Pregnancy is an exciting time of life but as you reach the end of your pregnancy it can get overwhelming trying to figure out what last minute things are essential and which ones can be saved for later or ignored all together. I am excited to be partnering with Caricord to bring you this list of things to do before your baby comes!
There are a few things that are absolutely essential before baby arrives because it will make life after baby arrives so much easier!!!
Pack your hospital bags – As crazy as it might seem, I recommend packing your hospital bags as much as you can..at 36 weeks! If your baby decides to come early then you are already prepared and no one has to dash around trying to find last minute things. There will be a few things you can’t toss in until the last minute, but many can be packed a month in advance and that will save you some last minute rushing while in labor.
Purchase a carseat – The purchase and installation of the carseat is another thing you don’t want to save until the last minute. You need time to choose the seat that will fit properly in your car. You can also take your vehicle and seat to a certified carseat technician in your area to ensure that the fit and installation is done right. So many car seats are not placed in cars or used correctly and this is such an important piece! If you do a search for car seat technician and your city you should be able to find the closest one to you! Oftentimes free car seat checks will be held at your local baby store or fire station, which is another reason to plan ahead for this, so you can find one before baby is born!
Choose a pediatrician – This is one no one told me! After your baby is born the hospital will ask you who the pediatrician will be. At that moment you must select one from a list of pedicatricians that work with your insurance company. When my first baby was born I had to do it this way and we ended up with a doctor that we really did not like and I had to move pediatricians when he was 6 weeks old. It would have been a lot less stressful if I had known to make this decision and get recommendations from friends and family, before baby was born.
Make vital decisions – You don’t want to be stuck making last minute decisions about your child’s health. Have a plan going in what type of medical treatments you want to accept or delay in the hospital. Deciding about these things beforehand can give you time to discuss it with your baby’s pediatrician-to-be to make the right choice for your child, instead of feeling pressured in the last minute. One thing I wish I would’ve done differently is cord blood banking. It’s a proactive way to plan for your child’s future health and that is something that would provide so much peace of mind to have! As medical advances are made scientists are learning more about stem cells and how our bodies can use our own resources to help heal. Cord blood is so helpful for that! When my kids were born I was under the impression that it would be too expensive for me to even bother researching. Recently I found out CariCord offers personalized payment options that are interest free, no administrative fees or credit approval needed. You can save a lot by banking with CariCord! Definitely something to think about as you go in to have your baby! If you are interested in banking check out this video from Caricord. You can also find more information about CariCord by calling: 844-227-4267
Freezer meals – In addition to preparing to support the baby’s health, do a little prep for yours as well! Try to stock your freezer with meals like this, that way you can just toss a thawed casserole in the oven and not have to worry about standing up and cooking for an hour while recovering from birth or caring for your new baby. These are a must-have for any new mama!
Also – be sure to check out their site, as they are giving away a $2,000 gift registry to one lucky person who downloads the information packet! That’s what I call a win-win. You can also join us in the conversation about cord blood banking on Twitter – July 30th at 7pm CST using the hashtag #CariCord
Are you expecting a baby soon? Can you check off all of these things from your list of things to do or decide on?
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