For pregnant couples freaking out about what you do and don’t need

Someone close to me is having a baby, and excitement is well and truly in the air - along with trepidation and angst about the “What do I need to buy?” list.  

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To help ease the panic, I said I’d create a ‘checklist’ that covers what I personally think is a good ‘baseline’ for the initial newborn weeks. 

Before you read on, please keep in mind that every birth and situation around welcoming a new baby into the world is wildly different. 

The checklist I’ve compiled will vary from household to household, woman to woman, and baby to baby. So as mentioned, for now, consider this a general ‘baseline’ list. (But a comprehensive one!)

 

My own birthing circumstances

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For the context of anyone who is reading this, it’s worth noting my personal birthing circumstances.

I’ve birthed two singleton babies, both at ‘full term’ (37 weeks and 40 weeks).

I did not know the sex of either baby.

I delivered vaginally with the help of an episiotomy and forceps for each birth.

I had an epidural for each birth (plus a spinal tap for my second).

My babies were not born with medical conditions.

I lived with the baby’s father (my husband) who was (still is!) a very supportive partner.

I strongly believe that fed is best. I breastfed each of my babies for 11 months – although my firstborn had a formula top-up from week 2 as my supply was less than what he needed. 

I introduced bottles early (in the first few weeks) so that my husband could do a dream feed (i.e. a late feed) using EBM (expressed breast milk) between 10 pm and 12 midnight. Having said this, my secondborn rejected the bottle for almost 6 months. How fabulous for me (wink wink).

My babies slept in a bassinet, I did not co-sleep. 

I had no birth complications, other than a hemorrhage during the first birth which was successfully dealt with in the hospital.

Okay, let’s get into it! P.S. If you read this list and feel overwhelmed, share it with your partner. This preparation is a joint effort between two parents.

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The big-ticket items

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A pram. Make sure that you go into the store and have a good look at the prams before you purchase. Pick them up and feel how heavy or light they are. Give them a while around the store and see how you feel. The wheels play a big part! Are you inner city or rural? If rural, make sure you get a pram with the appropriate off-road wheels)

A bassinet and bassinet sheets (please note bassinet sheets differ from cot sheets) .

A carrier. You probably won’t use this for at least 3-5 weeks but it’s nice to have it ready to go. When shopping for a carrier, buy one you and your partner feel comfortable wearing and check that it’s ergonomic. Baby’s chunk up very quickly and it’s a lot of weight on your back!

A car seat. For baby number one, I think it’s a great idea to have the seat professionally fitted. Usually, the retailer will offer this service, but if not, Google car seat installations and you should find someone locally in your area.

Somewhere to put the baby. Now this might sound funny but think about it. If you need to shower, wee or poop and no one else is home, where will you safely put the baby? Ahhhh. A good question! Pending their age and size you could look at a moses basket, a portable bassinet that can easily follow you around, a baby ‘pod’ or ‘nest’ as they call it (i.e. something like Cacoona Baby) or a baby bouncer. 

Remember that you can also use your pram and/or baby capsule inside as well! I used my pram indoors SO many times.

A breast pump. Again, this is *not* essential, as not everyone will choose to express. In order to choose the right one, talk to your girlfriends. Word-of-mouth validation in this department is essential.

If you are going to buy a breast pump, a few bottles to feed the baby are also a good idea to have ready. 1 or 2 should do it.

A nursing chair. This isn’t a must if you plan to feed on the lounge room sofa or a chair you already own. If you do purchase a new chair, however, make sure it’s wide enough for your elbows to be stretched out. Feeding a growing baby in a narrow chair is uber annoying – and I say this from experience with my first! Whether it rocks or not is totally up to you.

A baby bag. Simply a big bag that’ll come with you everywhere for the first few years! For the first few weeks, you might not go out much, which is totally fine. If you do, however, in this bag will go nappies, wipes, hand sanitiser, nappy bags (to put a poopy nappy in), and maybe even a travel change-mat (available at most chemists) and a change of clothes for baby. I always like to have lip balm, hair ties and a spare muslin wrap for feeding in case of wanting privacy. 

If you’re anything like me, however, the effort required to cover yourself for the benefit of the public became far too frustrating. I just lifted up my top, popped the baby on and hoped everyone around me would be kind and considerate … #FreeTheNip 

Hand soap and sanitize at all sinks… and don’t be afraid to ask all visitors to use both before having a cuddle! Newborns are incredibly precious, so community hygiene is crucial.

A thermometer for peace of mind. A baby’s body temperature is a very telling measurement. If your baby feels hot and you call the doctor (always call the GP, hospital or 000 when you’re unsure), a common first question is ‘What is their temperature?’ or ‘Does the baby have a fever?’ My husband and I found a digital thermometer to be the most accurate and we still use it almost 5 years later. 

Snacks and meals. Have some meals in your freezer for ease (2-4 at least) and a pantry or fridge full of ready-to-each snacks. Think muesli bars, raw balls, crackers, cheese, fruit, and raw vegetables. Food is fuel! 

 

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For newborn baby

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Firstly, for anyone unsure of how to dress a baby, there is an old saying that suggests dressing your baby the way you’re dressed plus one layer. 

For example, if you’re in pants, a T-shirt and a jumper, you might dress the baby in a singlet and full-length onesie (long arms and legs) and a jumper. The single is the extra layer here.

As for what you should prepare for your baby:

• 6-12 cotton full-length onesies in size 0000 and around 4-5 in Size 000 (if your baby is premature, there are premature sizes available to accommodate their wee little size). 

Personal tip on this note – go for zips. Press studs and babies who reject the idea of the change table (90% of them!) do not go well. And buttons can be hazardous.

• 2-8 pairs of newborn socks (these will last so long!)
• 5-10 cotton singlets 
• 3-6 muslin wraps (despite the baby never being ‘dirty’, they’re likely to spit up a lot or dribbble milk)
• For the reason above, 5-10 spit up cloths (I used old school flannels for this)
• 2-3 warm baby blankets
• 1-2 beanies 
• 2 boxes of newborn nappies (brandwise, see if you can find a brand that is readily available where you do your grocery shopping. I found that efficiency was key to life with a newborn.)
• 10-20 packets of baby wipes. 

(That might sound extreme, but you don’t want to be running to the store constantly. And it’s nice to keep some at home, in the car, in the baby bag etc. You never know when a poop explosion or leak will occur. And even if you stock up with 20 packs, you’ll go through them – SO many more!)

• A play mat or simply a quilted blanket for the floor where they can safely lay and practice tummy time with you. 

For Mum

Please also talk to your midwife, OB or GP about anything that might be very beneficial to your healing. The list below is topline and does not cater for birth injury or any other medical conditions.

Regardless of whether you had a vaginal birth or a C-section, you’ll experience vaginal bleeding and the expulsion of lochia after your birth. For this reason, you’ll require a stash of maternity pads. As the bleeding will continue for a few weeks, having 4-6 packets handy is ideal. As I’ve said before, the less trips to and from the store – the better! For anyone wondering, no tampons should not be used during this time. 

Firm black underwear. Cotton fabric is a great choice as it’s breathable and available everywhere. Personally, I would change my underwear twice daily for the first few weeks (just for general comfort), so I liked having 10 pairs of underwear handy.

Heat/cooling packs for your breasts are very helpful, especially when and if you’re engorged when your milk first comes in. As it can take a few days or weeks for your milk to regulate (i.e. meet your baby’s hunger demands) the heat/cooling packs will be useful for a while. Again, your local chemist should have the answer here. 

Lanolin ointment is fabulous for cracked nipples (and lips as you tend to get quite dehydrated when breastfeeding – if you choose to breastfeed). The great thing about Lanolin is that the baby can still feed from the breast when your nipples are lathered up.

 

Nursing pads (which are basically panty liners for your bra) to slip into your bra for any leakage. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, it’s my advice to stock up here! 2-3 boxes are a good idea as the leaking can be relentless and you don’t want to create extra washing. You can find reusable options too.

A big water bottle (1 litre at least). Wherever you and baby go, take this bottle with you. Hydration is key!

A footstool (or just a bathroom bin at the right height) for your first few bowel movements. Sit so that your knees are slightly higher than your hips. On the topic of poop, have some stool softeners ready to go (check with your GP or midwife for appropriate types/brands for you). 

Some comfortable maternity bras and clothing. You don’t need to think about brands or style – think comfort! Personally, I lived in bike shorts and oversized T-shirts or linen shirts and socks. I wore this combo for weeks on repeat.

Non-essential but helpful chemist buys

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• Two bottles (ensure they’re for a newborn) 
• Two dummies  (again, this is totally a personal preference)
• Baby oil for their bath
• A baby bath (although the kitchen or laundry sink is also perfect for this) 
• A drying rack for used bottles. 
• A steriliser (the microwave-able ones are so fabulous and cost-efficient)  to keep the bottles extra clean for the new baby
• A nappy bin (i.e. a bin with a sealed lid). This catches any unpleasant smells and saved me from walking another nappy to the bin. I would also pop soiled nappies into a nappy bag (I purchase the bags from the local grocery store or chemist) prior to putting it into the bin.

Things that can wait (in my *personal* opinion)

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• A dummy. My kids loved their dummies but it’s certainly not something we desperately needed in the first 2 weeks. 
• If you don’t yet have a change table – don’t stress! A simple towel on a comfortable/safe surface will do until you sort out the designated changing station 
• Your nursery doesn’t have to be perfectly fitted out when the baby first comes. Trust me when I say, you’ll barely go into the nursery for the first few weeks.
• Blackout blinds. Are they helpful? Sure! Are they required on day one? No
• White noise. The same explanation applies here.
• A breastfeeding pillow. Some women LOVE them, some need them for ergonomic support and some are unfazed. Personally, I was in the latter group and if I needed support I’d use a couch or bed pillow. 
• Baby-proofing gadgets. This is so far from essential in the early days with your first baby. My first born (bless him) took 22 months to walk – so this was not a checklist item I needed to stress about!
• Teething toys – you have time!
• A baby monitor. Your baby will likely sleep in your room for the first while, so you’ll always have eyes on the little darling. 

Wrapping it up

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This is a very basic list of what I believe to be essential and helpful. While I know that every person will need different things, I think this is a starting point.

When it comes to brands – talk to your mates. If you’re stressed and time-poor, do a few online orders and put your mind at ease. You don’t need to physically go into the store to find maternity pads and nappies.

And remember that when the baby comes, the world will still operate. Shops will be open, chemists will be well-stocked, and people will be around to help! The local barista will have his coffee machine humming away and your loved ones can bring a meal when they visit.

You are doing a GREAT job. Follow your gut. Have a fabulous snack. Take a deep breath.

The best is yet to come.