How to Plan for the First Week After Birth

Parents spend much of the 40 weeks of pregnancy in various stages of preparation. From stockpiling diapers, wipes and toiletry items to preparing furniture for the nursery, endless time and effort goes into trying to provide for the physical necessities of a new baby. In the midst of this preparation, many parents forget to plan for the transitional weeks when the family first welcomes the new baby to the home. Organizing for those first two weeks or so can help ease the stress of having a newborn in the home.

Things You'll Need

• Phone
• Calendar
• Pen
• Paper

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Instructions

Steps to Take

• 1

  Take advantage of the nesting instincts and any excess energy during pregnancy to make minor improvements to the home. Enlist friends or family to help with a thorough spring cleaning a couple weeks before the due date. You will not have the time or energy for such work after the baby is born.

• 2

  Make a list of your family's favorite meals. Take some time every weekend to make an extra meal to freeze for later. Label and date each frozen meal for easy identification. Check each off the list when they are made. Stock up on items that can be fixed quickly like chicken nuggets or frozen pizza. If you have the freezer space, the goal is to have enough for one main meal per day for the first two weeks after baby arrives.

• 3

  Make list of all the people that offered to help after the baby is born. Assign a weekly or daily job to each person. Do not be afraid to ask nicely for each person to complete a specific task. This will free up time and energy for bonding with the baby and adjusting to the new member of the house.

• 4

  If you have older children in the house, prepare for their care in advance. Plan special activities or outings for the older children and plan for a friend or family member to oversee. If the child is old enough, delegate a job or special duty for him to handle for the baby. This helps the child feel like he is contributing during a busy and overwhelming time.