While it's true that babies need a lot of things, they won't have to use all of these right away, at least not in the first eight weeks of their arrival. However, there are still some essential items that mothers must prepare ahead of the delivery to ensure that the baby is safe, protected, and comfortable.
Below are the necessary baby items that should be ready before the baby's birth:
1. Mom and baby's hospital bag
Moms need to pack stuff for herself and the baby into a bag that they will be bringing to the hospital. Aside from the change of comfortable clothes and underwear, moms should also pack robes and slippers because they will be wearing them most of the time in the first few days of birth.
Some mothers bring extra comfortable pillows for their aching back, a water spray or sponge to help them cool down, and some relaxing devices like an iPod for music or massage tools for the mom's painful back.
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As for the baby's things, the family needs to prepare a receiving blanket, bundles of the newborn's clothes, including her going-home outfit, sets of baby socks, sets of mittens, and a baby bonnet or hat. The baby will need packs of diapers and wipes as well.
2. Fetal doppler to use during labor
A fetal doppler, such as those from Joyfant, allows the mom to monitor the baby's heart rate during the first phases of labor. This device gives parents peace of mind, especially if the pregnancy is a high-risk case. However, moms with low-risk pregnancies can still benefit from a fetal doppler to intermittently monitor the baby's heart rate.
According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), a fetal doppler may also help the doctors decide if the baby's delivery should be switched to a cesarian birth to prevent any untoward outcome.
3. Diffuser with essential oils to help mom relax
A study published in the National Library of Medicine has shown that aromatherapy through a diffuser with citrus essential oils may help reduce the mom's anxiety during labor. Reducing anxiety may help reduce the physical pain and provide mothers a sense of comfort and relaxation so they will not have such a traumatic delivery.
Make sure, however, to ask the hospital if they will allow parents to plug a diffuser in the labor or delivery room, especially if the pregnant mom will share this area with other moms.
4. Breast milk pump and breast milk storage bag for mom's fresh supply
For moms planning to breastfeed, they will need to have a breast milk pump, breast milk storage bags, or some extra bottles to freeze the extracted milk. Breastfeeding moms will also need to prepare their breastfeeding covers or nursing bra if there are early visitors at the hospital. Though some hospitals may provide a few provisions, it's still more practical to have these things in the baby's hospital bag.
5. Baby car seat for baby's first car ride
In the U.S., a car seat is mandatory for all cars with babies on board. Since the newborn baby's first car ride will be from the hospital, the car seat should already be set in place before the family heads back home. If the parents are not familiar with the requirements for newborn car seats, the National Highway and Safety Administration (NHTSA) has some guidelines and recommendations for buying the right gear and installing this correctly.
Joyfant.com has fetal dopplers among its featured products. The JSL-T501 Fetal Doppler, FD-200B Fetal Doppler, and FD 300-B Fetal Doppler are each worth $79.99 on their online site. They also have a pregnancy gift box that is worth $99.99.
If you want to buy this product, get it now so you can avail the 15% discount for Parent Herald readers. Forsure, this would be one of the best Mother's Day you can give an expecting mom!
