Expecting? Here’s Your To-Do List
Heartiest congratulations on your great news! Welcome to the enchanted world of pregnancy where each of us has a unique story of our own. Remember to keep patience as your highest virtue because it won’t be long. just 9 months and you can expect to get back on track after you pop.
Anyway, here’s what you should do prior to embarking on the parenthood journey.
- Be mentally prepared to handle labour and it may take some time especially for first time mothers
12 hours, 16 hours, 20 hours, 24 hours, 36 hours it all depends on your physique. You are encouraged to go for birthing or antenatal classes so you could get a rough idea of what labour is and what to do when your water breaks. Most importantly, remain calm, control your mind and breathing.
2. Be prepared that you won’t have a good night sleep
At least for the next 8–12 months because babies do not care what time it is. If their tummy is growling then it’s feeding time even if you have important meetings to attend tomorrow and you need rest. The next thing you know, you’re up at 3 a.m. trying to burp your grumpy baby.
3. Be prepared to face hard times with your spouse
This is when you realise that both of you aren’t good at handling babies, and your spouse hates changing diapers, or it’s you who have been waking up all night while your spouse snores like nobody’s business. This is when communication comes in handy. Discuss openly with your other half and let each other know of how you can make it better to your marriage. What’s the marriage vow again? For better or for worse?
4. Be financially literate
Be reminded that money flows out like an open tab. You’ve got to buy diapers, wet wipes, formula milk and babies with special skin condition would require relatively expensive brands, nursery fees, medications and whatnot. So create your savings from Day 1 of your pregnancy and prepare a pool of money especially for your latest addition.
5. Spend as much time as you can with your loved ones
Be it your best friends, relatives or even your spouse because time and leisure are the two most luxury things to young parents so you can’t afford meeting them as frequent as before. After a while of handling your newborn all day long, you’ll start to get a little lonely and begin to miss these people in your life. It becomes apparent that you can’t afford not having them by your side. You’ll miss the liberty of having some ladies to talk to over a cup of tea and wearing fashionable clothes. To avoid this from happening, show your affection to them and let them know how important they are to you.
Apart from crib, rompers and feeding bottles, your mental and emotional strengths are important too. Do share how you set things right before the arrival of your first born in the comment section below.
