Decisions
to Make Before Giving Birth
Getting
ready for a new baby is an exciting time. There are so many things to
plan, organize and decide. This article offers a few suggestions of
important details that are often overlooked when preparing for the
new bundle of joy.
When
you start visiting your ob-gyn after you find out the news of your
pregnancy, make sure to discuss your diet and exercise routine with
him or her. An exercise regime is important to avoid excess weight
gain and can help you during delivery and recovery. When it comes to
your diet, you really do not need to begin adding calories to your
diet until after your first trimester, and even then it’s only
about 300 extra calories a day.
Determine
the baby's health insurance needs now. If mom-to-be is covered under
an insurance policy, the baby can be added. The hospital's social
services staff can offer suggestions for uninsured mothers about
health
care coverage for the baby. Most states have low cost policies
available for children who do not have access to other coverage.
Most infants and young children need multiple visits to the doctor
each year. Office visits, medication and vaccinations add up to a
hefty sum quickly without insurance coverage.
Taking
a childbirth class can be a very helpful option whether it's your
first baby or your fourth. Childbirth classes will cover the
different pain management options and tips to help you through labor.
Whether you want to go all natural or use medication, the choice is
generally up to your personal preference unless a medical concern
comes up. You can also get a tour of your facility and learn about
optional procedures available for after delivery.
Most
mothers decide early on if they will be breast or formula feeding
their newborn. It is wise to make a backup plan if breastfeeding
turns out to not be an option. Research different options and have a
couple of varieties on hand just in case. Also, you may want to
purchase several different types of bottles and nipples to test which
style the baby prefers. Read the FDA's
formula and breast milk storage safety guidelines to be sure
you're keeping your food safe for your baby. For example, breast
milk can safely be stored in the refrigerator for up to twenty-four
hours and formula for two days.
You can also prepare some things for post-delivery. Your
newborn will need to have a pediatrician lined up to come give them a
check-up and do the tests and screening required before they leave
the hospital. You can talk to different pediatricians before your
baby arrives to make sure you’re working with a pediatrician that
you’re comfortable with. If you’re considering doing cord blood
banking for your baby, those arrangements will need to be made ahead
of time and should be discussed with your doctor and hospital staff
in advance. Cord blood banking
is where the umbilical cord blood is collected after birth, by a
medical professional, and stored at a facility to be potentially used
in the future medical treatment.
Making
preparations and big decisions before heading to the hospital to
deliver will help ensure Mom has less worries as she enters this new
stage of her life. She'll have less on her mind in the days after
giving birth and will be able to focus on getting to know her new
baby. Planning ahead of time means there will be less decision
making while in labor and during recovery. This is much healthier
and more relaxing for both mom and baby.
This
article was written by Katie Moore. Katie is an active writer within
the blogging community who discusses maternity, motherhood, prenatal
health, childbirth and other topics within this niche. If you
have any questions or would like to connect with Katie please contact
by visiting her blog, Moore
From Katie
or her twitter @moorekm26.
