

4. Write Your Birth Plan

Creating a birth plan can help you get the most out of your pregnancy experience. It will compel you to consider the right solution for pain management, think of the likelihood of a c-section and lots of other considerations that might impact the birth of your child.

5. Look for a Paediatrician

Your obstetrician will review the health of your child after you give birth, but your child will always require a paediatrician to monitor their health and well-being as they develop. To choose a good paediatrician, talk to your doctor and ask for recommendations from friends, relatives, and colleagues.

6. Pack Your Hospital Bag

Labour can start at any time when you are due. So, it’s better to pack your bags at about 36 weeks. Pack all the essential items you’re going to need for pregnancy and after birth, including your birth plan, nappies and change of clothing, and put the bag close to your front door. Make use of a checklist. Having a baby hospital checklist ensures that you don’t forget any essential item.

7. Get a Car Seat

The law requires that to drive your infant from the hospital, you should show that you have fitted a car seat that meets the latest safety requirements. So, go to the nearest police or fire station to learn how to properly fit it. The last thing you want after the birth of your child is to have a run-in with law enforcement.

8. Prepare Your Home

Before birth, your baby will need to have his nursery ready. So, make sure it’s planned, fitted, and furnished in time. Luckily, most things can be searched online. If you want a modern baby cot, make sure that you have the highest quality product that is safe and will protect your child for many years to come.

Also, consider going for a model that can be converted into a bed for children later, it will save you money in the long run.

9. Plan Your Ride to the Hospital

If you intend to have your baby in a maternity unit it’s worth doing a few test drives at various times of the day so you don’t get caught up in a traffic rush unexpectedly when the time comes. Be sure you all know the shortest way to the hospital and always keep the car fuelled and ready to go.

Also, plan for emergencies by making an arrangement with a cab service or good friend that can take you to the hospital if necessary.

Finally…

Make the most of the time now with your partner while it’s just the two of you. See a movie together, go for dinner, just do something fun. Discuss the aspirations you have for your baby and share and discuss parenting ideas and plans you may have.

If you act on these suggestions and prepare well for your baby’s arrival, you will enjoy the pregnancy experience rather than just endure it, with the danger of being caught unprepared when the time comes.