Preparing for a baby holds so much significance in your journey to parenthood. You may have seen what having a baby looks like, but having your own is a different story altogether. Your strive begins now, how to be a well-informed parent.
To be honest, after a baby, your life is going to take a whole new turn. Things aren’t going to be the same as they used to be. To tell you the truth. your bond gets more robust and better every single day,
Parenting is hard and being a good parent is even harder, so ideally, you should be working on to understand what baby care looks like and how you can make it more natural right from the start.
When you are preparing for the baby, you must make sure you are less overwhelmed and aim to be well-aware parent. Taking birth classes, having your support from those around you, and reading about baby care and mom care is equally important.
How to prepare for the baby
The moment you find out you are pregnant, amp up your healthy eating habits, and avoid any sort of pregnancy health mistake.
Despite taking proper care while you are expecting, pregnancy symptoms like nausea, twitching eyes, restless legs, and more, may trigger your aches and pains. Learn how you can fight pregnancy discomforts.
1. Set up a Baby Nursery
Once you find out that the baby is coming soon, you start looking for baby nursery ideas. Setting up a picture-perfect nursery depends on having enough space.
Essentially, you need to maximize space by getting rid of all the unnecessary items that are taking up most of your area around the house.
Declutter as much as you can, as a baby brings in a lot of stuff. Trash, donate, sell, or purge the way you want. And remember, less is more, especially when you are a mom.
Now you are overwhelmed with so many saved ideas of setting up a baby nursery. Each one of them looks beautiful and leaves you indecisive to choose any.
Kelly Mirohi has an excellent course on setting up a baby nursery. She is going to give you ideas on how to have a specific color theme, matching rugs, curtains, and everything you need for the nursery.
Getting this online nursery bible will make decisions easy about your baby room, and your vision takes a definite direction.
2. Understand what you need – set up baby registry
Telling you from experience; please do not get into a new mommy’s trap, and buy everything you see out there. I completely understand the temptation, and I know how it feels to be a first-time parent.
I would say, do not fall trap of your emotions – and research into what could work for your lifestyle. Most importantly, understand your circumstances and the configuration of your house – What you can actually accommodate and how long you are going to use it.
Setting up a baby registry necessarily does not mean you get everything because someone else has to pay for it.
Ideally, setting up baby zones throughout the house on a budget, keeps baby entertained – while you accomplish other household chores.
When you are anxiously waiting to find out your baby’s gender, that’s the most exciting part of being a parent. Choosing a unique baby name is an exciting part of the parenthood journey.
As a first-time mom, at some point, you may find breastfeeding picture-perfect mom and baby bonding experience. Well, that’s not true. Breastfeeding is not as easy as it may seem.
Understanding the challenges of breastfeeding is very important. From the right latch to tongue-tie, from sore nipples to mastitis, colostrum to proper milk supply, there is so much to know. For that, you need proper guidance.
Stacey at Milkology is a certified lactation educator. She has an online breastfeeding class that you can get any time – It is better if you take it before you deliver. However, it is never too late to take the course. Stacey’s comprehensive course on breastfeeding is going to tell you ways to improve milk supply, and the timeline involved. Thousands of moms have taken the course and benefitted from it.
Choosing a competent and experienced pediatrician is very important. Research some good pediatrics that are closer to your area. Usually hospitals have their own pediatricians, but once you go home you need to schedule appointment immediately with your pediatrician.
7. Prepare your Hospital bag
Have your hospital bag ready by the 34th week of your pregnancy. The essentials that you need in your hospital bag depends on your delivery.
Other than everyday essentials, do not forget to take a long charging cable, a hairdryer, and your comfy pillow.
While new parents are busy preparing for the baby, they tend to forget about their own needs.
Most essentially, moms need a lot of support and recovery tools, so after experiencing a life-changing event, their bodies need to heal. Regardless of what type of delivery you have, preparing a postpartum essentials kit is a must.
When you move closer to your due date, have your freezer meals ready, so you don’t have to worry about cooking and feeding your family.
You must include protein in your postpartum diet. Marinade chicken with your choice of spices and freeze. Thaw before cooking. Either cook it in an instant pot or bake it in the oven.
Stress-free meal preparation is a great way to minimize postpartum overwhelm.
You can make bone broth ahead of time and freeze it in serving size. Eating bone broth speed up healing process and keeps moms hydrated.
Either you can order these from Amazon or you can get these herbs from any international grocery store near by.
Cumin seeds help significantly improve milk supply for breastfeeding moms. You can also add cumin seeds while you cook the bone broth.
During pregnancy and postpartum, you can prepare cumin seeds water and drink throughout the day. Cumin seed water helps with digestion and promotes lactation for nursing moms.
Fennel seeds are the only best home remedy to fight gas issues for mom and the baby. Eating a tsp of fennel seeds for the first several weeks helps moms with bloating. Add it in your postpartum snack basket, and your baby is not going to wake-up crying due to sudden gas pain.
If you ask any mom about the toughest part of motherhood, the answer would be sleep deprivation. Managing sleep with a newborn is not an easy feat. Newborns may seem like sleeping all day but as the days go by, they become more active.
As a mom, you must understand how newborns sleep pattern works. Once the baby is here, you are busy adjusting. Utilize your time learning about baby sleep while you are still pregnant. That way, you can rule out baby sleep issues later – if she develops any.
Motherhood does not come with a manual; moms learn as they go. As a new mom, hearing a baby cry may affect you more than anybody else. Babies only communicate with crying; that’s the only language they know.
Pregnancy is the most critical time in a woman’s life. Expectant moms need to be extra careful and vigilant about taking care of themselves and their unborn child. Nurturing a human inside you is an incredible phenomenon and a lifetime experience.
When it comes to being vigilant about consuming and eating, make sure to keep a close eye on your everyday activities.
In this post, I tell you about several pregnancy health mistakes that pregnant women should avoid, whenever they can.
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclaimer for more information.
Common Pregnancy health mistakes you should avoid
1. Not drinking enough water
Do you know why you need to drink plenty of water in pregnancy? Besides getting dehydrated, not drinking enough water leads to body cramps, leg cramps, body aches, swelling, UTI’s, and many other discomforts.
Try to drink plenty of water, if you do not like drinking regular water, you may try vitamin water or other non-caffeinated flavored liquid. Make sure your caffeine intake is moderate as too much caffeine could lead to more frequent urination.
Some of the flavors of vitamin waters are having caffeine so you should be avoiding that to be on the safe side.
2. Consuming too much Caffeine
Typically, pregnant women should not take more than 200mg of caffeine each day. Less than 200mg is considered to be okay. Always read a label for how much caffeine your drink has. If you are a coffee or tea person, you must take note of how much caffeine you are consuming that is recommended for mom and your unborn baby.
Here is a breakdown of the caffeine intake you should keep as a counter.
3. Not taking proper rest when your body is telling you to
If you are a working woman, it is very likely for you to get tired due to lack of sleep, leg cramps, fatigue, nausea and so much more. Listen to your body. Whenever you feel tired, stop doing, what you are doing. Try to lay down or sit, put your feet up and relax for a while.
For instance, If you are standing for a long time, and suddenly you start feeling tired in your legs, sit or lay down. If you have been doing a lot of physical work lately, slow down and take rest.
Pregnancy discomforts are normal still you should always respond to your body right away.
Once you find out about your pregnancy, you need to start taking prenatal vitamins if you are not already taking that. Typically, doctors advise taking prenatal vitamins even If you are trying to get pregnant until you are breastfeeding the baby.
As a new mom-to-be, you need to make sure you are taking prenatal vitamins with the right amount of folic acid, as it plays a vital role in the baby’s brain development.
You should talk to your doctor about the safe dosage or supplements you need every day.
5. Not taking an iron supplement or iron-rich food if you are anemic
Also if you are low on hemoglobin levels or having breathlessness during pregnancy, (as it could be one of the symptoms of being low on iron level) you may want to start prenatal vitamins with iron. GNC has a prenatal formula with iron and I have used them for about 3 years and highly recommend these. You can get it from Amazon too.
If you are a second-time mom or had a previous C-section, you should be super careful about your hemoglobin levels.
6. Using harsh cleaning chemicals
Typically, doctors and midwives do not recommend using harsh cleaning chemicals while being pregnant, as you inhaling the strong chemical is not a good idea.
Avoid as much as you can. Make sure you have a proper ventilation system if you REALLY have to do it. Also, wear gloves if possible.
Try to avoid using products that have warning labels about toxicity.
Ideally, you should get the help of your partner because of the fact, pregnancy is the only time when they are actually willing to help.
7. Not emptying bladder while Urinating or holding on
Pregnant women are vulnerable to getting urinary tract infections quite often. It is highly advised for pregnant women to empty the bladder every pee time.
Due to a full down belly, the bladder does not get empty on its own every time you do for a pee. The simple tip is to lean forward to put pressure on your bladder and pee. This way it will help your bladder to get empty and it would significantly reduce the chances of getting UTI just because you are pregnant.
Secondly, drink plenty of water, and if you get UTI often, start using a peri bottle for better cleaning. Especially, if you are using a toilet for number 2.
Once you deliver your baby (Vaginal or C-section), your nurse is going to give you one to use for washing. So, why not start using the peri bottle now.
You may or may not notice implantation bleeding or spotting in the earliest weeks of pregnancy. But for some of you notice a stain on your panty gets super stressful. Besides spotting during the first trimester being normal, you should never ignore bleeding at any stage of pregnancy. Always talk to your doctor about your concerns.
Some pregnant women, if not all, may experience Subchronic Bleeding and deliver healthy babies. Subchronic bleeding occurs when there is an accumulation of blood under the outer fetal membrane or between the uterus and the placenta. This can only be found out in an ultrasound. Most o the time it resolves on its own over the course of pregnancy.
For the most part, bleeding in pregnancy is very disturbing mentally and emotionally. However, not every time it means a miscarriage. In most cases, babies seem to be healthy and happy inside the womb.
As a general rule, if you are soaking one full pad, always call your doctor and schedule a sonogram to see if everything seems okay.
Although it may seem fine in your ultrasound but you still need to take these precautions if you have experienced subchronic bleeding during pregnancy.
Limit your physical activity
Avoid sexual intercourse
Stay hydrated
Take proper rest
Do not do any heavy lifting
If you have travel plans, delay.
That being said a pregnant woman, needs to be super careful and needs to take a lot of rest if she is bleeding at any time during pregnancy.
9. Eating food with high sugar content if you have a yeast infection
Yeast infection is very common during pregnancy. Most pregnant women have experienced mild to severe yeast infection.
Eating sugar is like nourishing a garden having yeast infection. The best remedy to treat a yeast infection is to avoid sugar altogether for the time you are fully recovered. Stop consuming Juices, sweets, chocolates, fruits anything that has processed sugar in it. That being said, you can resume your love for sugar once the yeast infection is gone.
Meanwhile, eat plain yogurt as much as you can to treat the infection effectively.
10. Ignoring gum infection
Do you know one of the earliest pregnancy symptoms is, triggered gum or tooth infection? It is advised to treat the ongoing infection before getting pregnant because dental infections may lead to preterm labor if you are pregnant.
Practicing adequate oral hygiene during pregnancy is extremely important, especially if you have pre-existing dental issues. You must brush your teeth every night before going to bed, anyway.
Doctors advise antibiotics that are considered safe during pregnancy and as per mom’s history related to the safe medication.
Are you breastfeeding a toddler while being pregnant?
Experts advise not to breastfeed as it may trigger preterm Labor putting your unborn baby at risk. However in a few cases, some moms might have successful experiences of breastfeeding while being pregnant, still, doctors and midwives advise expectant moms to make safe choices when it is about the health of mom and a baby.
12. Eating raw or undercooked meat when you are pregnant
Ideally, pregnant women should not eat undercooked meat like poultry, fish. Undercooked eggs are also not advised for pregnant women. Always prefer fully cooked meat and anything but half fried eggs when it comes to safe eating for two. Undercooked meat has bacteria that is not considered safe for a pregnant woman to consume.
Wash produce thoroughly that you can consume raw. For instance, you must wash fruits and veggies like carrots, strawberries, blueberries, and celery, etc to ensure safe eating for mom and the baby.
Another safety measure, you should wear disposable gloves when you are handling meat or poultry. or wash hands thoroughly before and after handling meat. Try not to handle meat with bare hands of you have cuts or injuries on hand in order to keep yourself safe from bacteria.
13. Never be too busy to count baby kicks every day
When you are pregnant with baby number 1, you would be extra vigilant to notice everything about your baby and her movements. But, sadly when it is about baby number 2 or baby #3 or more, we are too busy to notice or do a kick count.
It is very important to do a kick count every day. Babies are sleeping in the womb for the most part about 20 hours, thus, it is just a four hours window when you have to feel your baby moving. However, if you think the baby is not moving enough, try to eat something sweet or cold and you should be able to get a kick count.
Have you just found out, you are pregnant? And you are looking for some pregnancy announcement ideas for your loved ones, especially your husband and your family.
The best part about the first baby pregnancy announcement is to see a priceless reaction to the news. That’s the most exciting part of having a baby.
Here are some cute little ideas I want to share with my readers. Irrespective of what gender you are carrying, this announcement fun is more about having a baby.
You know your loved ones more than anyone, so you can choose what is the best suitable way to break the news about your pregnancy.
However, you can still pick a few ideas for gender reveal.
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclaimer for more information.
Pregnancy announcement ideas for husband
1. First Pregnancy Test Surprise announcement
Well, the Pregnancy test is the most popular one, and most of us might have used that one only. You can leave it somewhere he would notice for sure, bathroom, sink, put it as a surprise in a box.
2. Put Baby shoe in his work or everyday shoe
If this is your first pregnancy announcement then this is going to be super exciting for dad-to-be. How about putting a newborn baby shoe in his everyday shoes. Well, who wouldn’t notice that? You can either record him on the camera or surprise him when you both are ready to leave for somewhere.
Choosing the right time of day depends on how your schedule works.
3. Hang baby onesie in his closet
Does your husband choose clothes from his closet every day? The best thing is to hand a baby onesie in his closet. How cute the first baby announcement is that!
You can surprise him by putting up your sonogram pictures on your fridge using fridge magnet clips.
7. First Baby sonogram frame announcement
Use a baby sonogram frame and put it in his surroundings where you think he is going to notice for sure. For instance, nightstand, breakfast table, dresser mirror, etc.
8. Using a letter Board for a pregnancy announcement
Letterboard is a wonderful thing to have in your home. It helps you start your day with a beautiful, positive message every day. Put up a cute pregnancy announcement on your letter board for your partner and cherish those beautiful memories.
9. Wear a T-shirt
You can get a cute pregnancy announcement shirt and wear it when your partner is going to be around. Sure, he notices what you are wearing.
10. Write baby’s name if you have decided for a while
If you have already been trying for a baby or planned a name for a long time the best thing to surprise him is to manually write a date or name on a baby onesie, card, letter board anywhere, you know he is going to notice.
You can get these personalized pillows to share the news with your husband, partner, grandparents. How on earth they are not going to love it.
If you have white or beige pillow covers at home, you can use them to write something cute about your pregnancy on the pillow cover. Or you can sew a lovely message.
14. Use an announcement note or card
Leave a note or card in your husband or partner’s car.
Choose a special day to announce your pregnancy, like a birthday or anniversary and use a cake topper with a pregnancy announcement to give your partner a memorable surprise.
Isn’t it fun to surprise him while playing UNO card game? Write a pregnancy announcement “we are having a baby” or I’m Pregnant, or “baby is on the way” on one of the blank cards.
Motherhood is a challenging phase of life. before giving birth women are all excited about holding a baby in their arms, looking at the joyful side of a journey. The journey from labor pains to childbirth is a life-changing event.
Counting babies kicks and most of all watching your baby moving in your third-trimester belly is one of the fondest memories of being pregnant.
Rest assured the joys of holding a baby are beautiful and you are going to have the most cherishable memories of all times.
Now you are ready to give birth and excited too, I highly recommend you should visit your hospital pre-birth and get yourself registered. This will save you a lot of time when you will be actually in labor and need immediate assistance.
Visit your hospital labor and delivery department to be well aware of the rooms and other formalities, you might have to take care of.
This is a very common question for first-time moms when you know it’s time to bring baby home.
Having all those excitement and butterflies in your belly; one fine day your time would come with real pains and probably with a gush of water.
When you know these are not Braxton hicks (false contractions) and you could actually time your pains at equal intervals. If your contractions are exactly at 20 minutes interval, maybe less or more, you need to pack up your hospital bag.
Well, as a matter of fact, these contractions interval may take days to shrink down to maybe 5 minutes or 3 minutes. Whenever you are able to time them for like 2 to 3 hours at the same interval, you need to call your doctor, nurse or a midwife at your hospital you are planning on to deliver.
If your water breaks, you need to call right away, even you do not feel any sort of contraction or pains.
Once you are at the hospital, you need to check in with all those bands with barcodes. These bands are going to stay on your wrist until you are staying at the hospital.
What happens in the labor room?
Nurses would take care of everything when you get there. If you have more frequent contractions, they would find out and provide immediate assistance. Your doctor or midwife is going to find out how much dilated you are by that time.
If your labor pains are not very frequent and you don’t seem to be dilated more than 2 cm, you might be sent back home.
If your baby is full-term at 39 weeks, you might want to discuss the option of Pitocin, a medicine to speed up the labor pains.
You can opt for epidural. Before that, you need to eat or drink whatever you want because once you get epidural you won’t be able to drink water even.
What happens in the surgery room in case you have scheduled a cesarean or emergency C-section?
If you have a scheduled C-section due to many reasons like baby’s position, multiple fetuses, health concerns, etc., chances are you have to get it in the morning. Thus, you have to make sure you should not have eaten at least 12 hours on the day of C-section. You have to be an empty stomach.
Eat well the night before and sleep better as you are already signing up for sleep deprivation motherhood brings. 🙂
Epidural or General Anesthesia
By any chance you end up having C-section, you most likely be given epidural (spinal) If not general anesthesia.
Nurses would make sure your area for the incision is shaved.
After that, they are going to apply medicine and all the surgical procedure you can expect.
Although doctors, surgeons, anesthesia staff, nurses, every concerned person would be in the surgery room. However, if you want your partner or husband to be in the surgery room, you can surely ask nurses.
They are going to provide the medicated clothes for him so that he can be with you inside the surgery room and you both could enjoy the birth of your baby.
What to expect right after Childbirth
You might be an expert by now for what happens in pregnancy and how to deal with those nauseous mornings, but getting to know what happens in the hospital right after birth is not too far now.
Curious to know or not – here the things you must need to know what happens after birth.
1. Apgar Evaluation
This is a necessary evaluation procedure done after birth. The purpose is to see if there are any medical concerns or not. Doctors measure five signs of the baby’s condition
Heart rate
Breathing
Reflexes
Activity and muscles tone
Skin color
Apgar evaluation score varies from 0 to 10. Babies who score 7 or more are considered healthy. Low Apgar score does not mean any necessary medical concerns.
Researchers say that in more than 98% of babies, quite often the Apgar score reaches 7 within 5 minutes of baby’s life as it is checked twice in the first 5 minutes of baby’s life after birth.
2. Vitamin K injection
Babies are born with vitamin K deficiency as it does not reach the placenta during pregnancy. Thus, doctors make sure that babies get vitamin K injection right after birth to make sure no bleeding in the brain or intestines could occur. Right after the birth baby is given vitamin K injection to help with blood to clot.
3. Antibiotic eye ointment
Your baby will be applied Erythromycin an eye antibiotic ointment to her eyes so that it does not cause an infection that could occur during delivery. Infections could occur due to sexually transmitted diseases, gonorrhea, and chlamydia.
If you are concerned, babies can see through the ointment and it is not irritating for babies.
4. Oxygen saturation testing
This procedure is done to check for lower levels of oxygen in the baby’s bloodstream that might identify any significant yet rare heart defects. This is a needleless procedure involves placing a band-aid-like sensor on the baby’s right hand and right foot.
4. Baby Foot is printed
Your baby’s foot will be printed.
5. Identification Bands on wrists and legs
Your baby will also be wearing an identification band on with your name as a mother.
6. Skin to skin
Research has shown that an hour after birth is when your baby is very awake and alert and during that time and it is highly recommended when mother and baby has to be more on skin to skin.
7. Regulating the baby’s body temperature
Baby’s lose body heat fairly quickly, thus it is highly advisable to practice more and more skin to skin to regulate baby’s body temperature after birth.
8. Latching or Breastfeeding right after birth
As soon as your baby is done with all those requirements after birth, mothers are advised to start breastfeeding their babies right away, as this will help with the flow of milk supply for moms.
Breastfeeding has numerous benefits along with it helps the uterus to come back to its original size within 6 weeks.
9. Bonding with your baby
Right after birth, It is very normal to feel overjoyed to see your little bundle of happiness. Some mothers cannot feel that way which is normal too. Do not stress about bonding if you are not in that state of mind, because most of the time it is the effect of medicines as well.
However, dads would be happy to perform skin to skin if mom is having a surgical delivery.
In my both C section deliveries, at the time my first one was born I was in labor pains for three days, tired and exhausted, yet I just was super excited about bonding with my little guy. On the other hand, while with my second delivery, which was within 19 months, it took a while for me to feel normal again I was having extreme shoulder pain and my blood pressure dropped significantly. I just could not talk. And I could not hold her for a long time.
It is not advisable to hold your baby when you are not feeling normal about yourself. Bonding can weight but you as a healthy mother is more important.
Start skin to skin the moment you start feeling better and want to connect.
Nursing, latching, and feeding after childbirth
If you are a first-time mom, and you THINK that you KNOW how to breastfeed, do not stay in this misconception.
There is a big difference between knowing something and actually doing it.
Some babies do not know how to latch. They will learn slowly and gradually.
However, some babies are great at latching. They know suckle very well.
I would highly recommend first-time moms to consult a lactation specialist. Many hospitals in the US offer lactation classes which are super helpful.
Doctors would not allow you to go home if your baby is not having enough wet and dirty diapers. This means your baby is not having enough to eat.
The lactation consultants will visit you every day during your hospital stay and are there to help. Seek help, consult if you are struggling with breastfeeding.
Moms expect delayed milk supply as it takes time to settle in. However, babies are not going to eat too much in the beginning.
Colostrum is the thick form of milk that comes in before the milk supply. Colostrum is the most beneficial first baby food and sufficient for the early days of a baby’s life.
If you are not mentally or physically ready to take care of your baby, talk to your nurse about it. They are there to help. You can ask them to take your baby for the night and have her in the nursery room so you can sleep or rest for that night.
You can also tell them to bring the baby in for her feed or they could give formula if you have talked to your doctor about it.
Whatever you decide to feed your baby, remember FED IS THE BEST.
While you stay a the hospital nurses give you a chart to record about your baby eats, wee and poo schedule.
You have to feed every 2 hours or as per demand. The more you nurse the earlier and quick would be the milk supply.
Care providers want you to time baby’s eating, pee, and poo schedule to ensure baby is performing great after birth.
Baby’s First Poop
Baby’s first poo is called Meconium which is made of mucus, amniotic fluid and everything which baby has ingested while in the womb. Meconium is a black almost tar-like consistency.
Rarely, during normal delivery, babies tend to poo during the delivery process (while passing through the birth canal) which has to be monitored closely. It should not be swallowed as it could pose high risks.
Some babies poo within the first couple of days after birth. This first poo meconium is a good sign that means your baby’s digestive system is working just fine.
Colostrum, your first milk, will help meconium to excrete out of the baby’s body. It protects against infections and also acts as a laxative.
Well during your hospital stay doctors and nurses are going to closely monitor your baby’s health after birth.
Vital Signs test
Vital signs test is a baby’s hearing screening test.
This test is done before you leave the hospital. During this hearing screening, babies are monitored to respond to any sounds by using tiny earphones.
Some babies do not pass their test on their first attempt due to fluids in ears. There are very likely to pass the next day or so. In order to keep baby calm, the examiner might have to give sweet water (don’t worry, it’s just a drop) to have baby calm during the test.
Hearing problems are not very uncommon. If newborns by any chance do not pass the test, it would be helpful to treat any hearing defects earlier.
Physical weight check
Baby’s weight is monitored right at birth and then within the first few days after birth. It is very normal for babies to reduce weight during the first few days of their life.
It is normal for a baby to lose 7 to 10 percent of birth weight in the first couple of days after birth. If your baby keeps losing weight more than 10% of birth weight then you might want to consider supplementing.
Waiting for breastmilk supply is a great way to ensure healthy nutrition for your baby, BUT, if your baby is losing weight and you are struggling with milk supply, you should discuss your concerns about it with your doctor.
They measure the baby’s weight, height, and head circumference.
They are going to check how is your baby breathing.
Number of wet and dirty
To ensure how well your baby is eating, the number of wet diapers could depict. If your baby does not wee or have a wet diaper within 24 hours then your baby needs more nutrition.
Despite, your baby is losing weight after birth within limits even then the number of wet diapers confirms your baby is eating just fine.
If there are no wet diapers for more than 24 hours then you should be concerned.
Shots / vaccinations
If your baby has got a shot/vaccination, the hospital will provide you with a card and name of the vaccination with dates and everything that you need to know for a record.
Hep B vaccination
All Babies get the hepatitis B vaccine before leaving the hospital. HBV is a series of three different shots. All three of them will be received over the course of two years i.e. three times in 24 months.
Newborn Metabolic screening
This test is done by pricking your baby’s heel to take blood samples to rule out any signs of illness or diseases. This is done to make sure the baby does not have any disabilities, organ damage, etc.
First bath
The nurse is going to give the baby a bath. Wash baby’s hair and rest she sponge bath baby without having umbilical cord wet.
Additional tests for baby
Measuring bilirubin levels
Some, but not all, newborns require a bilirubin level check – a substance in the bloodstream responsible for causing jaundice.
Baby’s blood type test
Those babies who are born to women having Rh negative or O blood type must be tested. Other babies may get tested depending on the requirements and circumstances.
Other blood tests
Other tests are done to check blood sugar, blood counts, and blood cultures as per the circumstances.
Circumcision
Circumcision is the surgical procedure of removing foreskin on a baby boy’s penis.
Most but not all, boys get their penis circumcised before hospital discharge. Choosing this procedure could be personal or religious preference and could be scheduled even after discharge from the hospital.
In case you want to get it done for your baby boy, circumcision is widely practiced all over the world with many health benefits.
Always discuss its pros and cons with your doctor before you even decide to get it done for your baby boy.
Given the risks and concerns, this needs a lot of aftercare. Watch any signs of an infection. Keep the area dry and keep it covered with cotton gauze and a substantial amount of petroleum jelly on the wee-wee area.
This does not mean to get the process done right away. If you want your boy to get this done, you may want to do it in a couple of days after birth. The earlier the better as it heals pretty quickly within just a few days.
Nurses are going to guide you with care instructions.
What gifts to include in expectant moms gift baskets?
Do you have someone around who is expecting a baby real soon?
These things you can include in mom to be a gift basket that mom-to-be is surely going to love. Every item in the basket is added thoughtfully which has a specific purpose to make it super useful.
Perfect gifts you can choose for every occasion like baby shower, holiday gifts, postpartum gifts, Christmas, birthdays, gender reveal, baby arrival gifts for moms, mother’s days, gift baskets for a delivery day, etc.
Useful things you can add in a gift basket for expectant moms
The maternity phase is about 9 months long and during the last trimester, things are taking a new shape altogether for an expectant mom.
Clothes do not fit in anymore, its sleeplessness, million bathroom trips, swollen hands and feet, leg cramps and whatnot.
While you are choosing a gift for a mom-to-be, it needs to be something super useful and purposeful. If you are a mom already, there is quite a significant chance you are going to agree with me on these gift options you may want to include in a gift basket for your pregnant friend.
However, if you are not a mom yet and still looking for a gift suggestion for your pregnant friend, sister, daughter, wife, this is something she is going to love and use every single thing.
This post may contain affiliate links. Please see our disclaimer for more information.
1. Nursing & maternity Shirts
Although very few moms choose not to breastfeed after birth, still it is very likely she may end up nursing her baby and that’s what needs. The expectant mom is going to use it regardless before or after delivery.
2. Haakaa breast pump
Although breastfeeding is a choice and you do not want to impose it on someone who doesn’t want to do it. However, breastfeeding is getting popular and doctors and nurses prefer moms to nurse for their own health, speedy recovery and giving the best nutrition for the baby. Besides what moms use for pumping breastmilk, I highly recommend moms to have a manual pump handy too. This will save you tons of milk that just leaks aways while nursing on one side.
Also, it is super helpful in relieving engorged breasts and painful letdown.
3. Cooling pads for hemorrhoids
This is useful for soothing hemorrhoids for moms after delivery if you are preparing a basket for the postpartum period, you may want to add this in your gift items.
4. Peri Bottle or a portable bidet
Moms must use water after delivery regardless if they have C-sections or vaginal delivery. Nurses in the hospital make it mandatory to wash ladyparts with water every time you use a toilet after delivery.
5. Extra-long Charging Cable
During the hospital visit, C-section moms cannot move or bend for few days after delivery. It is super essential to have a long charging cable that will help moms keep the phone right next to them even while on the charge. This is a must-have for the pregnant mom’s hospital bag.
6. Nipple cream
If you have been a mom already, you know breastfeeding hurts for the first couple of weeks. During this time, a good nipple cream is super essential for new breastfeeding moms. You cannot go wrong with this idea.
7. Sitz bath soak
Bath soaks are super helpful for vaginal delivery moms. This is a relieving treatment for postpartum discomforts and hemorrhoids.
8. Belly oil
Belly oil or cream is an amazing option for expectant moms. When bellies are getting huge it is very likely for moms to get stretch marks or itchy bellies. So if you are up to preparing a gift basket for a mom who is in her pregnancy period, this is something she is going to love and use.
9. Postpartum body tea
During postpartum, drinking healthy drinks is good for recovery and for breastfeeding too. Moms are going to love this for their postpartum gifts.
10. Raspberry tea for pain
During the last trimester, midwives advice to take raspberry tea for less pain during labor and even after delivery. Raspberry leaves are known to ease menstrual pain and cramping and prepare moms for labor.
11. Milk flow drink
Breastfeeding is a lifetime experience for moms to be and a lot of moms seem to struggle with milk supply. Breastfeeding supplement is an awesome drink for breastfeeding moms to significantly improve milk supply.
12. Lactation cookies mix
Breastfeeding moms seem to love these lactation cookies as they seem improvements in milk supply. Adding these in your gift basket is going to be an awesome idea.
13. Sonogram Keepsake frame
Every mom gets a sonogram when she gets pregnant. Some may not get a chance to put it in the frame or they are too busy to do that. Why not giving this beautiful frame to an expectant mom to save her sonogram images.
14. Funny socks for moms in labor
While moms are in the hospital, they might want to wear socks. Ain’t these cute?
15. Mom and baby matching hospital outfit
Matching costume for mom and a baby is a picture-perfect gift. I am a mom to two and I can give you my word for it, your mom-to-be friend, daughter, sister, daughter is going to love it.
16. Pregnancy Wedge
If you are looking for gifts to add in a gift basket for a pregnant friend, daughter, sister, she is going to thank you for this awesome thing.
17. Box of crackers for late-night munching
Expectant moms love crackers when it comes to late-night hunger pangs. You cannot go wrong by adding a bunch of different crackers for mama to be.
18. Water bottle
When it comes to buying a fancy water bottle, moms-to-be have to think about other priorities that need the immediate expense. If you are looking for a useful gift then you should not skip a nice looking, fancy water bottle.
Choosing a water bottle is a win-win because she is going to use that 100%.
19. Sound machine
Sleeping gets rough when moms-to-be enter in their third trimester. Huge belly size and zillion bathroom trips make it impossible to have a sound sleep.
keeping a sound machine not only helps you sleep better also it will significantly improve sleep quality. I highly recommend using a sound machine for light sleepers.
Pregnancy is the most beautiful and exciting time in a woman’s life. The joy of having a life in you is phenomenal. While mom-to-be is anxious to meet her little bundle of joy, the struggles and discomforts of being pregnant are on the rise every single day as you approach your third trimester. That’s nature’s way of preparing moms for the sleepless nights with trillion bathrooms trips and leg crampings in the middle of the night. Being pregnant is an amazing feeling yet it becomes tough and tougher for moms-to-be as they come closer to their due date.
These pregnancy hacks are going to help moms in making their pregnant life easier so they can enjoy more rather being uncomfortable and super moody. For most women, first and third trimester are toughest and the second trimester seems a little comfortable as you start enjoying baby’s kicks and movements and it feels incredible.
Not every woman has the same pregnancy discomforts but even those who have smooth pregnancy may experience some of these symptoms and that’s totally normal.
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Hacks to ease your Pregnancy Discomforts
1. Relive Pressure on the belly
One of the common discomforts of pregnancy later in the second or third trimester is downwards belly pressure. It seems like the baby is slipping down and the pressure is really uncomfortable in your thighs too. Consequently, it will cause backache and abdominal cramps.
The idea thing to do is avoid heavy lifting as much as you can. Also, you should use pregnancy belly wrap. That is going to support your belly from downward pressure.
2. Fighting Pregnancy Nausea
Nausea is the first and most common symptom of pregnancy. It is one of the early symptoms that may not go the whole 9 months period or may come back in the third trimester.
Not every pregnant woman experiences nausea, however, some may show extreme symptoms of nausea. The good news is, in most cases, it ends when the second trimester starts.
The best hack to fight nausea is having Gingerale instead of other sodas after meals if you have serious taste issues during pregnancy.
Take small meal sizes, crackers are your best friend. Eating sour candies may help with bad mouth taste.
If you are traveling or having nausea and bad taste all the time, try eating tamarind candy or tamarind in any form you like. It has a sour-ish taste. If you add salt on top, tastes amazing.
The idea itself is mouth-watering. However, if you haven’t tried tamarind as yet, you definitely got to try.
3. Tailbone pain
When I was pregnant with my son, I had tailbone pain for the whole nine months. I cannot sit on a chair for a long period of time.
My sister told me to use a seat donut cushion or pillow. I used it everywhere I go. That actually helped big time.
If you are having a tailbone or sciatica pain during pregnancy or otherwise. You need to try using a donut cushion. It will keep your tailbone up high and do not let it glide on any surface. Works 100%.
4. Use Wedge Pillow for side sleeping
For some pregnancies, women tend to have drastic weight gain. With an increase in the size of a growing baby, it is hard to sleep comfortably. It is also advised to sleep on the side and not on your back.
In order to follow the safe sleeping during pregnancy, you need support under your huge tummy that is going to balance out the weight.
The wedge pillow is an amazing pillow to use during pregnancy for sleep support or while you are resting.
It is very likely to get tired of side sleeping and you just want to be on the back for some time. Although it is not advised to be on your back while sleeping especially during the last trimester as it could have risks for baby too. For back support, you need a wedge pillow for torso so you are fairly elevated while you are resting.
5. Use Pregnancy pillow for legs support while sleeping
Pregnancy could be seriously uncomfortable at times. You need support on so many things at the same time. The heavier form of everything is putting pressure on your body that is not bearable for yourself too.
In order to have a sound sleep and a better night, you need a sleep support pillow that is going to support your whole body and the nights are not nightmares anymore.
6. Yoga for Legs cramping
If you have leg cramps or “charlie horses” during pregnancy, I know how terrible it gets at night.
Best hack, make sure you drink plenty of water and stay super hydrated.
This reclining hero yoga pose can help significantly with leg cramps.
To learn more effective remedies of leg cramps, read this.
7. Fight Urinary Tract Infection
UTI is a very common condition during pregnancy. If you have it once, you can have it more than once.
If you feel burning sensation while urinating, it is very likely the signs of UTI. Fever and chills should be evaluated immediately.
If not treated properly, the infection can go up to the kidneys and could be fatal. You need to get your antibiotics as prescribed by the doctor.
The best thing to avoid UTI is, make sure you empty your bladder while urinating by leaning forward and putting pressure so nothing is left in there.
Also, make frequent bathroom trips and try not to use public bathrooms unless needed. Drink plenty of water and over-the-counter cranberry tablets may help in developing UTI.
Use flushable wipes when you go to the toilet or use a portable bidet to avoid future UTI. Always wipe front to back.
Having mood swings during pregnancy is one of the common symptoms and there are days when you just feel like crying. Depression strikes are it does not seem to go away.
One of the best remedies is to take a warm shower that works 100% to make you feel better, helps with body cramps, backache, shoulder pain or even Braxton hicks (fake) contractions.
9. Relief Heartburn and gas issues
Heartburn and gas are a very common symptom of pregnancy. If you have sudden pain somewhere in the back or in ribs right after eating then it is gas and it is seriously painful. Been there done that.
The best thing is – Do not sit right after eating, have a small walk and eat small and frequent meals. Stuffing yourself with big meal size can actually increase heartburn.
Organic Whole Psyllium Husk can also help with heartburn and other digestive issues. This can be taken while being pregnant or during postpartum.
10. When Baby is not moving for a while
Once babies are active in the womb, it gets really stressful when you don’t get your kick count for the day or the baby is not moving.
Before you run to the hospital to get your baby monitored, try eating something sweet or drink cold water and see if you can feel her dancing in the womb.
Prenatal vitamins are essential during pregnancy. You have to take it once you find out you are expecting till you are breastfeeding. Although supplements are advised to be taken during the meal still the best time to take prenatal vitamins at night with some snacks during pregnancy to avoid late-night body cramping.
Pregnancy hormones could trigger dental issues you are having for a long time. If it is followed by fever, you need to get antibiotics because tooth infection/or pain may cause preterm labor. It is best to get it fixed once it hits.
This one is a tried and tested remedy for tooth infection pregnant or not pregnant.
For random pain, use Potassium Alum as a home remedy. Melt potassium alum in a pan. Once dry, make it in a powder form and use fingers or toothbrush to apply on the affected gums area or tooth. This works an antiseptic and works 99%. It may be a little more uncomfortable and stretchy in your mouth but it will certainly help.
13. Stretch marks
Stretch marks are a consequence of pregnancy, and unfortunately, they do not go away even after pregnancy. The best way to avoid stretch marks is, keep skin super moisturized. There are times when your body gets super itchy, thanks to pregnancy hormones. Do not scratch your bare skin, rather rub a cotton cloth on itchy skin or gently rub with hand.
Use Curel itch defense lotion after every shower or any other lotion you use. Heavily moisturize your skin during pregnancy to avoid stretch marks.
14. Pregnancy Travel hacks
Traveling during pregnancy gets tough due to dehydration. Sitting in the same seat for long hours.
Take 5-minute walk frequently to ensure blood circulation.
15. Real labor pains vs fake labor pains (aka Braxton Hicks)
Some pregnant women start having contractions from the beginning of the third trimester. This does not mean that it is real contractions. It is very likely to get Braxton hicks contractions confused with real labor contractions.
Braxton hicks would go away if you lay down, take a shower if the pain gets worse, and it will go away with regular Tylenol.
The real contraction would not go away with any of these remedies. They are going to increase with time, regardless. Every contraction comes on the exact interval of time. Moreover, these minutes’ intervals keep shrinking in hours or maybe in days.
16. Natural Labor pains
Do you know what could help you having natural labor pains without being induced?
My midwife told me to use primrose oil capsules after 36 weeks three times a day to get labor contractions naturally. It definitely works.
One of the most annoying pregnancy condition is eye twitching. Religious beliefs aside, this is due to the deficiency of magnesium in your body. Since pregnant woman body is going through so many changes and it is nurturing a tiny human so lacking on essential nutrients is understandable.
However, if you are concerned about frequent eye twitching, I highly recommend you to ask your doctor about taking a magnesium supplement.
Once I started taking magnesium supplements, my eye twitching was completely gone while I was pregnant. Although magnesium supports muscle health still you should talk to your OBGYN about the recommended dose if you have the discomfort of a frequent eye twitch.
Throw a specific baby essential commodity party before baby arrives
Diaper Party
A baby shower can get you almost everything for the baby, from crib to stroller, and everything in between.
The reality of having a baby is “shitting money away” on diapers. Diapers are never enough, regardless.
I saw this idea on Pinterest about throwing a diaper party. Have your guests bring diapers in different sizes that you are going to need along the way.
In my experience size 6 you use the most. Anything after size 3 should be in abundance.
Book party
Another idea is of bringing a book with a little note on a book party for your baby. You can also throw a book party once your baby is 6 weeks old or 6 months old. Nevertheless, it feels like celebrating every milestone your baby achieves. Either way, it’s a win-win.
Clothes Party for your baby
I would suggest to throw a clothes party and have your guests assigned anything above 6 months. Babies grow up fast and having too many clothes for newborns is essentially a waste. Within a first month, most babies if not all, get to the size of 3 months clothes.
Anything above size 3 is great. Also, keep the weather into consideration when you are setting up a clothes party for your baby.
Are you expecting a baby anytime soon? Get baby’s Sleep book, understand baby sleep concerns before baby arrives
Just like you want to know what to buy for your baby before she arrives, the same way you need to know the care and concerns about baby sleep. You cannot sleep-train a few days old baby, however, you can still put her in the right direction of day and night sleep from day one.
Get my free sleep ebook and read it while you are at the hospital waiting for your little one. This will save you so much sleep for yourself too.
I am Madiha, mom to two beautiful kids. Here you find helpful tips about pregnancy, postpartum, newborn care, toddlers, and product reviews. Join the tribe, and let’s grow together as moms. Enjoy having kids while they are little and more fun.
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I am Madiha, mom to two beautiful kids. Here you find helpful tips about pregnancy, postpartum, newborn care, toddlers, and product reviews. Join the tribe, and let’s grow together as moms. Enjoy having kids while they are little and more fun.