Consider factors like proximity to your home, insurance coverage, and which practice will work best to aim for your ideal birth experience. Once you've chosen, set up an appointment.
Schedule a checkup. In addition to a physical around Week 10, you'll have an ultrasound to detect the baby's heartbeat and verify the due date. After this, you'll go in every four weeks through Week 28, and then every three weeks. After 36 weeks, you'll go weekly. Start taking tests. Between Weeks 11 and 14 first-trimester screenings are given, including pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A PAPP-A and human chorionic gonadotropin hCG , blood tests that determine the risk of Down syndrome and trisomy You may also be given a nuchal translucency screening, an ultrasound that measures the back of the fetus's neck its thickness can indicate chromosomal problems.
Results from the screenings will determine if you need further diagnostic tests, such as chorionic villus sampling CVS or an amniocentesis. No matter what, women age 35 and over should talk to their doctor about having one of these two genetic tests , which are performed around ten to 12 weeks and 15 to 20 weeks, respectively. Have a second-trimester screening. Also known as multiple marker screening, this blood test typically performed between 15 and 20 weeks looks for hCG, alpha-fetoprotein AFP , estriol, and inhibin-A.
It screens for elevated risk of various defects in the fetus , such as Down syndrome, spina bifida, and anencephaly. If your results are abnormal, you'll need additional testing, possibly including an amniocentesis or CVS.
Enroll in a childbirth-education class. Many take six to 12 weeks and you'll want to finish by Week 37 in case you go into labor early. Yours should cover the labor and birth process, plus breathing and comfort measures. To find a class, ask your doc or visit lamaze. Share the news with your boss. Before you announce everything to your coworkers and office pals, meet with your supervisor to discuss your maternity leave. Go into the appointment with several proposals for how your work might be handled while you are gone, taking both your needs and the company's into account, suggests Ellen Galinsky, president of the Families and Work Institute in New York City.
Take a look at your baby. Around 20 weeks, you'll have an ultrasound, so the doctor can assess your baby's growth and make sure all the organs are developing properly. This is likely when you can find out the sex of your little one as well.
Set up your nursery. Furniture delivery can take 12 weeks, so order by Week Some women find that making a list helps prioritize what needs to be done before the baby arrives. Sit down and plan out things you will need to do, like shopping, organizing, budgeting. Assess your financial situation and start setting aside funds to help foot expenses for once the baby is born, so you have a bit of cushion. S ome women like to write out a birth plan for the day the baby is born. Take a tour of the birthing facility, and discuss alternative options, like birthing pools and having your baby at home.
You also need to decide if you want to go all-natural or if you plan to use pain management medications, and what your wishes are should a c-section become medically necessary. An excellent idea is developing a schedule or plan for who will handle household duties like cleaning, shopping, and making meals during those first few weeks post-birth.
And, make sure to save all monetary gifts for the later essentials, such as baby proofing your home and any other items you deem necessary for the wellbeing of your child. During this stage of pregnancy, this is where things ] start to ramp up. Some moms like to take classes during this trimester, like Lamaze classes, childbirth classes, and even classes like infant CPR to help feel more prepared. You want to have all bags packed and ready to go at least weeks before your expected due date.
Sometimes they arrive early, and sometimes they take their sweet time. Better to have your bags ready to go well in advance, so you have one less thing to worry about. There are shelves and shelves of parenting books out there. Some are good. A select few are good and digestible. Our go-to? Take a class at your local hospital. Chances are a hospital in your area offers birthing and parenting classes.
Consider an online course for expecting parents. Ready to go back to school? Turns out, there are some really good options out there for online classes too.
Many of these benefit from video lessons, which have a big leg up on reading about things in a book because parenting is, well, a pretty hands on sport, learning by watching can be helpful. A better one might be the cost of raising a baby from birth to age one, along with a quick breakdown of the big expenses. So … yeah … babies are expensive. But, understanding the costs can help you prepare. Buy a crib or bassinet that meets safety standards , or if you want to splurge for more sleep, check out the Snoo smart sleeper bassinet.
Car seat s. A one-month supply of diapers, wipes, clothing, and supplies. Babies grow fast, people will likely buy you clothes. That 5-pack of onesies from target will be just fine, your baby will still be super cute in them.
A stroller. You will definitely want a stroller. Babies love stroller rides, you will love going for walks for fresh air and getting out of the house. A baby monitor. Parents were just fine for millennia without baby monitors, but they are pretty darn handy. We go deep on baby monitors here, along with our picks for best baby monitor across several key categories. Assorted other baby gear.
Poke around , get educated. We break down our battle-tested list of baby and newborn essentials here. There is A LOT of stuff you need to do to prepare for a baby. But, checklists are quite handy when it comes to remembering, and accomplishing, a long list of things. Just enter your email here:. There you have it—our guide to preparing for your new baby. Now, go create that to do list before the baby arrives and start checking stuff of your list. Learn more here , and check out our YouTube channel here.
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