As a first time parent, your pregnancy will likely be one of the most exciting times in your life. After all, you are bringing a whole new life into the world and that is definitely something worth celebrating. However, pregnancy can also be an incredibly stressful time as you try to get everything prepared for when your little one arrives in the world. After all, the last thing you want to do after returning from the hospital is to send your partner out to the shops to buy nappies.
With that in mind, here are five things you can do in the last few weeks of your pregnancy to prepare for the arrival of your baby.
Check that you have everything you need. Preparing to welcome a baby into your home can be an expensive task, as you have to get your hands on a wide range of baby products such as cots, prams and baby swings. However, you can save yourself a great deal of cash by figuring out which newborn products are worthwhile and which are a waste of money. Once you’ve decided what you need to buy, be sure to purchase them from trusted sites such as buggy baby. While you may have done a lot of shopping early in your pregnancy, going over your supplies and checking you have everything you need ahead of time will save you any stress further down the line.
Research baby names. By now, you’ve probably had hundreds of conversations with your loved ones about what you would like to call your baby. However, if you are still unsure, be sure to spend this time researching potential baby names - and put together a list of potential options.
Put together your hospital bag. As your due date approaches, you should ensure that you put together your hospital bag and store it in the entryway to your home or even in your car. That way, it’s ready to go as soon as you are. Remember, while your hospital bag should include everything you need for your little ones, such as diapers and dummies and babygrows - you should also ensure that you have some things for yourself in there too. For example, you may want to include hygiene products such as wipes and cooling sprays in your hospital bag.
Rest. Rest. Rest. One of the biggest challenges that new parents face is dealing with a lack of sleep. While babies do spend a lot of time sleeping, they will also spend a lot of time crying and will likely wake up several times throughout the night. And, as any parent can attest - when your child is awake, so are you. Therefore, it is important that you get as much sleep as possible in the run-up to their arrival. While this does not guarantee your boundless energy day in and day out, it’s a good way to put your best foot forward and will also help your body recover much quicker. You should also take this time to allow yourself a few treats, such as a long relaxing bath or your favorite chocolate bar.