* * * Preparing for your new Baby. * * *

Hints, tips and advice on preparing for a new baby in the home. Preparing for a new baby is a very exciting time, particularly if this is your first. There’s so much fun to be had shopping for tiny clothes, pram, bassinette and all that you need for your new baby, while following the weekly development of your growing baby.

There’s no doubt that this is the greatest, life changing achievement of your lives. Celebrate and enjoy! What most couples don’t prepare for are the physical and emotional changes in Mum, and the impact having a baby has on your relationship. As much time should be devoted to preparing for these challenges as is spent setting up the nursery and getting your home ‘baby ready’ for your arrival. So, from personal experience, here are a few bits of advice which may help to make your journey a little easier!

* One of the most important considerations when bringing a new baby home is what you’ll be walking into. You’re still recovering from the birth, and feeling sleep deprived; the last thing you’ll want to be doing is cleaning your house to bring it up o standard! If your partner-like most- is flat out up until your birth and is pushed for time, (or a little lacking in the cleaning/maintenance dept!), have someone do it for you. Arrange for your home to be cleaned and prepared for your arrival so you can relax and concentrate on your baby, and your recovery.

* Relax! Babies pick up on feelings of stress and tension and may become unsettled as a result. Find relaxation techniques-well before your birth-that work for you, whether it be through music, watching TV, long walks, yoga or meditation - whatever. Practice these regularly before your birth and use them once you bring baby home.

* Creating this baby was a joint effort, so too should be the preparation of your home, and the care of your baby after the birth. Partners often feel like there’s not much they can do in the early stages, particularly if you’re breastfeeding. So wrong! Share the housework prior to birth, set up the nursery together and be well used to working together before your baby arrives. Try to encourage, not criticise!

* Listen to your mother! Not every piece of advice is an old wives tale. Your mother has loads of experience and intuition which can be an invaluable resource. You might not always agree, but it’s often worth listening anyway. It’s well worth thinking about and discussing with your partner-based on others experience-the impact that having a baby typically has on a relationship, before the birth.

Open, constructive communication is one of the most critical things in maintaining a healthy, positive and harmonious relationship when embarking on parenthood. The stress of breastfeeding, sleep deprivation and maybe an unsettled baby, for whatever reason, can be extremely detrimental if not handled well. It takes an enormous amount of energy and patience and understanding from both partners to support each other, particularly through the early stages.

* Accept all offers of help with housework, meal preparation, picking up and dropping off siblings to kinder, school etc. and conserve your energy for caring for you and your baby, and other essential stuff!

* Make sure you have enough baby clothes, ie: grow suits, singlets, bunny rugs etc. You’ll be surprised just how many you can get through in one day, and how fast your baby will grow out of them!

* Consider the impact on the environment and use eco-friendly nappies such as Bambo. Manufacturers must adhere to strict production guidelines and quality standards to achieve their eco-friendly status. You’ll be doing your baby and the world a long term favour! There are also companies that offer a recycling service for disposable nappies.

* Ask friends and relatives with babies for recommendations of useful telephone numbers of support services and help lines and create your own resource list before your baby is born. The mind of a breastfeeding, sleep deprived Mum may not be up to its usual speed and if you run into trouble with any aspect of post natal care for you or your baby, it helps enormously to have some idea of who to call.

* Contrary to what some would have us believe, mothering is largely a learned ability, and a little instinctual. Give yourself a break and expect it to take time to get the hang of the whole mothering/parenting thing!

* Breastfeeding undoubtedly provides a great start for your baby, but isn’t for everyone. If you choose not to, or are unable to breastfeed for whatever reason, this does not make you a failure. There are oodles of highly intelligent, successful, beautiful people in this world who weren’t breastfed! Do what’s right for you and don’t be pushed into making decisions by well meaning relatives and friends. Your emotional and physical wellbeing is vital to your ability to nurture your baby in every way.

* Ask well meaning friends and relatives to always call before visiting, and if you don’t feel up for it, ask to make another time.

* If anyone asks what you’d like for a gift, consider suggesting a voucher or contribution towards a support service to be used once you’re home with new baby. Think about having a cleaner for a couple of visits, or dinner provided for 7 days or a lactation consultant to help with feeding difficulties, many great alternatives to make your journey easier.

* Websites are an invaluable resource when preparing for a new baby, and for objective advice after your birth. Birth.com is a fabulous, non-profit site which hosts loads of forums where you can post questions anonymously about pregnancy, birth, babies and parenting issues and receive feedback from other members. You can also join as a member and then have access to Birth’s online classes which provide a wealth of info. on all sorts of topics in preparation for your birth. I highly recommend this as a vital support, particularly if you’re feeling isolated and housebound after the birth.

* A healthy diet throughout pregnancy is a vital part of your preparation for a new baby. Not only are you giving your growing baby every opportunity to thrive, you are ensuring your energy levels are at an optimum, your mind is clearer, you’re quality of sleep is better and you’re much less likely to have problems with constipation, indigestion etc. Fresh fruits, vegetables, salads, a healthy amount of protein, healthy fats, low GI carbohydrates and lots of water will help combat fatigue and make it much easier to lose any excess weight gained after your birth.

* Cook and freeze as many meals as you can possibly store in your freezer before your birth, that can be easily reheated. You’ll be glad you made the effort!

* Exercise! Get into the habit during your pregnancy of walking or doing some sort of exercise on a regular basis and keep it up after birth. You may feel exhausted and unenthusiastic initially but will boost you energy levels and have a clearer mind.

* Hire or invest in a good breast pump and buy sterile freezer bags for breastmilk storage. The sooner you start expressing and freezing milk the better.

* Spend time with babies before yours arrives! Many new parents have never held a baby or have little or no experience with their care. It helps your confidence level to have some idea of how to change a nappy or simply hold an infant.

* Find a buddy with a young baby who you can relate to and pre-arrange for her to be a resource/support person once your baby has arrived. Feelings of isolation, loneliness and fear are so common, it really helps to know that you can call a friend any time who will relate and be there for you.

Article courtesy of Sarah at Immaculate Reception.

Immaculate Reception is a unique, holistic parent support service that fully prepares your home for Mum and new baby’s arrival, and offers a professional team to support Mum, partner and baby with post natal care.