As with any new experience, becoming a first-time mom entails great uncertainties. At this point, everything seems foreign and unfamiliar to you. With so many things to learn about pregnancy and preparing for the arrival of a baby, new mamas need a lot of help in navigating this new chapter in their life called motherhood.
Taking on new responsibilities of caring for a tiny human being can make you feel terrified and anxious. It’s totally okay. While it’s true that motherhood doesn’t come with a manual, you can always turn to advice from fellow mamas and inspirational quotes for first-time moms as well as read up on insightful parenting tips.
Every mama — especially those who are embarking on motherhood for the first time — need all the help she can get. So to make life easier for you, we prepared a first-time mom checklist to guide you as you prepare for parenthood.
First-time mom pregnancy tips
Prenatal checkup: You’ll need an OB-GYN whom you trust to guide you through these nine or so challenging but beautiful months of your life. Such medical experts have the knowledge and experience in taking care of pregnant women and delivering babies. So set up that doctor’s appointment and regularly attend your prenatal checkups to ensure a healthy pregnancy until you are about to give birth. Your OB-GYN may require you to undergo physical exams, laboratory tests, ultrasound scans, and other screenings to avoid pregnancy-related complications.
Prenatal vitamins: During these checkups, your OB-GYN will also prescribe prenatal vitamins that contain vitamins and minerals your body needs to support fetal development. This includes folic acid that is especially beneficial during the first trimester as it contributes to your baby’s cell growth and DNA creation, and helps prevent spinal cord, brain, and heart defects.
Pregnancy diet: Good nutrition is essential to a healthy pregnancy. It’s easy to use pregnancy cravings as an excuse to eat more. But remember that food quality matters more than food quantity.
Eat superfoods that contain nutrients like iron, calcium, folate, vitamin A, and DHA as these contribute to the development of your growing baby and prevent birth defects. Avoid foods that are high in salt, sugar, and fat. If you want to be sure about your diet, consult your OB-GYN as they know your medical history.
Prenatal workouts: Yes, exercising during pregnancy is generally safe unless your doctor advises you otherwise. Always check first with your OB-GYN if a specific exercise is safe for you.
Moderate physical activities and fitness routines provide a host of benefits: it can help prepare your body for labor, lifts your mood, lower your risk for gestational diabetes, give you that much-needed boost of Vitamin D, and improve your stamina that will help you meet the physical demands of motherhood. The key is to exercise with caution and make sure to stay hydrated!
Prenatal infections: Pregnancy can make women susceptible to infections and complications. Some of these — like Group B Streptococcus and Bacterial vaginosis — may cause preterm labor or even miscarriage. You can also fall victim to a bacteria known as listeria, which can be found in contaminated food. So safe food preparations and handling should be practiced at all times.
Baby shower: To mark the end of your pregnancy, you or your husband can throw a baby shower. It’s typically done one or two months before you pop as doing it too close to your due date may be too tiring for you. Select a theme and ask someone close to you to be the main party planner as you don’t want to strain and stress yourself at this point.
This is also a time for your family and friends to shower you and your little one with first-time mom pregnancy gifts. Give them this chance to help you tick off items on your must-haves and nice-to-haves shopping list. They’d be so happy to do that for you. Make gifting easier and more convenient for them by creating a Gift Registry. Good news: edamama has this feature, which allows your loved ones to see what particular items you need and you’ll appreciate receiving.
Designing the nursery: The nursery is the space in your house where your little one will be spending a huge chunk of their life in. So it’s a must to design and decorate it in a way that will make your baby feel safe, comfortable, and cared for. Make sure you have the essentials, such as a crib, a changing table, a breastfeeding chair and nursing essentials, a baby monitor, and more. Whatever theme you’ve chosen, the key is to make it a safe haven for your precious child.
Hospital bags: A few weeks before you are due to give birth, ensure that you have packed your hospital bags so you are ready to go anytime! Prepare three different bags: for mama, for baby, and for your partner.
Your bag should carry the following: valid IDs and birth plan, nursing bras and pads, maternity panty and pads, postpartum wrap, clothes, facemask, alcohol, toiletries, slippers, and entertainment (books or any reading material).
Meanwhile, the baby’s bag should have the essentials newborns need: swaddles and blankets, boots and mittens, bonnet, onesie or romper, washcloth, and diapers. Finally, Daddy’s bag should include the following: diaper bag, canvas and wet bags, extra face masks, pillows, snacks, and powerbank or chargers.
Preparing for childbirth: You’ll soon find out that giving birth is a life-changing experience. It’s normal to feel anxious about it. Talk to your OB-GYN to know about the different delivery options and what to expect when your due date is near. It’s important to arm yourself with as much information as possible on how to know if it’s time to give birth, how to handle labor pain, what are the hospital procedures for giving birth, and what to do during post-pregnancy recovery.
Postpartum self-care: Taking care of the baby is obviously your top priority. But you should also never forget to take care of yourself. After all, your body is still healing and recovering from childbirth. Treat yourself to self-care items, such as postpartum belt, maternity support pillow, malunggay capsules, stretchmark creams, and hair strengthening products.
Life with a new baby: It’s easy to get overwhelmed by all these new changes in your life. On your fourth trimester, remind yourself that you are doing an amazing job as a new mama and that your baby loves you more than anything else in this world. Even with a new role, never lose sight of the person that you were before you had this baby. Pursue a passion or hobby, find time to relax and rejuvenate, make your health a priority, and indulge once in a while.
Postpartum checkup: You’ll be back for a checkup with your OB-GYN six weeks after giving birth. During this time, discuss with him or her any concerns or questions you may have. Your doctor will check if your wound is healing properly or if you have signs of postpartum complications such as eclampsia, blood clots, and more. You can also talk to your OB-GYN about matters such as your mental and emotional state, nutrition and breastfeeding, and family planning.
