The closer the birth date gets, the greater the fears and anxiety of first-time mothers. They plan what the birth will be like , what to take to the maternity ward, what the postpartum period will be like, and they want everything to go according to plan.
After the baby is born, another stage begins the feeling of guilt and constant doubts about what to do when the baby won’t stop crying when he sleeps too much, and when he breastfeeds too much or too little.
Stay calm, this will pass. With some good guidance, you will feel more confident about taking care of your baby. To help you, we have prepared a list of 10 tips for first-time mothers, from the end of pregnancy to the baby’s first months, which will make your routine much easier.
Check it out!
Table of Contents
1. Make a birth plan
Childbirth is certainly the highlight of motherhood when the wait comes to an end. Such an important event should be planned by the pregnant woman together with her obstetrician to define the type of birth — natural or cesarean —, taking into account the health conditions of the baby and the mother.
The purpose of the birth plan is to outline the basic guidelines of what the woman wants to have or do during labor, such as:
- whether or not you want analgesia, in the case of a normal birth ;
- if you want to listen to music ;
- whether or not you will have a doula ;
- the position in which you want to give birth.
2. Visit the maternity hospitals
Even if you already have an idea of where your baby will be born, visiting the maternity ward is a good idea to prepare yourself and reduce anxiety.
Plan alternative routes to get an estimate of the time taken. Observe the infrastructure provided. There are very few maternity hospitals that offer a bathtub birth or have a team to accomplish this type of birth. Therefore, if you would like to have a birth of this nature, you would have to seek out a hospital that satisfies your requirements.
It is important that you ask questions about the demand for care and what the protocol is if there is no bed when you arrive — the pre-delivery rooms can accommodate more than one pregnant woman at the same time and you need to know if you are comfortable in this situation.
3. Rest in the last few weeks before your due date
Many women have difficulty in resting at the end stages of pregnancy, as their belly and anxiousness are too great for them to sleep. Though still, it is of utmost importance to catch on as much rest as they can at the end.
You will need a lot of energy for the birth and the first week with the baby at home is quite tiring. There will be a lot of new things and adjustments, so you need to save some energy and be prepared.
4. Save for vaccines
The price of each dose is relatively high and it is a good idea to have some savings to pay for them. In fact, financial planning is important when expecting a new family member.
5. Think about storing stem cells
Stem cells are present in the blood and tissue of the umbilical cord and have great potential for medical use in the treatment of various diseases, such as leukemia and even autism . Therefore, one of the main tips for first-time mothers is to store them .
The material is collected immediately after birth , with no risk to you or the baby. The procedure is simple , painless and takes less than five minutes.
6. Accept help
You’ve just had a baby — which is a hugely important event that has a huge impact on your body — and you have a baby who needs you around all the time.
Everything is new, it’s a whirlwind and everything seems to need attention, and so it’s normal to neglect the house chores for some time, but at least don’t hesitate to reach out to your mom, mother-in-law, partner, sister, sister-in-law, best friend or anyone around you to ask them to help you to clean the house, and fill in the fridge and your tummy. This will be important for you, your baby, and your relationship as well.
7. Stay calm when your baby cries
Crying is the only way a baby knows how to communicate, it is the only language he has access to. Therefore, he will cry a lot. It is common for a first-time mother to think that the baby is hungry , has colic or is in pain . However, it may just be boredom, insecurity and a desire to be carried around in your arms.
The world is a new place for your baby and the stimuli can stress him out. He misses the comfort of the womb and, most of the time, all you need to do is take care of him for him to calm down.
Cuddling is important to strengthen the bond between you . In addition, contact with the mother and other adults helps develop the child’s brain potential.
8. Put your infant to sleep as soon as they show signs of drowsiness.
As soon as your baby yawns, rubs his eyes and shows the first signs of wanting to sleep, put him in his crib and let him drift off to sleep. Playing some relaxing music and reducing the light can help with this.
However, it is important that your baby is not in a completely dark room during his naps , so that he can get used to day and night. The noises in the house should also be kept to a minimum, even if you want him to sleep a little longer. If he does not train his biological clock, he may switch night and day for longer periods of time.
9. Sleep whenever you can
This is one of the main tips for first-time mothers. In the first two months, the baby will breastfeed very frequently, as his/her stomach is very small. You will need to change many diapers, bathe, feed, take your own bath, and still receive visitors, answer phone calls and virtual messages.
The journey is long, so take every opportunity to nap , and don’t be shy about turning down visitors. People will understand your point. Remember, you need to be rested and relaxed to meet your baby’s demands in the best possible way.
10. Learn techniques to relieve baby colic
Crying due to colic leaves first-time mothers with their hearts in their mouths. The baby cries loudly and kicks its legs. Seeing the little one in so much pain brings tears to many mothers’ eyes.
Stay calm and breathe. Your agitation will not help and will make your baby feel more insecure. Research and learn some techniques to relieve your baby’s colic . They are simple and reduce pain.
Unfortunately, colic is part of the maturation of a child’s digestive system and most babies and mothers will have to go through it.
