You are going to have the most memorable experience of your whole life. This is the day that you will talk about with detail and joy. You will tell your grandchildren about this day. We are referring to the day you take your baby to his or her new home. Let us examine some issues that you may need to address ahead of time to might it run smoothly.
One thing you need to do is to schedule some extra assistance in the beginning. It would be wonderful if you could enlist the services of someone for the first few weeks if possible. No doubt that a supportive father would be very helpful, but he will just as anxious and unsure of some things as you.
Probably the best option is to use your mother, but do this only if you get along with her. If she is bossy and treats you like a child, then it would probably be better that she does not stay when she visits. A mother-in-law is good if you have rapport with her, but you risk alienating your own mother with this option. The other option is to have someone come in and help you with the housework to rid your mind of these tasks.
Another thing to consider is to arrange for some nurse visits. Many hospitals and health plans these days offer nurse home visits for a few days after you take your baby home. These can be quite reassuring. Not only that, they can provide any medical guidance that may pop up after the baby comes home. Home nurses can also be of great assistance for issues such as breastfeeding and the like.
One thing that you need to do is to get firm with visitors. This is especially true if your baby is the first one in the family or the first of one of the genders. Visitors are nice to have, but too many of them can be exhausting. Most new mothers tire very easily right after giving birth. This is to be expected for the first few weeks as they can experience extreme hormonal changes at times.
Some people just love visitors of any kind as they find company very relaxing and rejuvenating. Most of us only have a few old friends that give us this effect. Other visitors just make us tense even though we might enjoy seeing them. So you might want to limit your visitors at the beginning and then increase them with time.
The vital thing here is to prepare your house for the new baby. For example, if your home was built before 1980, then you most likely have some lead paint in your house somewhere. While painting over areas that are chipping will make it safer, do not try to remove the paint yourself with a heat gun or sander. This could increase your own lead level which could affect your baby. Hire a professional instead.
Finally, if you use well water, you will need to have it tested for bacteria and nitrates before your baby comes home. Nitrate salts can cause the lips and skin of a baby to show some blueness. You may want to contact your state health department. Also, well water will not have fluoride, so you will need to discuss fluoride supplements with your doctor.