We asked 5 of our PINK clients what they would do differently before their child was born, that they didn’t do:
Get Your House Cleaned
Each client wished they’d had their house cleaned before the baby’s arrival. After all, there’s nothing like coming home to a nice clean space. Mommy A said “My parents paid someone to come clean our house from top to bottom while we were in the hospital,” A said. “It took so much stress off of us.”
Also, learn about your options for labor, birth, and after, and make your wishes clear.
Of course, paying for a cleaning service can be expensive. You can also have your partner or a friend or relative help you with some housework and organizing. As another mom said, “Get as prepared as you can, because you won’t have much time to clean once the baby is here.”
Prepare food
Cooking a meal will likely be the last thing you have time for in the early newborn days. Plan ahead and stock the freezer – 28 percent of our moms wished they’d done the same.
Those who did stockpile meals were very glad they had. “I made and froze lots of dinners before the baby arrived – that was a huge help!” said one mom. “The slow cooker is your best friend,” advised another. “Pre-chop ingredients and store them in the freezer in gallon bags that you can toss into the slow cooker once you have the baby at home.”
You may also want to fill the pantry and fridge with convenient snacks like yogurt, cheese sticks, crackers, and granola bars. You’ll want snacks handy, and you may not always have time or energy for a full meal. “There were times I was so tired I forgot to eat,” one mom said.
Indulge in a little pampering
Post-childbirth “pampering” may mean a five-minute shower during your baby’s catnap. So get your real pampering in before labor day. More than a quarter of moms told us they wished they’d gotten a massage or spa treatment before giving birth.
Have some fun
Don’t worry, moms do get to enjoy parties and girls’ night outs … eventually. But during those first few newborn months? Not so much. So have your fun while you can. And arrange a date night or two – it may be your last chance for romance for a little while. “Definitely take time for yourself and your partner before the new addition,” one mom suggests.
Find a doctor for your baby
“Get a good pediatrician before you have your baby,” advises one mom – and we agree. The last thing you want to do is scramble around for a doctor’s appointment while you’re recovering from childbirth.
