Share This Post

Pregnancy

6 things to think about before you head to the hospital

6 things to think about before you head to the hospital

by

Sabrina Garibian

posted in Pregnancy

I’m about to give birth to my fourth child, and I forgot about all the things you need to think about before you head to the hospital to deliver, so I’m scrambling to get everything ready for our new baby’s arrival.

I made a checklist for myself that I thought might help you too.

1. Birth plan

birth plan

Whether you choose to print this out for your healthcare provider or not, it’s important to think about what decisions you might make during labor. Enter the birth plan. Are you open to having your doctor break your water? Do you want an epidural? How soon do you want it, ideally? There are so many decisions to make during labor, even for a picture-perfect delivery. Plan ahead and think through what choices you might want to make in the moment.

2. Diapering

pampers swaddlers diapers

All babies need to be fed and all babies need diapers. Picking the right brand and type of diaper will make my baby comfortable and make my life easier too. As a veteran mom I have found that Pampers Swaddlers are the best, especially in those first few months when you are changing diapers nonstop. If you don’t believe me, believe the hospital. Pampers Swaddlers are the #1 choice of hospitals*.

My babies love them because they are blankie-soft, wrapping them up in cush and plush. I love them because the color changing wetness indicator lets me know when the baby needs to be changed. A yellow line means the diaper is dry, and a blue line means it’s wet and needs to be changed. It couldn’t be easier, especially for a new mom.

Having a few diaper stations throughout your home will make those first days easier too. I have three diaper stations, one in my family room, one in my bedroom, and one in the baby’s room. Each basket has diapers, wipes, diaper cream, hand sanitizer, a burp cloth and a changing pad for the baby, and chapstick and bottled water for me.

3. Sleeping arrangements

sleeping arrangements

I prefer to sleep in a bed in the baby’s room with my baby in the crib from day one. It works best for my family when my husband gets a good night of sleep so he is well-rested to help during daytime hours, especially since I breastfeed. It works for us, but it means making sure I have a bed set up in the baby’s room by the time we get home from the hospital.

4. Safe places to put your baby

safe places to put baby

I’ve found it helpful with each of my children to have a safe place to put the baby in each room of the house. I have a bassinet in my bedroom, the baby’s crib in her room, a bouncy chair in the kitchen, and a swing in the family room. Having a safe space in each room allows me to stay close to my child while taking care of the day-to-day needs of my household and family.

5. Feeding

baby bottles

If you plan on breastfeeding, have you looked into breastfeeding support groups? Do you have a good breastfeeding pillow? If you plan on pumping, have you read your breast pump manual? If you plan on formula feeding, do you have the supplies you need? You will probably want a few different types of bottles from the start to find out which one works best for your child. Plans might change as you get to know your child, but it’s great to have an idea of the options available.

6. Things for YOU

snacks for mom

There are a few things you can do ahead of time to plan that are more for you than for the baby. Make meals for the freezer. Stock up on easy one-handed snacks like granola bars, cheese sticks, and almonds. Invest in a really good water bottle so you can stay hydrated. If you have other children, hang up a calendar that clearly lists everyone’s activities and school obligations. When the days start to run together, it’s helpful to be able to quickly glance at that list. Oh, and quite importantly, pack that hospital bag!

Having a baby is such an exciting and special time in your life! I hope this short list helps get you just a little more prepared for your own birth.

What’s on your pre-baby checklist?

This post is sponsored by Pampers. All opinions are truthful and my own.

*based on sales of the NB hospital diaper

 

Share This Post