Wednesday, April 18, 2012

4 Basics to Prepare for Your New Baby - Must-do Things In the Last Trimester of Pregnancy

Pregnancy

 

MommyBlogExpert 's foursome: Newborn triplets plus 1 year-old big brother

What To Do Before Baby Arrives

Guest Post
by Katie Moore, Moore From Katie

Preparing for a new baby is an exciting and emotional time. There are so many baby accessories out there that it can be hard to decide on what is necessary and to stay focused as the time of your delivery draws near. 

To simplify what seems to be a complicated matter, only a handful of things are truly necessary to consider: a place to sleep, food, and safe transportation.

To ease the transition associated with your impending new addition -- Whether you've decided baby will sleep in your room when you return from the hospital or will have a dedicated nursery of his or her own -- you'll want to get to work in advance on preparing that space at home. This can be a fun and meaningful process that helps with feelings of nesting. Also, cleaning the house thoroughly well in advance of your due date will help preserve your energy after childbirth. The important thing to keep in mind is that a new baby needs a functional, safe and clean place to sleep. In addition, it's a good idea to get familiar with the infant safe sleep recommendations provided by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.

Toward the end of your pregnancy mothers-to-be should also start thinking about feeding your newborn. For those choosing to breastfeed taking a hospital-approved course, speaking to experienced mothers, and attending a breastfeeding support group are great ways to prepare. A nursing pillow and breast pump are useful for mothers planning to nurse, though they are not necessary. 

Speaking of food, as a new mom you'll also want to plan ahead about how you'll feed the rest of your household during those first few weeks after delivery. Cooking meals and freezing them in advance is a great way to ensure that you and your family will have nutritious foods accessible during the post-partum period. As a mater of fact good nutrition is important in helping you to keep up your own energy levels as high as possible, particularly if you are nursing your new child.

Lastly, but equally important, each baby needs a safe car seat for travel. All newborns being transported by car, as required by law, must be placed in a rear facing carseats that meet established safety requirements. Proper installation of this important piece of equipment can be checked by a car seat safety specialist at your local police or fire station. 

By considering these preparations in advance of your big day, the focus can then be on taking care of the new addition to the family as soon as he or she arrives.

Katie Moore is married with one child and writes the mom blog Moore From Katie.

FTC Disclosure: This guest post was authored by Katie Moore and edited by MommyBlogExpert. I did not receive any payment or other compensation associated with this post. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.

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