PREPARING YOURSELF FOR DELIVERY

Toward the end of pregnancy, you may start feeling a little frantic. You'll be eager for the baby to arrive, but at the same time worried that your baby will be born before you have everything in perfect order. As your due date approaches(and in some cases, passes), you'll have to fend off countless callers who are almost as excited as you are, and also concerned about your welfare. This social pressure, added to the physical discomfort of late pregnancy, can make the ninth month seem endless. But story does have a nice ending so try to enjoy your leisure time as much as you can.

If you use this wisely, you can get some chores out of the way that would otherwise have to be done after delivery.

For example

• Make list of people who will receive birth announcements, select the announcement style, and address the envelopes in advance.
• Cook a number of meals and freeze them. You may not feel up to cooking for a while after the baby arrives.
• Look for child-care and/or housekeeping help if you can afford it, and interview candidates, and interview candidates in advance. Even if you don't think you'll need extra help, you should have a list of names to call in case the situation changes.

Before entering your ninth month, make your last-minute preparations for delivery. Your checklist should include the following.

• Name, address, and phone number of the hospital
• Name, address, and phone number of the doctor or nurse midwife who will deliver your baby
• The quickiest and easiest route to the hospital or birthing center
• The location of the hospital entrance you should use when labor begins
• The phone number of an ambulance service, in case you need such assistance in an emergency
• The phone number of the person who will take you to the hospital(if that individual does not live with you)
• A bag packed with essentials for labor and for the rest of your hospital stay, including toiletries, clothing, addresses, and phone numbers of friend and relatives
• An infant seat for the car so you can bring the baby home safely. make sure the seat meets all safety specifications
• If you have other children, make arrangement for their care during the time you will be at hospital

Once your baby finally arrives, all the waiting and discomforts of pregnancy will seem like minor inconveniences. Suddenly you'll get to meet this new person who's been so close and yet so mysterious all these months. The rest of this is about the child she will become and the job that awaits you as a parents.