Get Ready For Your New Baby! The Complete Preparation Guide

You’re six months pregnant, and your new baby is coming soon! The excitement is building, and you are ready for your little angel to arrive.

Preparing for your new Baby

Having a checklist and being prepared for your little one is one of the best things you can do to help reduce stress and have a much easier time after giving birth.

New baby checklist

Here is a list of items to have:

• Nursing supplies

  • Bibs

  • Burp Cloths

  • Breast Pump

  • Milk Storage Containers – We love these glass ones.

  • Nursing Pillow

  • Nursing Bra

  • Breast Pads

  • Sore nipple cream – This is our favorite.

• Formula feeding supplies

  • Bibs

  • Burp Cloths

  • Bottle Brush

  • Good Formula – Check out our shopping guide for our recommended brands.

  • Bottle Carrier

  • Glass Bottles and silicone nipples – We love these.

• Diapers

  • Disposable – These are great.

  • Cloth – Fitted ones mean fewer leaks!

    • Don’t forget velcro or pins to hold them in place.

  • Fragrance-free wipes – These are great.

  • Changing Pad

  • Washable covers for the changing pad.

  • Diaper rash ointment – This one is great.

  • Changing Table

  • Diaper Bag

• Clothing

  • Fragrance-free Laundry detergent – This one is great.

  • Hangers for baby’s closet

• Bath Time

  • Baby Tub

  • Washcloths – These are very soft.

  • Towel with hoodie – These are very soft.

  • Baby Soap and Shampoo – This one is great.

  • Baby Balm – This one is great.

  • Baby Soothing Oil for problem areas – This one is great.

  • Nail Clippers

• Bedtime and Baby’s Room

  • Crib

    • With mobile, if desired

  • Mattress

  • Mattress Covers

  • Cribsheets

  • Blankets

  • Night Light

  • Toys

  • Playpen

  • Rocker

• Baby Health Needs

  • Mucus syringe to remove nasal mucus. These are great.

  • Baby thermometer

  • Medicine spoon and syringe

  • Medication for fever and pain

  • Baby Monitor

• Car Seat

• Stroller

• Baby Carrier

Here is a checklist of things you should have that you may need after giving birth:

• A big pot of frozen delicious soup

• Chocolate

• Lots of your favorite snacks!

• Pain Reliever

• Sitz Bath

  • Peri Bottle – These are great.

  • Sitz Bath Herbs – These are great.

• Gauze Pads

• Washcloths

• Ice Packs

• Frozen Witch Hazel Pads

• Donut Pillow

• Maternity Pads

• Chux Pads

• Overnight Pads

These may seem like long lists, but remember, you do not have to get it all at once. Just a little at a time. Don't stress yourself out thinking you need to have it all done in one day. Take a deep breath and do it at your own pace. Even if you don't have everything perfect when the baby comes, it will still be ok.

Google Keep and Google Tasks are great free apps to help keep your to-do lists and shopping lists organized and accessible from any device.

A healthy microbiome before the birth of your new baby

One thing that doesn’t get talked about enough when preparing for your new baby is the importance of having a healthy gut and vaginal microbiome. When you give birth, the baby is coated in bacteria that will help set the foundation of health for their entire life. This is one of the greatest gifts that a mother gives their new child!

Here are some simple ways to support a healthy microbiome:

1. Eat lots of Lacto-fermented foods like sauerkraut, kimchi, yogurt, and kefir.

2. Eat lots of fruits and vegetables.

3. Whole grains like oatmeal, buckwheat, and quinoa are great sources of prebiotics.

4. Beans and legumes are great for the microbiome.

   1. If they make you feel gassy, don’t force yourself to eat them.

5. Drink lots of water.

6. Eat foods rich in zinc. Zinc helps to support a healthy gut lining.

   1. Grass-Fed Red Meat

   2. Pastured Pork

   3. Grass-fed Organ Meats

7. Make sure to get enough protein. The amino acids in protein help to support a healthy gut lining.

8. Avoid refined foods and sugars.

9. Avoid artificial sweeteners.

10. Work outside in the garden and get some fresh air and sunshine.

11. Take IGY. IGY helps to support your body’s natural microbiome. Think of your microbiome as a garden. In order for the plants (probiotics) to flourish, the garden needs to be well taken care of. Taking probiotics without working on the microbiome is the same as opening a bag of seeds, dumping them on the ground, and calling that a garden. Improving the microbiome leads to real, lasting changes to your health. Check out this page and the video below to find out more about how IGY works.

12. Take a probiotic that contains good bacteria that help to support a healthy vaginal microbiome. Always talk to your midwife or doctor before taking any vitamins or supplements.

13. Eat good prebiotics. Ethically sourced Cacao is our favorite.

We hope that this article gave you some valuable information and helps give you some tools to have less stress when your little muffin arrives. Don’t forget to see the rest of our pregnancy center for more great information on everything from postpartum support to choosing a good prenatal vitamin!

New baby questions and support

We know this is a lot of information, so if you have questions, don’t know where to start, or need support, we are always available to help. Drop us an email anytime at info@rooted-nutrition.com, or book a free call, and we will be happy to help you on your new baby journey!