Hi,

I am expecting and was looking for some advice at what sort of prepration are
required before hand like what all do I need to buy etc.

Also are there any expecting mothers on the forum?

Thanks

Check out these links. Also, check out your local library and bookshops for all the latest baby books. There are thousands!!

http://babies.sutterhealth.org/laboranddelivery/ld_prep4b-arriv.html

http://www.keepkidshealthy.com/newborn/preparing.html

http://pregnancy.about.com/b/a/051160.htm

http://www.parenthood.com/

PP

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Bijou Bazaar
http://bijoubazaar22.googlepages.com

As far as what to buy, here's one way to handle, as baby stuff can get beyond your budget. Register yourself at a baby registry at stores like Babies R Us.

Reason being, typically people visiting you would tend to bring gifts for the baby. Instead of receiving 10 photo frames, you can atleast indicate that you have a baby registry with specific requested gifts, and hopefully, you will receive what you need.

Anyway, here's a list of what we got from my wife's baby shower. I have given stars to indicate the gifts' usefulness.

Lots of clothes ranging from newborn to 9 months. "Gowns" and "Undies" are really good for new borns as they are easy to put it on them and designed to handle diapers without too much interference with the clothing. *****

Bouncer that vibrates and reclines *****
Baby monitor *****
Bath tub ***
Booster or high chair (useful after the baby starts sitting) *****
Microwave bottle sterilizer *****
Burp cloth ** (you can use just about any towel for this)
Fleece blankets ****
Wash cloths (again, you can use any towel) **
Diaper disposal pail ***** (extremely useful)
Diaper/Wipes kit *****
Bath kit (body wash, body oil, etc pkg) ****
4 to 8 Feeding bottles (4 to 9 oz with newborn nipples) *****
Crib bedding set ***** (if you choose to buy a crib)
Digital thermometer *****
Grooming set (has nail clippers, comb, etc etc) *** (you can live without it)
Bibs ****
Closet organiser rack (fabric) ***** (if your closet does not have shelves)
Closet door rack ***** (good to store stuff)
Quilts ***** (get 3 or 4 from relatives. My mom hand made few for us)
Towels *****
Diaper travel carry bag ***** (holds diapers, bottles, clothes, etc..)

We bought the following:

Crib and crib mattress ($$$$$$$)
Stroller that came with infant carrier. ($$$$$$$)
Diaper rash cream ($)
Bottle cleaning brush ($)

We now seem to endlessly buy:

Diapers
Baby formula

For the above two, look online for good deals. For ex, I have the option of these delivered to a US address and I am getting 192 diapers at $27 USD with free shipping and no tax from Amazon.com. At the store, I would pay around $40 USD for the same quantity. Ebay is an option as well. We bought baby formula on ebay for 60% of market price including shipping charges.

Hope this helps.

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Dimple2001

From what I've heard, that you if you're in the early stages of pregnancy you can register at Sears. During the registration process they ask you to give them an expected date-of-birth. If the baby is born on that date, then any baby stuff that you have bought from Sears during the pregnancy comes free to you.

Check out the details from a Sears store.

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SS
Reiki Grand Master

All these days i have not been posting anything in this part of the section, thinking that only women are allowed to reply here (mods, Pls. confirm). Since i see some males posting stuff here, i wish to give my view.
The hospital that you are expecting to deliver will give you an orientation and the facilities offered there as well as stuff that you need to bring along during delivery. From experience what you actually need in the hospital is :
1. phone 2. 1 or 2 gowns for mom 3. daipers and baby wash 4. dresses for mom and child 5. car seat. 6. money (this is for normal delivery)
Do you have extended insurance? One in a room ward is very good. 2 in a room and 4in a room is just horrible (more horrible than in India). Food will be provided for mom and child for Free. if you are in a 2 in a room or 4 in a room bed, then no overnight stay of husband / in laws/ grand mum is allowed. One ina room allows a person to be with you and offers you TV (for some extra cost).
The most important thing is your Gyn.. The person has to be a good one. Most of the hospital staff are over worked. for eg. there will be just one doctor to do delivery in a day and he/she could be doing 10 delivery in a day. This will not be like india. Mostly nurses will only be doing namesake jobs. No one really will care (there will be exceptions to this but i am speaking generally). So your family members should be with you. Also check if the lactation consultant is available 24 hrs a day (mostly they will not be and can be seen only w/ appointment).
When i was in the delivery room/ ward, everyone that i met with were complaining about the bad quality of service in hospitals these days in Toronto. I met also 2 desi women who were not happy at all with the system.
Also the nurse told me that Canadian born women get discharged in 24 hours after deleivery which may not be true for desi women. Desi women may take 2 or 3 days to be discharged (b'cos of their body structure).
You will have 3 options for delivery :
1. normal w/o any pain killers
2. normal with pain killers
3. normal with Epidural

Pre delivery ideas :
Your doc. would have recommended a multi vitamin tablet to be taken once a day. Take it without fail. You will still need to take it for 30-45 days after delivery. There is a safe tablet in Canada for preventing morning sickness. Apart from this take NO further medication unless recommeneded by your Canadian doctor.
Eat a balance diet containing meat, whole wheat products, vegetable (esp. greeny stuff), low fat milk , dates, nuts etc...
If you want your child to be born white (as a lot of tamils wish), eat saffron with milk (just a mustard seed amount of saffron in warm milk) and gulkand (rose petals mixed with honey).
Last one month (only) before delivery go for a 30 min. brisk walk each day. This will ease your delivery pain.

All the best yarr!
TK A

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I am a Gents and not a Ladies.

Though i have nothing to contribute here as of now....but its great to see everyone pitching in with all the helpful advises and tips. the Sears idea is a great one and so are all the others. Congrats hobbes on the good news !

Tk, as far as i know ..anyone can post in the sakhi section...so feel free.

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There is no key to happiness.... the door is always open.

Thanks for all the tips.
I am fairly overwhelmed with the prospect right now :-)
So all advice is very welcome