The Pregnancy Checklist
The second you learn that you are expecting is always a moment filled with immense joy for both you and your partner. To help you enjoy a healthy and smooth pregnancy, a pregnancy checklist will come in handy. It will help you work out details well in advance, avoiding last-minute rushes. Here are 5 of the most important things that you should consider.
- Start Prenatal Checks
Prenatal checks are the best way of ensuring that you and your baby remain healthy during your pregnancy. Your healthcare provider will perform physical exams like checking your blood pressure and baby’s heart rate, taking urine samples, and measuring your weight to help track your progress throughout pregnancy. Starting these as soon as you learn you are pregnant is therefore important in ensuring that you carry your pregnancy safely to term. Your Obstetrician/Gynaecologist (OBGYN) will then advise you on how frequent your visits should be.
There is also an option for you to perform non-invasive prenatal testing for chromosomal abnormalities such as Down Syndrome, as early as 10 weeks into the pregnancy. You can speak to your doctor regarding the various types of prenatal tests that are available.
- Search for Your Confinement Nanny
A confinement nanny will help you transition through pregnancy and into childbirth. She is, therefore, going to be a big part of taking care of you and your bundle of joy. She will provide emotional support, cook you nutritious food, help with household chores, and wash and care for your baby too. With this, you should begin your search early to allow you and your partner to have enough time to find someone suitable that you have a connection with.
- Storing Your Baby’s Stem Cells
Cord blood contains powerful stem cells which have been proven useful for your baby and family covering over 80 medical conditions. It is commonly known as a biological insurance where parents can choose to safeguard their stem cells in a family cord blood bank by paying a small storage fee. This has to be decided early as this can only be done right after delivery of your baby, and is a painless and risk-free procedure which will be performed by your OBGYN. Remember to select a credible and accredited company to store this precious medical resource.
- Choose Your Maternity Hospital
Even if you are guaranteed that your OBGYN is the one who will be delivering your baby, taking the time to find a maternity hospital with a positive, and comforting environment will prove to be one of the best decisions. After all, you will spend most of your time in the hospital being tended to by nurses and other hospital staff. Factors to consider to help you choose are the hospital’s reputation, quality of service offered, and feedback from other mothers. This makes it important to attend the hospital tours of your selected hospitals.
- Pack Your Hospital Bag
Your hospital bag should contain all the things you will need when in the hospital, and when bringing your baby home for the first time. To avoid last-minute surprises, you can begin shopping for everything you will need right from the first trimester.
This is our recommended list of items to be included in your hospital bag:
- Personal hygiene items for you and your baby
- Baby diapers
- A fresh set of clothes for you and your baby
- Your health insurance card
- Your baby’s stem cell collection kit
- Lots of fruits
- Fluids
- Snacks
- Power bank or charger
- Breastfeeding pillow
