Bringing Your Newborn Baby Home: How To Prepare
After nine months of anticipation and excitement, you finally get to bring your precious baby home. It can be an overwhelming moment — but know that you’re not alone!
Let’s navigate this new adventure together!
Preparing Your Home and Yourself
Your stay in the hospital with your newborn will typically last from one day to three depending on your circumstances. Preparing your home before labor ensures that everything is ready and set up for your baby’s arrival.
Be sure to have all necessary items such as a crib, mattress and bedding, a car seat, clothing, and diapers waiting for you. Choosing organic items from the get-go is best to keep your baby free from harsh chemicals and synthetic materials.
Next, it’s important to mentally prepare yourself. Once you bring your newborn home, you’ll no longer have healthcare staff and nurses around to guide you. You’ll likely also still feel physical pain from giving birth. Having a solid support team with you, whether that be a partner, a friend, or your parents is a good idea.
Give Yourself Grace
Properly preparing your home and yourself will get you off on the right foot but remember to give yourself grace along the way.
You won’t and don’t have to be 100% ready immediately. There might be hiccups along the way, and that’s okay. It takes time to adjust to a new environment and lifestyle and it’s a real learning curve.
Setting Boundaries
Your family and friends will inevitably want to meet your newborn immediately, but if you’re feeling overwhelmed or need more time alone with your baby, it’s okay to set boundaries. You don’t have to be a gracious host in the days or weeks after giving birth.
Kindly explain that you’re going through a healing process and adjusting to your new arrival. You can welcome them whenever you’re ready.
Prioritizing your emotional health and physical recovery so you can be there for your baby is what matters most.
Welcome Home!
You’re scared, excited, and probably exhausted. But you can get through it! Take each day at a time and don’t forget to be gentle with yourself.
We wish you the best of luck as you embark on this new chapter and welcome your baby home!