Parent to Parent: Preparing for Baby

WSVN--Any day now, Patricia Savio's life is about to change forever.

She and her husband are expecting their first child.

Patricia Savio: "Very excited, being the first child and all very very excited, I can't wait."

Patricia's read plenty of books, taken childbirth classes, and besides some baby clothes to wash, she's ready to be a mommy.

Patricia Savio: "It's hard to know what to expect but I've always loved kids and//we waited awhile after six years of marriage, so both my husband and I are very prepared."

Lynn Martinez: "But if you're not prepared, experts say don't panic and don't procrastinate."

Dr. Debbie Glasser: "Now's the time to get the information when you have free time to read and talk to other parents."

You can do that by reading books or surfing the net.

You can also attend classes, like this one at Holy Cross Hospital.

Just make sure you learn about a baby's developmental stages as well.

Dr. Debbie Glasser: "It really is a wonderful time to look ahead and get a crash course on how babies grow and develop, what they play with, how they eat, what kinds of activities you can be doing with them at the various ages and stages."

Also make sure before your due date, you have a birth plan.

Read about c-sections.

Consider hiring a Doula.

And don't forget to pick a pediatrician and set up childcare.

Dr. Debbie Glasser: "Get all your ducks in a row. Now's the time, when you can take your time because it's a really important decision and it's something that shouldn't be done in a rushed way."

Finally, don't wait till the baby's born to schedule your maternity leave.

Ask your boss about flex time.

If you're breastfeeding, make sure you've made arrangements at work.

And remember, get some rest, prepare yourself mentally for the baby's arrival.

Dr. Debbie Glasser: "The first few weeks are a time to recover from the birthing experience and to get to know your baby. Get to know each other, rest, enjoy the moments, not put an enormous to-do list together."

For Patricia, the newest member of the family can't come soon enough.

If everything goes according to plan, she's expecting a daughter - little Isabella - next month.

PATRICIA SAVIO: "It's a lot of anxiety towards the end. You know you've been waiting and following everything since the beginning, and now you just want her here."

IF YOU HAVE A CONCERN DR. DEBBIE CAN HELP YOU WITH E-MAIL US AT:
parent@wsvn.com

DR. DEBBIE GLASSER'S WEBSITE:
newsforparents.org

Holy Cross Hospital
http://www.holy-cross.com
4725 North Federal Highway
Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33308
954-202-7332 Parenting Center
954-771-8000 Main Number