Getting Ready for a Baby: Are You Too Prepared?

Getting ready for a baby can be both exciting and a little scary. Planning can help ease the fear of the unknown, but like life, plans always change. That’s why we’ve tackled a few key areas where expecting moms may put a little more pressure on themselves—and ways to help prepare for when things might not go according to plan. Explore these tips on how to get ready for baby and stay calm at the same time.

Taking the Pressure Off Your Delivery

Anxious about your delivery? Perfectly normal. Putting a birth plan into place can help give you a sense of control, while also informing your birth team (your partner, OBGYN, doula, etc.) as to what you hope to happen during labor. But even with plans in place, things can change at a moment’s notice. Many moms can attest to that. What matters most is planning on doing what’s best for you and your baby on that big day.

• What Moms Say: Flexibility is the name of the game. If you envision delivering vaginally, but end up needing a C-section, remember that your doctor wants to welcome your baby into the world as safely as possible. And if you think you’d like to have an all-natural birth, but find yourself in a lot of pain, don’t be afraid to ask for relief. You’re already a superhero.

Breast Vs. Bottle

Everyone has an opinion. This is especially true when it comes to getting ready for a baby, and breast or bottle-feeding. Ultimately, the decision is yours. But give yourself permission to change your mind if things don’t go as planned. Breastfeeding has a lot of benefits. But for some, bottle-feeding may be a better fit for lifestyle, comfort level, medical considerations or other possible issues. Some moms breastfeed and supplement with formula. Yes—you can do both!

• What Moms Say: How you plan to feed your baby is a decision that doesn’t have to be so black or white. Whether you end up choosing breast, the bottle, or both, what matters is that your baby is getting the nutrition they need in a way that works for you, too.

Sleep

This is a biggie. Even if you’ve designed a Pinterest-perfect nursery, you can never plan for how your little one will sleep during those first few months. They may even end up spending more time in your room than you originally thought for those middle-of-the-night feedings. To ease your worries, try strategizing with your partner now on what they can do to help you when the (night) time comes.

• What Moms Say: The best way to prepare is to be ready to adjust. It’s as simple as that. For now, rest up and catch as many Zs as you can.

Being prepared for your little one can help ease some of those pre-baby nerves. Staying as calm as possible is the name of the game.