So you are going to be a parent soon. What are the things needed in preparation for the baby's coming? Here are some major considerations that parents should look out for.
Hospital
The expectant mother should be consulting with an OB-GYN regularly on the development of her baby. During this time, the mother should decide which hospital or clinic to deliver the baby. Certain factors such as distance from the house, medical facilities needed (especially if the mother-to-be has a high risk pregnancy), competency of the medical personnel, cost of medical services and hospital confinement - all these should be considered in choosing which hospital to go to and which doctor will be delivering the baby. Arrangements may be made beforehand to make sure that anytime the mother goes into labor, the parents will no longer worry about nitty gritty details and can focus on the baby's safe delivery.
Baby's name
Once the baby has been delivered, the parents will be signing the birth certificate. A name is needed, and for most couples, the baby's name would have been chosen even before they are wed.
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To Breastfeed or not
The decision to breastfeed is solely the mother's. But there are times when despite the mother's willingness to breastfeed, it is not possible because of certain factors, most common is that the mother needs to take medications, and breastfeeding will be harmful for the baby. In these cases, baby formula feeding is the solution. The technology today has made it possible for milk manufacturers to come up with baby formula feedings that contain almost the same nutrients found in breast milk. The only major advantage of breast milk is that the mother's immunity to certain diseases can be passed on to the baby because of the anti bodies the mother has developed.
Some babies may have allergies and for these situations, alternative milk products made from plant sources such as soya beans may be considered.
Baby's own room?
Once the baby is home, some mothers prefer to have their babies beside them throughout the night, especially if the babies are breastfed. If the baby has his own room, it is advisable to have a baby monitor so parents can hear even the slightest cry and attend to the baby as soon as possible.
It is also advisable to keep the baby bottles and milk in a cabinet or table in the baby's room so baby formula feeding will not be much of a hassle especially at night.
Ventilation is also important, and windows should have screens to keep out insects and dust.
Care giver
For working mothers, choosing a care giver for their baby is a major decision. One cannot just entrust their child to a stranger, therefore, a thorough screening process should be done. For some, their own parents (the baby's grandparents) or in-laws are willing to care for the baby while both parents work. This is more ideal since the trust and confidence level is high, and the grandparents are sure to have more wisdom and experience in caring for infants.
