Before baby arrives, you imagine their little face, how they’ll fit in with your family, and let’s be honest, all the adorable tiny outfits you get to put them in. I love sitting around thinking about this sweet boy who will be here in 4 short months!
Aside from all the fun stuff to think about, there’s a few decisions that should be made or thought about before baby arrives. It’s always good to have these choices made ahead of time so that once baby is here – all of your attention is focused on THEM!
5 Important Things to Consider Before Baby Arrives
- Medical Interventions with Labor (Epidural + more)
- Newborn vaccinations + Circumcision
- What you’re doing with the placenta
- Cord Blood Banking with Cord Blood Registry (CBR)
- Breastfeeding, Bottles, and Pacifiers
Obviously it’s fun to decide on the baby’s name and what’s going in the nursery but these decisions are SO important. Mostly, because they are all time sensitive while in the hospital. But it’s also important to make these choices before baby comes while you are of sound mind…and not riddled by contractions or birth hormones.
1 I think most moms will already have some idea in their head, whether they want access to pain relief during labor. This is always good to think about ahead of time because you want to be sure about your decision, yet open to other options! I always go into labor following my body’s instincts. My body was designed to birth babies but that also doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt! You never know what kind of labor you will have and what position your baby will be in.
I have had an easy labor where I never once thought about an epidural. I have had another where I KNOW without a doubt that I would not have gotten that baby out naturally without one. And finally, I had and extremely difficult labor when I wanted pain relief but my body was moving too fast and I didn’t have a choice. You never know what will happen but just know what you want going into it.
2 Circumcision, if you’re having a boy, is always on the list if you have a hospital birth, so it is good to know how you feel about it before that baby comes out. It’s good to have it done in the hospital, if possible, or if you’re not ready to choose – there is always an outpatient option.
3 This isn’t a decision that HAS to be made but if you are wanting to do something with your placenta it has to be made in a timely manner. Most people don’t think about what happens to the placenta after birth, but be vocal if you want to keep it. With placenta encapsulation and other options, it is important for it to be frozen as soon as possible (or picked up by the company you’re working with to handle this).
4 This is another thing that is timely. The decision to bank your baby’s cord blood stem cells and cord tissue should be made before you go to the hospital (there are some hospitals that stock the kits if you decide to wait until the last minute, but this isn’t recommended). When we decided we wanted a big family, this was an option because preserving your newborn’s stem cells may give your child OR an immediate family member, depending on the condition and other factors, the opportunity to use this resource. Your baby’s umbilical cord is made of tissue and contains blood, both of which are rich sources of powerful stem cells. Cord blood can be helpful for various cancers, and blood, immune and metabolic disorders as part of a stem cell transplant.(source:https://www.cordblood.com/stem-cell-research/cord-blood-uses-and-research)
Getting signed up is easy. First you enroll with CBR either online at cordblood.com/enroll or by calling 888.240.1996 – if you know you’re interested in enrolling, be sure to fill out your info here to receive a promo code for $200 off of the initial fees – and wait to receive your collection kit. Make sure you bring it with you to the hospital and the hospital staff will take care of the collection. Once the baby is born and the cord blood has been collected, you call the medical courier and then you let CBR handle the rest! I also recommend watching this video that helps break down how it all works.
5 Knowing whether or not you are going to try breastfeeding is important too. Make sure the nurses know, so that they can provide help. The resources in the hospital are great, if you utilize them. This is also a good time to think about if you are bringing bottles for breastmilk and or formula. If you are avoiding those, because of breastfeeding, you might choose to leave the pacifiers at home too. The nurses might use them unless you let them know you won’t be using pacifiers until later.
As always, make sure you ask your doctor any questions and decide what is best for you, your baby, and your family. Every mom knows what’s best for their family when it comes to these decisions. Sit down with your spouse and talk about your options and make sure you both are on board. They are going to be your voice during your time in labor so it’s good to be on the same page!
If you liked this post, check out this similar one here: http://www.theoxmama.com/2018/02/baby-products-using-reusing/
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