furniture or curtains that Baby could use to climb out of the cot.
2.Suspended mobile toys are not only a beautiful addition to a nursery; the movement may actually help to soothe Baby. However, once Baby can push herself onto her hands and knees, you’ll have to place the mobile out of her reach to prevent body parts getting caught up in the dangling cords, or Baby pulling off and placing small parts in her mouth.
3.Make sure the mattress fits snugly and don’t put a pillow in the cot. For safe sleeping, your baby needs a firm and flat surface.
4.A night-light is a wonderful element to add to your nursery. Not only are they very cute, but they can help comfort Baby and provide a gentle light for those late-night feeds.
5.The room should be well-ventilated, but try to keep Baby’s crib away from any possible draughts.
A word on cot safety
The crib should be painted with a lead-free product and preferably fitted with a new mattress and linen. It should also:
•Be deep enough that your growing baby can’t climb out.
•Not have steps or cut-outs in the headboard or footboard that could trap your baby’s limbs.
•Have a space between bars of no less than 2.5cm and no more than 5cm; this will prevent your baby’s head from slipping between the bars.
YOUR BIRTH BAG
As your due date draws near and your excitement mounts, it’s a good idea to have your labour bag ready and packed. Labour progresses quite slowly at first, so although you could probably pack once labour begins, you may be so excited that you forget important items, and some things will need to be bought beforehand.
For the labour ward
These are the most useful items to take along to the birth facility:
✓A comfortable, loose T-shirt for labour
✓Tissues – one’s nose often runs during labour
✓Elastic hair ties for long hair
✓Socks to warm cold feet
✓Lip balm
✓Fruit or a fructose drink for a quick energy boost
✓A water bottle with a straw
✓A facecloth, for a refreshing wipe of the face and neck
✓A comfort item from home
✓A homeopathic remedy for improved labour
✓Relaxing music for labour and the postnatal ward
✓Stretchy disposable maternity panties and maternity sanitary towels
✓Nightclothes, slippers, gown
For the postnatal ward
✓Bar of gentle rooibos or calendula soap
✓Deodorant and personal cosmetics
✓Breast pads
✓Cooling gel pads for overly full and tender breasts
✓Gel pad to ease discomfort in your perineum
✓Breastfeeding bras
✓Plastic bags for laundry
✓Clothes for Mom and Baby to come home in – one of your preggy outfits, as it will still take a while for you to trim down
✓A blanket to wrap your baby in on the way home
The hospital or clinic might supply these items:
✓Sanitary towels
✓Breast pads
✓Disinfectant for cleaning your perineum (stitches)
✓Baby clothes for the duration of the hospital stay
✓Ice packs
✓Infrared lamps for easing painful breasts or perineum
✓Disposable nappies for Baby
✓Cotton-wool balls for cleaning the navel and umbilical stump
✓Surgical spirits to clean the navel
✓Basic cosmetic items like soap and deodorant for Mom
✓Cosmetics for Baby like liquid soap, shampoo, skin lotion, buttock cream and talc
CHAPTER 10
Pregnancy from a father-to-be’s perspective
A pregnant woman is often the centre of attention and even complete strangers “oooh” and “awww” over her developing belly. Amidst all this attention, Dad may feel a bit left out.
INCLUDING DAD
Sometimes, to set this right, all it takes is to assure him of your love for and pride in him. Assure him that you consider him to be the best possible father for your baby. Here are 10 suggestions to help Dad feel included:
1.Bring Dad to ultrasounds, doctor’s appointments and antenatal classes so he can see how Baby is developing and ask all his questions too. If he really can’t make it to the ultrasounds, bring a DVD back or give him a printout of the ultrasound.
2.Decorate the nursery together. Although Baby won’t need it for a while after birth, this is a fun project to tackle together. Besides, dads are usually good at painting or wallpapering walls, assembling cribs and shifting heavy furniture.
3.Dad may really enjoy going clothes shopping for Baby. Allow him to buy all those “My Daddy is the best” all-in-one suits.
4.Read pregnancy books and magazine articles together.
5.Give him a Father’s Day gift! He may not be a father just yet, but this will get him excited for when he is one.
6.Pick out names together. This can be such fun; you can even turn it into a bit of a game.
7.Allow him to bond with Baby: as soon as Baby starts kicking, allow him to feel and see your belly move. Encourage him to talk to Baby and introduce Baby to his favourite music.
8.Make a birth plan together. Explain what you’d like for your birth and why, and be open to his suggestions too. Ask him how he feels about being with you while you give birth, and if he has any anxieties or questions, which you can then find answers for.
9.Include him in your baby shower. This isn’t traditional, but times change and many women are starting to invite men to their showers.
10.Ask
