10 Things you need to finish before your baby arrives

Foster Feel

Hurrah you successfully completed 8 months and now countdown begins….if you already started counting the days then let me remind you, your baby can arrives as soon as you complete your 37 weeks or as late as after 42 weeks. Babies arrive in or before 37 weeks are called premature babies and babies arrive between 37 to 42 weeks are known as full term baby. Whether you give birth exactly on due date or in the weeks before or after doesn’t really matter if your baby is healthy.

Well today we are not here to talk about your due date but of course we are going to talk about what are the things you need to finish before your baby arrives:

1. Give final touch to your nursery: Creating a nursery is fun task. All parents want to welcome their baby in their own way and so don’t forget to give your own personal touch to your nursery. Go through the check list for the last time and complete it before time runs. Read Newborn Checklist
2. Finalize baby registry: Baby registry maintains your wish list and your upcoming needs with which your friends and relatives can get their gift ideas for you and your baby. Build it with your time and special interest or else you may end up your nursery with stacking up unnecessary kids’ items.
3. Find baby care options: It is important to plan your baby care options before you deliver. If you are planning to call your parents, book tickets a week before your due date. Search nearby baby care center or good baby sitter in advance. After delivery it won’t be possible for you to spend time to search baby care as you will be busy with your new arrival as well as your health may not support you.
4. Shop motherly stuff: Don’t forget to shop your comfort and that includes your after delivery stuff also. You may need some motherly stuff like feeding bra, feeding pillow, diaper bag, sanitary napkins (lots of), lip gloss, hair clips, moisturizer and many more. For clothes and lingerie buy one size bigger than your normal (before pregnancy) one. Your foot size will take time to fit in your previous shoes so don’t run to get your new shoes for now.
5. Tidy up your house: Your nursery and motherly stuff may need extra space so pack your unnecessary things for the time and put it away. Rearrange your nursery in such a way so that you can get the things handy. If you are planning to use your elder kids’ stuff, wash it clean it and sanitize it. If you are planning to use new clothes for your newborn, wash it couple of times before you use it for your baby. That will make the clothes soft enough for your newborn’s sensitive skin. If you are fond of well-organized clean home, start the cleanup right now as after delivery you won’t be able to get that much time and stamina to do the things.
6. Pack your hospital bag: you may need to run to hospital at any time so pack your bag with the need and comfort. What to pack in bag is depends on country as well as on individual hospital. Here I am sharing the link What to Pack which helped me to pack my bag when I was pregnant. Still I suggest you to visit your hospital and ask the facility offered there.
   
   
   
   
7. Talk about birth plan: It is good option to get birth plan done at the time of delivery only. Talk to your partner as well as your doctor regarding the same.
8. Go through baby names: Finding the perfect name for your baby is always difficult and time consuming so start it right now. You may think you can decide this later what’s hurry but trust me later you won’t get enough time and that may turn your fun into frustration. Start it now and have fun with new finding phase.
9. Have fun run to hospital: Labor pain mostly last for more than 8 hours but sometimes it’s so nominal that mother cannot differentiate it from normal false contraction. Plan a drive to your hospital, measure distance and time to reach there during different span of time as well as find out alternative routes. In case of emergency this knowledge will help you to plan accordingly. You can also visit your hospital to see the available facilities. It is always good to know the place where you are going to deliver.
10. Take a break from your work: If you are planning to leave your job or to take maternity leave, this is the perfect time to start. You may think it is bit early but at the same time this will give you ease from your stress and you will get enough time to welcome your baby in your own way.