For your first pregnancy, focus on personal comfort like prenatal vitamins, maternity clothes (leggings/t-shirts), and morning sickness aids (ginger/peppermint) in the early days, while also preparing for baby with essentials like a car seat, safe sleeping space (cot/bassinet), basic clothing (onesies), and feeding/changing supplies as you progress towards the due date. Prioritize safety and functionality over trends for big baby items like carriers and strollers.
Take a supplement. Start taking a daily folic acid supplement straight away if you're not taking it already. Folic acid is an essential nutrient that protects your baby against brain and spinal cord problems such as spina bifida. You need a 400 microgram (mcg) supplement of folic acid (vitamin B9).
Here are the important baby supplies to stock up on:
Things To Buy Before Giving Birth
The newborn 5-5-5 rule is a postpartum guideline for new mothers to focus on healing and bonding in the first 15 days home, dividing rest into 5 days in bed, followed by 5 days on the bed, and then 5 days near the bed, encouraging minimal chores, visitors, and activity to prioritize recovery from childbirth and establishing the new family unit, drawing on traditional postpartum rest practices.
Shopping list of baby essentials for every new mom
The hardest week with a newborn is often considered the first six weeks, especially weeks 2-3, due to extreme sleep deprivation, constant feeding demands, learning baby's cues, postpartum recovery, and a peak in inconsolable crying (the "witching hour"), making parents feel overwhelmed as they adjust to a new, exhausting routine. While the first week is tough, the challenges often intensify as the baby becomes more alert but still fussy, with major developmental hurdles like cluster feeding and increased fussiness peaking around 6-8 weeks.
The second trimester is the ideal time to finish planning and buy anything you don't want to wait until your baby shower to receive. Choose nursery decor: The second trimester is usually when you find out your baby's gender (if you choose to do so!), so it's a great time to choose nursery decor.
Maintaining a healthy pregnancy is not hard when you know how to do it! The three golden rules are to always listen to your doctor's advice, eat healthy, and stay active. Remember, don't focus only on your baby's growth because ultimately keeping yourself healthy is the first step to keeping your baby healthy!
Yes, childbirth is painful. But it's manageable. In fact, nearly half of first-time moms (46 percent) said the pain they experienced with their first child was better than they expected, according to a nationwide survey commissioned by the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) in honor of Mother's Day.
Don't drink alcohol.
There is no amount of alcohol that is safe during pregnancy. And there is no time during pregnancy when alcohol does not carry risks. Drinking alcohol while pregnant can cause problems for a developing baby at any stage. This includes the days and weeks before a person knows they're pregnant.
The "worst" week of the first trimester often centers around weeks 8 or 9, when pregnancy hormones (especially hCG) peak, making symptoms like severe fatigue and intense morning sickness (nausea/vomiting) most pronounced, though this varies, with fatigue sometimes hitting earlier (weeks 6-8) and symptoms generally easing as you enter the second trimester around weeks 12-14.
The 40-day rule after birth, often called confinement or "The Golden Month," is a widespread cultural tradition emphasizing a mother's deep rest, healing, and bonding with her newborn, with family often handling chores and visitors, promoting physical recovery (like stopping bleeding) and mental well-being, rooted in ancient practices from Asia, Latin America, and religious traditions like Judaism and Christianity. Key aspects involve nourishing the mother, sheltering her from stress, and focusing solely on resting and bonding, a stark contrast to Western pressures to "bounce back" quickly.
Ice cream might be the top pregnancy craving of all time.
The 2-hour rule for babies means they shouldn't stay in a car seat (or travel system seat) for more than two hours at a time, whether in or out of the car, because the semi-upright position can strain their developing spine and restrict their breathing, increasing the risk of low oxygen levels, especially for newborns and preemies. For long journeys, parents should take breaks every two hours to take the baby out, allow them to lie flat for a while, stretch, and feed, ensuring they get proper head/neck support and circulation.
Big Kids and Tweens (8 to 9 Years)
It makes sense: This is the age when children's brains and bodies begin to change. Puberty typically starts as early as age 8 for girls and age 9 for boys. 7 As a result, kids this age often feel torn between the little-kid and big-kid worlds.
It's common to feel tired, or even exhausted, during pregnancy, especially in the first 12 weeks. Hormonal changes at this time can make you feel tired, nauseous and emotional. The only answer is to rest as much as possible.
There's no need to give your newborn baby a bath every day. Three times a week might be enough until your baby becomes more mobile. Bathing your baby too much can dry out your baby's skin.
Crib. One of the most important pieces of baby furniture is the crib; in the first few months consider a Moses basket or 3-sided crib especially if you plan for your baby to sleep in your room. If you are looking for longevity you can opt for a cot which will last until around 3 years of age.
15 Essential Newborn Baby Must-Haves
The 7 key danger signs for newborns, often highlighted by organizations like the WHO, are not feeding well, convulsions, fast breathing, severe chest indrawing, lethargy/unconsciousness (movement only when stimulated), high or low temperature, and jaundice (yellow skin/soles) or signs of local infection like an infected umbilical stump, requiring immediate medical attention.
The 3-minute rule means you should apply moisturizer to your baby's skin within three minutes of taking them out of the bath. After giving your baby a warm bath, gently pat them dry. Be careful not to rub their skin. Then, immediately rub a baby eczema cream onto their slightly damp skin.
The 5-5-5 Rule for Rest recommends five days in bed, five days around the bed, and five days around the home to prioritize recovery after the major physical toll of birth.