Planning for Baby
By Sue Buteau
Question: I just found out I’m pregnant for the first time. I am so excited, but also scared about the responsibility I’m about to take on. How should I use my time until baby arrives?
Answer: Planning for a new baby is such an exciting time. The list of happy things to think about is long. Deciding when to learn about the sex of the baby is almost as thrilling as discovering whether the baby will be a boy or a girl. Choosing names and deciding how to announce a pregnancy to friends and family, and learning about how the baby is developing, helps parents-to-be deal with the hope – and worry – of having a healthy baby. It’s a joyful time, but also one filled with many new responsibilities and demands.
Fortunately, pregnancy lasts for several months, allowing for time to plan for many things new parents need to consider, and to realistically imagine life with a new little person in the picture.
Many of the decisions on the ‘to do’ list are obvious. Choosing an obstetrician and pediatrician are on the top. Maybe you’ll have many options, but in rural areas the choices may be limited. Having fewer options may be more difficult than being able to choose from a long list.
Talk to other new parents about their search for the right doctors, and be sure you create a realistic criteria list. Ask about birthing and parenting classes. Spend time learning about birthing exercises, labor and delivery, and pack your hospital bag at least a month in advance. Be sure to inquire about last-minute instructions for reaching the doctor’s office when you think you’re in labor. Be sure you know an alternate route to the hospital, just in case you discover the road is blocked and you need to detour. Remember to keep the gas tank filled in case you find yourself heading for the hospital in the middle of the night.
Learning about child development will be time well invested. Explore the resources in your community; search for good books about the first year of life. The first months of parenting will be more exciting with each milestone, and you’ll all benefit from reduced stress.
Many preparations are obvious and exciting, and sometimes the more mundane are left undone. Be sure to include healthy discussions about division of responsibility and time management after the baby comes. What’s important in your life now may become less important after the baby arrives. Consider the events on your calendar for the months immediately following your baby’s birth, and preplan some of the details. You might even shop for extra groceries and plan a month of menus.
To minimize surprise costs, review your health and disability insurance. Though it may be difficult to consider, prepare your advance directives before childbirth. Even after a perfect pregnancy, a C-section is sometimes necessary.
Consider the cost of all the things you’ll need for the baby. The furniture, car seat, and clothing costs can be astronomical, added to the cost of diapers, formula and food. Review your list, then consider borrowing from friends, and shopping yard sales.
Your efforts to learn about the changes that will occur when your precious baby arrives will diminish stress and allow more time to relax and enjoy the experience of parenthood.
Sue Buteau is the Family and Consumer Resources Educator for UNH Cooperative Extension, Coös County. For more information about parenting programs and other valuable learning opportunities, contact your local UNH Cooperative Extension county office, or visit http://extension.unh.edu