Preparing for a New Baby Checklist

For the last six plus years, prior to just recently, I've worked as a nurse in maternal-child health. I did some time in labor and delivery, newborn nursery, postpartum (mother-baby), and antepartum (inpatient high risk pregnancy care). It's kind of like, my "thing". I also have had two of my own children, and chose to deliver them at home with the help of the midwive and a doula. So, though all my professional experience has been in a hospital, I know about a many of the other options that are available (or not so available, unfortunately), to mothers and families.

Outside of official work time, I've had the pleasure of serving as a support person for many family members and friends as they've become parents, sometimes just answering questions over the phone, sometimes being right there as a doula for their labor and delivery. For awhile I explored becoming a certified postpartum doula, and completed all the steps just short of turning my packet in on time. I still have it sitting on a shelf, postmarked and everything. Oh well.

It was during my time working on my postpartum doula certification and helping some family members, friends, and even a few strangers, that I wrote up this preparation checklist. I'm currently in a baby lull as I wait for friends to get married and pregnant, so I thought maybe I'd share this on here in case it might be helpful for someone else. It's long, so click on the link just under this picture to read on.