Contributed Collaborative Post
So you or your partner is expecting a child? Congratulations! Your life has begun an exciting, demanding, and amazing chapter, and trust us when we guarantee it will never be the same! If this is your first child, you may be wondering what you should do for the following nine months to prepare for your bundle of joy, and no one ever gives you a straight answer! Fortunately, we’ve put together a simple guide on what to do when you find out you’re expecting, so have a look!
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Book time off work for those special appointments
One thing you’ll notice about pregnancy is that you’ll be called to appointment after appointment to make sure your baby is growing well – which is fantastic! The only issue you may have is securing time off from work. While the mother’s employer is unable to decline these appointments, fathers frequently struggle and lose out on these occasions. Booking all of your appointments so that you may take time off work will ensure that none of your partners miss out on those memorable occasions. If you can’t get scans, consider scheduling a private scan so that both parents can see their child!
Take your time to stock up on everything!
Even though babies are small, they require a great deal to guarantee that they are happy, healthy, comfortable, dry, and well fed. Stock up on goods like nappies, wipes, cotton wool, bath products, lotions, calpol (seriously, calpol! ), gripe water, and equipment like nail clippers in the months leading up to your baby’s birth. It’s impossible to have too many of these!
You should also start looking at a bedside crib, car seats, and pushchairs because the baby will be here before you know it! Taking your time to stock up on everything means the cost of it all won’t break the bank as much as buying it in one go! Be sure to keep an eye out for deals and sales to save more money!
Babysit for friends and family
If you’ve never had to care for a baby before, or if you’re scared about not being maternal enough to be a parent, take advantage of these months to practise! Not only can you practise soothing a baby, but you can practise changing nappies and tag-teaming your sleep schedule. Babysit for friends and family, but keep in mind that every baby and child is different, so just because you’re left with a particularly tough baby or child doesn’t imply you’ll wind up with one!
Take advantage of sleep
Finally, we all know that when newborns are first born, they cry and keep their parents awake all night, so take advantage of this time to grab as much sleep as possible! Not only that, but you and your spouse may not be spending enough quality time together, so take advantage of the last few months to go out to eat, go to the movies, and spend time with friends while you still can!
Congratulations on finding out you’re expecting again – you can do it!
This is a contributed collaborative post.
