Preparing for Delivery and Motherhood
As you ready yourself for motherhood with time spent at the doctor, redecorating the bedroom and purchasing baby supplies, you're probably wondering what else you can do to plan for the coming weeks and months. Reading books, consulting with your doctor and talking with other mothers will answer questions you didn't know you even had. These resources should help give you a well-rounded picture of what life will truly be like when your baby arrives.
In preparing for delivery day, you will need to choose the setting where you wish to give birth, who will be present for the birth and what to pack for a hospital stay. Developing a birthing plan and giving a copy to the doctor or midwife is a great way to help the birthing experience go as smoothly as possible. Include your choices on pain management, how you would like the atmosphere of the room to feel and what optional procedures, like cord blood banking, you’d like performed. Umbilical cord blood banking is planned for before birth and is performed immediately following delivery; it is where cord blood is collected and then stored at a private facility for possible future medical treatment.
On the day of the birth, rely on your support persons for comfort and encouragement. Playing music you enjoy during the event will give your mind something to focus on. When your baby is born, bonding will begin. Skin-to-skin contact with your baby will help you both become familiar with each other. Feeding can also begin right away, especially if you are breastfeeding. Getting your baby to latch on may be a little difficult even though they are born with the instinct. It is a great idea to get help from a lactation consultant or other medical professional to be sure your baby is feeding enough.
Once home with baby, your life as a new mother will likely be exhausting and exciting. Late night feedings and fatigue from delivery will make the first few days tiring; sleeping when the baby is sleeping, even if it’s only for a short time will help you catch up on rest. If you begin to feel moody or weepy, don’t just attribute those feelings to being tired. “Baby blues” are feeling that many women get after birth because of the hormonal changes that a woman’s body goes through. Talk to trusted family or friends if you are feeling similarly; if your feelings develop into something stronger, contacting your doctor is the next step to avoid postpartum depression.
It will be important for you to take care of yourself just as well as you take care of your baby. Continuing to maintain a healthy diet and slowly working physical activity back into your routine will help speed along recovery and promote weight loss of any weight gained during pregnancy. Be sure to wait until your six-week postpartum check up with your doctor before starting any exercise routines other than walking and stretching.
