Monday, October 31, 2011

Make sure your ready for your little one

By Oliver Dear


Whether you have only just noticed the signs of pregnancy or are nearly ready for your new arrival there is lots to do before your new arrival arrives. Apart from knowing what signs of pregnancy to look for and how to look after your growing baby you will also need to know what to get before your baby arrives.

There are many signs of pregnancy including prickling, tingling nipples, spotting and cramping, feeling sick, tender swollen breasts, fatigue, the frequent need to urinate, change in your sense of taste, missed period and a positive pregnancy test. If you have one or more of these pregnancy symptoms then you may well be pregnant. A healthy lifestyle should help lessen some of these pregnancy symptoms.

Once you have found out about your pregnancy then you should understand that it will be split into three trimesters. In the first trimester as your foetus starts to grow you may experience some morning sickness but this should go as you get into the second trimester of your pregnancy. In the second trimester you may begin to feel the baby moving and some expectant mothers feel renewed energy during this phase. As you reach the final trimester you may feel nervous about the imminent arrival of your baby but the majority of your pregnancy symptoms will have deceased by this point and you can take comfort in the fact that your baby will soon be with you.

Whether you are going to have a home birth or a hospital birth a birthing plan is something that all mothers to be should write, with the help from their midwife. In your birthing plan you may state how and where you wish to give birth, who you want present at the birth and your views with regard to pain relief and epidurals. It is an important document and is a way of making sure that any concerns or wishes you have are listened to.

One of the final pregnancy symptoms that arise is the need to nest; however getting the nursery and equipment that a baby requires can be a daunting task. When sorting out your nursery there are many things to consider from the colour of the walls to the furniture in it. The basic nursery will need a cot for the baby to sleep in and some storage for the baby's clothes. There are however a great deal of other things that can go into a nursery including changing tables, mosses baskets, nursing chairs and foot stools, mobiles over the cot, night lights and baby monitors.

Pushchairs and car seats need to be purchased before your baby is born. Pushchairs come in many different forms with some having car seats included, some with adjustable seats and some looking like a traditional pram. Car seats also come in many different forms the most important thing to remember here is that your new baby may be spending a lot of time in their car seat so making sure they will be comfortable and well protected are important factors in deciding which to buy.

When deciding what you will need before your baby arrives do not forget the items such as baby wipes, nappies, bottles, steriliser, baby bath and clothes. You may require bottles even if you have decided to breast feed as it is sometimes nice to express milk so that a grandparent or partner can share in the feeding of your baby.

The final step to getting ready for your new arrival is to sit back and relax before they arrive. The arrival of a new baby is a busy time and in the last few weeks before they arrive you should make the most of being able to relax. Once your baby arrives the most important thing to remember is to enjoy them.




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