The saying goes: never fight an unprepared battle. Seeing that childbirth is approaching, expectant mothers should not forget to make some preparations in advance!
Ready for shipment
Prepare your birth bag early so that when your baby is due, you can pick it up and head to the hospital right away. The bag usually contains the following items:——
Documents: medical record card, ID card, maternal and child health records, birth certificate, marriage certificate, household registration book
Hospitalization deposit: 8,000 yuan in cash (you can ask the hospital in advance for the deposit amount)
Nutritional supplements during labor: chocolate, water, drinks, snacks
For maternity use
Hygiene products: sanitary napkins (preferably for long-night use), panty liners, and 2 rolling papers.
Toiletries: cups, lunch boxes, towels, toothbrushes, washbasins, footbaths, slippers (different hospitals, please consult in advance).
Discharge clothing: maternity hat, windproof underwear, shoes.
Underwear: 3 nursing bras (buy when you are about to give birth, it is recommended to be a little larger than the size at that time), 2 packs of disposable paper underwear (of course, buy the largest size, it is very important, otherwise your family will always wash it for you).
Breast pump: It is recommended not to buy a too good one, just an ordinary brand.
baby
1. Two feeding bottles: There must be scales, one for milk and one for water. Also pay attention to the pacifier, newborns can only use straight hole ones (according to my own later experience, it is very unnecessary to buy the most expensive and best bottle, the most economical, convenient and practical one is love that can be sold everywhere for profit) .
2. Milk powder: Pay attention to the time period when buying, and buy the kind that is 0-6 months old. (Although breastfeeding is encouraged, it is also important to prepare the baby\’s food rations before the milk comes in. It is also important to buy it first.)
3. Detachable wet wipes in hard box: To wipe stool, buy at least 2 packs, 1 pack in hard box and 1 pack in simple pack.
4. Extract toilet paper: used for expressing milk and wiping stool. It is recommended to choose the unscented type.
6. Diapers: The hospital will give you some, but you have to prepare some yourself. It is recommended to bring a pack of newborn diapers.
7. Small clothes: some hospitals provide them. If the hospital does not provide them, you should bring two sets of monk robes for changing and washing purposes.
8. Small towels and large bath towels: pure cotton, quality is very important!
Looking for confinement nanny
If there is no one to take care of you at home, expectant mothers still need to prepare in advance to find a job as a confinement nanny. Don\’t worry until your child is about to be discharged from the hospital, because it is not easy to find a confinement nanny that suits you.
To find a confinement nanny, you can refer to the following methods –
1. HospitalAffiliated enterprises. In some hospitals, information about postpartum care companies will be placed outside the obstetrics and gynecology wards, and the credit of these companies is generally very good.
2. Recommended by friends. Don’t be shy to ask “experienced people” for advice, ask friends for recommendations, and then make a choice based on your needs. This situation is the most reassuring.
3. Compare more. Check the reputation of other mothers on various confinement companies on relevant websites, then make detailed comparisons, and finally choose the one you want to compare with yourself.
4. Through the Home Economics Center. You can leave the job of finding someone to a reputable housekeeping company and let them help you choose. Don’t forget to interview in advance. If possible, try it for two days.
hint:
my country has introduced qualification standards for the confinement nanny industry. When looking for a confinement nanny, it is best to go to a regular confinement nanny company. You must have an \”ID Card\”, \”Health Certificate\”, and \”Qualification Certificate for Confinement nanny\” (issued after evaluation by the Ministry of Labor and Social Security. Write down the certificate number and check the authenticity online.)
Know the signs of labor
Although due dates are well known, not all babies arrive on time. Expectant mothers need to know some of the signs of labor to avoid confusion. Generally speaking, the uterus contracts regularly during labor. The abdomen becomes hard during contractions, and when contractions stop, the uterus relaxes and the abdomen becomes soft. In addition, there are some changes that you may not have noticed, such as:
1. If the fetus feels like it is about to fall, it means that the fetus\’ head has sunk into the mother\’s pelvis. This usually occurs in the week or hours before delivery.
2. Increased leucorrhea. This is due to the thick secretions that build up in the cervix during pregnancy. Because of its thickness, it often acts as a plug to block secretions. When labor occurs and the cervix is swollen, the plug does not work, so secretions come out. This phenomenon often occurs a few days before or just before labor.
3. A thin stream or watery fluid comes out of the vagina. This is called a rupture of the membranes or breaking of the water. This phenomenon often occurs a few hours before or close to delivery.
4. Frequent cramps or back pain. This is caused by the alternating contractions and relaxations of the uterus. These contractions will intensify as labor approaches. Pain is inevitable as the cervix dilates and the fetus is delivered from the reproductive tract. This phenomenon only occurs in the early stages of labor.
true and false childbirth
Some expectant mothers sometimes pretend to give birth or have irregular uterine contractions, inadvertently playing out the story of \”the boy who cried wolf\”. In order to avoid false alarms at the time, it is necessary to understand the general difference between true and false childbirth in advance.
Master the labor process
What\’s going on with giving birth? What kind of process do you want to go through? As delivery approaches, expectant mothers are filled with anticipation and worry. Childbirth is usually divided into three consecutive processes, let\’s first have an overview.
The first stage of labor: from regular uterine contractions to complete dilation of the cervix up to 10cm, and finally delivery of the fetal head. For primiparous women, this process takes 4-24 hours.
The second stage of labor: from complete dilation of the cervix to delivery of the fetus. First-time mothers need half an hour to two hours.
The third stage of labor: from the delivery of the fetus to the delivery of the placenta. New mothers need 10 minutes to an hour and a half.
Tip: Yelling during labor can prolong labor.