Preparing for Your Baby's Arrival
hand–six dozen is suggested for a one week supply, but don't go overboard and buy too many newborn sized diapers because your baby will probably grow out that size very quickly.
4. Get your house clean and organized. Since you won't have much time for cleaning for a while after baby is born, try to simplify things beforehand. Get rid of as much clutter as you can. Get baskets to put things in so you (or a helper) can pick up a room quickly. Make sure you have essentials on hand such as toothpaste, shampoo, toilet paper, etc., so you’ll have less to worry about at home.
Thank goodness for the nesting instinct. That helps many houses get far cleaner and organized than they have been in a while (or perhaps more than they ever have been before!). But don’t worry about sanitizing everything or getting every little thing clean. It was a relief for me to find out that for the most part my baby was used to the household germs that I was used to, and I didn’t have to be paranoid about keeping things clean.
5. Prepare at least a week’s worth of meals and freeze them. One way to do that is to, before the baby is born, to cook twice as much for supper and freeze the extra amount. Try to stock up on your pantry items. And have a lot of healthy snacks on hand. The fewer trips needed to the store, the easier it will be on you and your family.
6. If you plan on breastfeeding, be sure to have the numbers of some people who can help give you info and support. A La Leche League leader, an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), a friend who has breastfed. . . all these people can offer help and support. Consider attending La Leche League meetings before your baby’s birth and afterwards. At these meetings you can meet other breastfeeding mothers and exchange ideas and get helpful support.
A couple breastfeeding books you may find helpful to have on hand are La Leche League’s book The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding and The Breastfeeding Book: Everything You Need to Know About Nursing Your Child from Birth Through Weaning by Martha Sears R.N., William Sears M.D.
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