This post is sponsored by I Vaccinate but the content and opinions expressed here are my own
Having a baby is one of the biggest life-changing events that many people experience. This is because of your priorities and day-to-day routine change drastically. What you once knew as “me time” pretty much doesn’t exist anymore. You are now working around the clock with little to no breaks.
When I first brought home my second newborn child a couple of months ago, I felt very overwhelmed. Not only was I trying to take the time to heal from my delivery, but I was also trying to attend to both my newborn baby and two-year-old toddler at the same time.
I was glad I had taken a few steps during my pregnancy to prepare myself and my family for this new change. Although I wasn’t completely ready for this new chapter in our lives (let’s be honest, no one ever is). I still felt somewhat in control because of the preplanning I had done.
I’ve learned that In order to make this transition as easy as possible, planning before the baby arrives is key.
Below I have listed five things that I did before bringing my baby home:
1. Vaccinate
Birthing a newborn in the winter comes with a lot of concerns. During this season, a greater amount of people catch respiratory viruses. This increases the likelihood that one of your family members may come in contact with someone who is sick and possibly contagious. What makes things even more difficult is, many people are contagious and don’t show any signs of illness. So, simply keeping your baby away from someone that is sick isn’t always enough.
Like most parents, I was very concerned about my baby’s health and wanted to do the best I could to protect her now and in the future. I had a lot of questions and talked to her doctors to make a plan for her. I was also able to do a lot of research online about vaccinations and made sure I was getting answers from credible sources such as IVaccinate. [I Vaccinate provides information & tools based on real medical science and research to help Michigan parents protect their kids.]
Vaccines are a safe and effective measure to help protect everyone especially those with a weaker immune system, such as newborn babies. Vaccines help protect children and teens from 16 vaccine-preventable diseases – including HPV, which can cause six types of cancer.
While pregnant with my now 2-month-old, I was asked if I wanted to get the flu vaccine to protect both myself and my baby. I immediately knew that this was something I wanted to do for my safety and the safety of my baby girl. And, I learned that by getting this vaccine, I would also help protect my baby from the flu for the first several months after her birth, when she is too young to get vaccinated.
Tdap Vaccine
I also was asked if I wanted to get the Tdap vaccine – a vaccine that protects against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (whooping cough). After learning how dangerous these can be especially to newborn babies, I made sure to take the vaccine in order to keep my newborn as safe as possible.
Before bringing my newborn home, I also made sure to have everyone in our immediate family get the flu vaccine and Tdap booster if they were going to visit my children. Since we live in Michigan and experience cold winters, viruses go around more easily. This year specifically, Michigan has named the second sickest state in the U.S. with nearly 7% of the population experiencing flu-like symptoms while nationally, illness levels are only at about 5%. [Source: Click Here]
I also plan on continuing to get my daughter vaccinated on time, just like I did for her older brother. This will help keep her and everyone around her protected. Vaccines have saved millions of lives and have decreased the rate of disease dramatically. As a mother, I am grateful for this public health achievement and I’m glad I can do my part and protect my children and others around them.
Read Also: 10 Organic Baby Products Which I Recommend to Buy
2. Stock Up on Necessities
Leaving the house with a newborn can be difficult especially in the colder months. This is why it’s important to make sure the house is equipped with all of the necessities needed for the baby and family. Stocking up on diapers, wipes, newborn clothing, shampoo, lotion, and even groceries will save you a few trips out for the first couple of weeks.
Also, make sure you sign up and take advantage of all the services that deliver to your home. When I brought my baby home, I relied a lot on services such as
- Amazon Prime Delivery
- Whole Foods Delivery
- Costco Two Hour Delivery
- Kroger Clicklist
- Target Drive-up
Since my daughter was born in December, it was difficult for me to take her out along with my toddler to purchase necessities for the house. I utilized these services every time I needed something for the home which made the first few weeks a little bit easier to handle.
Read Also: Exclusive Breastfeeding and Why I chose to do it
3. Bond with Other Children/Partner
The new baby will be a change for everyone; not just the mother. If you have other children, make sure they are fully aware that a new addition will be added to the family.
Start off by talking to your kids about how there’s going to be a change in the family and what this means for everyone. Take the time to bond with your other children and partner before the baby arrives. Try to leave the house as often as you can to enjoy some time together outdoors. Leaving the house with a newborn isn’t always easy, so taking advantage of the time before the baby is born is important.
Many children may experience jealousy when a newborn enters the home; preparing what to do if this were to happen is helpful when the time comes. Making sure you understand each child’s personality and how to deal with their jealousy towards their new sibling is key.
Also, your relationship with your partner will change every time you bring a new baby home, whether it’s your first baby or your fourth. Making sure to keep a strong bond with each other is healthy for the entire family. Reminding each other of your love and appreciation is important to keep each other going while you both adjust to your new life.
If you aren’t able to go on dates together, try to go out on mini trips such as shopping trips, quick coffee dates, or a walk around the neighborhood. This will create some bonding time outside of the house and will help you both get some fresh air. Learning to bond while in the house will also help strengthen your relationship. Try to bond over cooking dinners, watching a movie together, or completing chores around the house.
Read Also: How I Weaned my Toddler from Breastfeeding
4. Coordinate with Others for Help
Having extra help can always reduce stress when coming home with a newborn baby. This new change causes drastic changes to your body, your emotions, and your day-to-day routine. So having help will allow you to adjust to these changes easier.
Before I gave birth to my daughter, I coordinated with both my husband, mom, and sisters; I made a schedule on when they will come over to help me. I had each of them stay with me one week at a time so I was able to heal fully and take care of my children.
Asking for help was one of the best things I did before I brought my baby home. It’s not always easy to ask for help but it sure is worth it.
Read Also: Simple Bath Time Routine for Toddlers
5. Prepare Yourself Emotionally
Lastly, make sure you prepare yourself emotionally before your baby arrives. Being emotionally prepared will help ease your mind. However, do remember that no one is ever one hundred percent emotionally prepared for this life change.
While pregnant with my daughter, I prepared myself emotionally by reading a few different books on newborns and what to expect, joining mom groups on Facebook where I was able to relate and connect with them, and by taking time to do things I love before the baby arrived. I also met with close friends for coffee because I knew I wouldn’t have as much time for my social life as I would like to when the baby got here.
I have listed the five crucial steps I took before bringing my baby home. And, I believe these steps helped protect and ease my entire family through this new life change.
My daughter will be three months old next week. Our lives have definitely changed drastically since she’s arrived but in the best way possible. Yes, life is more chaotic and hectic than it ever was before, but I would never want it any other way. These days are flying by and I just want to make sure I stop and take note of these precious years because one day they will become just memories that I will look back on.