5 Ways to Prepare for Your First Childbirth

Before welcoming a newborn into your home, there are numerous ways in which you can prepare for the baby’s arrival.

 

It is important that you prepare financially to cater for the child’s needs such as clothing, shelter, and food.

 

The home should also be equipped with furniture appropriate for the child. There are five ways to prepare for your first childbirth:

1. Financial preparation
Financial preparation involves checking whether your child will be included in the health insurance. If the baby is not covered, you should take the appropriate measures to modify the plan.

 

It is also necessary to decide if you should stay at home to take care of the baby or you should continue working. If the cost of the child care is comparable to your wages or the salary that your partner is earning, it is advisable to let one of you stay at home to raise the baby.

 

2. Preparing your home
You should  make a new room in your home for the baby. This is because the child will need his room either for living or playing. You can achieve this by clearing out your home office or making a spare bedroom.

 

Space should be created in the kitchen cabinets for storing baby food, bottles, or other items that your child will need. You should also obtain various equipment that your child will need like highchairs, bottles, car seat, diapers, beds, toys or a desk to complete school work.

 

3. Preparing for delivery of the newborn
The preparation for the baby’s delivery involves attending classes that will teach you how to breathe during labor, how to breastfeed, or how to handle your newborn baby.

 

You should speak to your health care provider to get referrals for the kind of classes you should take. You should also pack essential items that are required during the birthing process such as extra clothing for changing, cameras and other personal items.

 

4. Keep essential contact information
To prevent issues of medical malpractice, it is crucial to have contact information for a doctor or health provider whom you trust.

 

You can use these contacts to get clarifications if you or your partner have any questions during pregnancy or the birthing process.

 

5. Seek help
During the first postpartum weeks, extra assistance will be invaluable. Mothers who receive help are better equipped to help their babies. You can arrange for a relative to come and provide necessary support during that period. The relative will provide much-needed help in doing laundry, cooking, shopping, cleaning or running errands.

 

In spite of the level of research and reading that you might do, you should understand that you cannot entirely prepare for the challenges that come with pregnancy and new baby. Parenthood usually affects different people differently, so it is impossible to predict how it will affect you physically, emotionally and every other way.