Pregnancy and Birth: The Essential Checklists : What to Buy, What to Ask, What to Prepare, How to Do It, When to Do It

Pregnancy and Birth: The Essential Checklists covers everything parents need to know and more when expecting a new baby. It alerts parents as to what to prepare, what to buy, what to ask, what to do, and when to do it. It not only shows parents how to stay on top of everything, but it also helps them to remain one step ahead. The book is highly practical, comprehensive and straightforward, comprising essential lists of simple steps and reminders to help parents anticipate everything they need to do in pregnancy, during birth, and with their newborn baby. Starting with what to do when the test is positive (for example, book to see your doctor and begin taking folic acid), it takes parents right through to the essential clothes, toys and equipment to buy and developmental milestones for 0-3, 3-6, 6-9 and 9-12 months and preparing for their baby's first birthday party. It covers all the planning for the minutiae of daily life, listing what to put in the pregnancy handbag and how many diapers to buy, and listing everything needed for the big day (for example the birth plan, the birth partner's checklist, reflexology for labor and what labor snacks to bring along). Contents 5......Page 7 Introduction 6......Page 8 Pregnancy 8......Page 11 What to do if the test is positive 10......Page 12 Appointments and tests 12......Page 14 Budgeting for baby 14......Page 16 Your basic maternity wardrobe 16......Page 18 Nutrition during pregnancy 18......Page 20 Perfect pregnancy snacks 20......Page 22 Your pregnancy handbag 21......Page 23 Maternity rights and benefits 22......Page 24 Your pregnancy-at-work toolkit 24......Page 26 Hazards at work 25......Page 27 Traveling during pregnancy 26......Page 28 Dealing with sleep problems 27......Page 29 Ideal exercise 28......Page 30 Coping with pregnancy symptoms 30......Page 32 When to see your doctor 34......Page 36 What to ask your doctor 35......Page 37 Natural therapies and remedies 36......Page 38 Stimulating your baby 38......Page 40 Preparing for baby 40......Page 43 Essential first clothes 42......Page 44 Which diapers? 44......Page 46 Bathtime essentials 46......Page 48 Keeping clean 47......Page 49 Soothers and comfort items 48......Page 50 Transporting your baby 50......Page 52 Breast- and bottle-feeding 52......Page 54 Your baby’s nursery 54......Page 56 Your baby’s medicine cabinet 56......Page 58 Your nesting instinct 58......Page 60 Preparing for the birth 60......Page 63 Labor and delivery options 62......Page 64 What to ask on your hospital visit 64......Page 66 Choosing a prenatal class 65......Page 67 Your birth plan 66......Page 68 Your hospital bag 68......Page 70 Your baby’s hospital bag 69......Page 71 Your birth partner’s checklist 70......Page 72 Is a birth center right for you? 72......Page 74 Symptoms of labor 74......Page 76 Questions about procedures 75......Page 77 Pain-relief options 76......Page 78 Your gift wish list 78......Page 80 Visitors and support 79......Page 81 Your new baby: after the birth 80......Page 83 Choosing a pediatrician 82......Page 84 Postpartum checkups 83......Page 86 Postpartum depression (PPD) 85......Page 87 Getting enough sleep 86......Page 88 Best snacks for new moms 88......Page 90 Quick family food 89......Page 91 For your records 90......Page 93 Developmental checkups 92......Page 94 Weight and length log 93......Page 95 Waking and sleeping log 94......Page 96 Immunization log 96......Page 98 Visitors, gifts, and thank yous 98......Page 100 Vital records 100......Page 102 Baby basics 102......Page 105 Bathing your baby 104......Page 106 Topping and tailing 106......Page 108 Changing your baby 107......Page 109 Your diaper bag 108......Page 110 Creating a routine 109......Page 111 Vacations and trips 110......Page 112 When your baby is ill 112......Page 114 When to see your doctor 114......Page 116 Baby-proofing your home 115......Page 117 Coping with common ailments 116......Page 118 Calming diaper rash 120......Page 122 Ease the crying 121......Page 123 Stimulating your baby 122......Page 124 Encouraging bonding 124......Page 126 Your baby: 0–3 months 126......Page 129 Developmental milestones 128......Page 130 Best first toys 129......Page 131 Breastfeeding basics 130......Page 132 Breastfeeding problems 132......Page 134 Bottle-feeding basics 134......Page 136 Soothing your baby to sleep 135......Page 137 Your baby: 3–6 months 136......Page 139 Developmental milestones 138......Page 140 Best toys and activities 140......Page 142 Essential clothing and equipment 142......Page 144 Is my baby ready for solid food? 144......Page 146 Symptoms of food allergies 145......Page 147 Teething 146......Page 148 Childhood illnesses 148......Page 150 Your baby: 6–9 months 150......Page 153 Developmental milestones 152......Page 154 Best toys and activities 154......Page 156 Essential clothing and equipment 156......Page 158 Tips for feeding solids 159......Page 161 Best first foods and purées 160......Page 162 First foods diary 162......Page 164 Great first finger foods 164......Page 166 Ideal family meals 165......Page 167 Your baby: 9–12 months 166......Page 169 Developmental milestones 168......Page 170 Best toys and activities 170......Page 172 Essential clothing and equipment 172......Page 174 Your baby’s first birthday 174......Page 176 Going back to work 176......Page 179 Preparing for your return to work 178......Page 180 Survival tips for working moms 180......Page 182 How to choose a day-care center 181......Page 183 How to choose a nanny 182......Page 184 How to choose a home day care 183......Page 185 Soothing separation anxiety 184......Page 186 Covering vacations and illness 186......Page 188 Staying at home 188......Page 190 Index 189......Page 191 Acknowledgments 192......Page 194 Contents 5 7 Introduction 6 8 Pregnancy 8 11 What to do if the test is positive 10 12 Appointments and tests 12 14 Budgeting for baby 14 16 Your basic maternity wardrobe 16 18 Nutrition during pregnancy 18 20 Perfect pregnancy snacks 20 22 Your pregnancy handbag 21 23 Maternity rights and benefits 22 24 Your pregnancy-at-work toolkit 24 26 Hazards at work 25 27 Traveling during pregnancy 26 28 Dealing with sleep problems 27 29 Ideal exercise 28 30 Coping with pregnancy symptoms 30 32 When to see your doctor 34 36 What to ask your doctor 35 37 Natural therapies and remedies 36 38 Stimulating your baby 38 40 Preparing for baby 40 43 Essential first clothes 42 44 Which diapers? 44 46 Bathtime essentials 46 48 Keeping clean 47 49 Soothers and comfort items 48 50 Transporting your baby 50 52 Breast- and bottle-feeding 52 54 Your baby’s nursery 54 56 Your baby’s medicine cabinet 56 58 Your nesting instinct 58 60 Preparing for the birth 60 63 Labor and delivery options 62 64 What to ask on your hospital visit 64 66 Choosing a prenatal class 65 67 Your birth plan 66 68 Your hospital bag 68 70 Your baby’s hospital bag 69 71 Your birth partner’s checklist 70 72 Is a birth center right for you? 72 74 Symptoms of labor 74 76 Questions about procedures 75 77 Pain-relief options 76 78 Your gift wish list 78 80 Visitors and support 79 81 Your new baby: after the birth 80 83 Choosing a pediatrician 82 84 Postpartum checkups 83 86 Postpartum depression (PPD) 85 87 Getting enough sleep 86 88 Best snacks for new moms 88 90 Quick family food 89 91 For your records 90 93 Developmental checkups 92 94 Weight and length log 93 95 Waking and sleeping log 94 96 Immunization log 96 98 Visitors, gifts, and thank yous 98 100 Vital records 100 102 Baby basics 102 105 Bathing your baby 104 106 Topping and tailing 106 108 Changing your baby 107 109 Your diaper bag 108 110 Creating a routine 109 111 Vacations and trips 110 112 When your baby is ill 112 114 When to see your doctor 114 116 Baby-proofing your home 115 117 Coping with common ailments 116 118 Calming diaper rash 120 122 Ease the crying 121 123 Stimulating your baby 122 124 Encouraging bonding 124 126 Your baby: 0–3 months 126 129 Developmental milestones 128 130 Best first toys 129 131 Breastfeeding basics 130 132 Breastfeeding problems 132 134 Bottle-feeding basics 134 136 Soothing your baby to sleep 135 137 Your baby: 3–6 months 136 139 Developmental milestones 138 140 Best toys and activities 140 142 Essential clothing and equipment 142 144 Is my baby ready for solid food? 144 146 Symptoms of food allergies 145 147 Teething 146 148 Childhood illnesses 148 150 Your baby: 6–9 months 150 153 Developmental milestones 152 154 Best toys and activities 154 156 Essential clothing and equipment 156 158 Tips for feeding solids 159 161 Best first foods and purées 160 162 First foods diary 162 164 Great first finger foods 164 166 Ideal family meals 165 167 Your baby: 9–12 months 166 169 Developmental milestones 168 170 Best toys and activities 170 172 Essential clothing and equipment 172 174 Your baby’s first birthday 174 176 Going back to work 176 179 Preparing for your return to work 178 180 Survival tips for working moms 180 182 How to choose a day-care center 181 183 How to choose a nanny 182 184 How to choose a home day care 183 185 Soothing separation anxiety 184 186 Covering vacations and illness 186 188 Staying at home 188 190 Index 189 191 Useful websites 192 194 Acknowledgments 192 194 Pregnancy and Birth: The Essential Checklists covers everything parents need to know and more when expecting a new baby. It alerts parents as to what to prepare, what to buy, what to ask, what to do, and when to do it. It not only shows parents how to stay on top of everything, but it also helps them to remain one step ahead.The book is highly practical, comprehensive and straightforward, comprising essential lists of simple steps and reminders to help parents anticipate everything they need to do in pregnancy, during birth, and with their newborn baby. Starting with what to do when the test is positive (for example, book to see your doctor and begin taking folic acid), it takes parents right through to the essential clothes, toys and equipment to buy and developmental milestones for 0-3, 3-6, 6-9 and 9-12 months and preparing for their baby's first birthday party. It covers all the planning for the minutiae of daily life, listing what to put in the pregnancy handbag and how many diapers to buy, and listing everything needed for the big day (for example the birth plan, the birth partner's checklist, reflexology for labor and what labor snacks to bring along).The book takes the panic out of hospital appointments with checklists covering prenatal appointments and tests, antenatal checks and baby's first health checks. Included here are also essential questions to ask the doctor. There are lists of questions elsewhere, too, for example, questions to ask prospective nannies.The book features a unique fill-in element throughout, with tick lists and space for parents to extend the lists with their own additions or further questions to ask. Additionally, there are places for parents to record things, such an immunization log, a waking and sleeping log, a visitors and presents record and a thank you letter list.Pregnancy and Birth: The Essential Checklists is the perfect companion for time-starved parents and parents-to-be, taking the stress out of planning ahead.