By Stacy DeBroff 

So you are pregnant, now what? There are hundreds of questions a new mom has. How do I tell my boss? What can I do to best prepare? Here are some of my best tips for preparing for a baby.

Tips:

ANNOUNCING YOU'RE PREGNANT AT WORK

~ Be cautious about who you tell unofficially, so you do not find yourself amazed at how fast your confidential news reached managers in your office.

~ Tell your manager first, and in person, that you’re expecting. If you have more than one manager, decide who will be most receptive to your news, accommodating to your leave preferences, and persuasive in terms of reaching an agreement among various managers. Ask how she recommends informing the rest of the office.

~ After telling your manager, set up a later meeting time to go over the details of your leave, as well as any changes you would like in your work schedule upon your return. This will give your manager time to get used to the news of your pregnancy before tackling the details of your leave.

~ Before you tell anyone in your office, do your homework. Read your employee handbook to learn the details of your employer’s official maternity leave, temporary disability, unpaid leave, and flex-time policies.

~ Call your insurance provider to understand in more detail what medical benefits would be available to you during a maternity leave, and how to add your baby onto your health plan.

~ Discreetly find out as much as you can about what other parents in your company, as well as similarly situated friends, have been able to negotiate. Ask for specific details, including length of leave, benefits received, and any negative consequences.

~ Think through how long you would like to, and can afford to, stay home for maternity leave. You may find yourself wanting more time than you anticipated, as you recover from the birth, get the hang of breastfeeding, and bond with your new child.

~ Err on the high side. It is far easier to return to work earlier than you planned than to negotiate additional leave after you have been gone for several months.

~ Don’t try to finish three months of advance work before you go. Not only will you risk burning yourself out, you’ll make your job look way too simple.

~ Once you know the total number of weeks of leave you will have, determine whether you have enough time after the baby is born to take time off before your due date.

~ Even if you don’t intend to stop work before you give birth, plan on having things basically wrapped up at work a week before your due date, given that you cannot predict when you will go into labor.

CREATE CHANGING TABLES AHEAD OF TIME

~ Given the frequency of diaper changes, create a couple of diaper changing stations throughout your home. Stock the most heavily used rooms with everything needed for a quick diaper change, including wipes, diaper lotion, diapers, a changing pad, and small plastic bags for dirty diapers if you don’t have a diaper pail nearby.

~ Keep supplies for the changing table well stocked and in reach so you’ll never have to leave your baby on the table while you lunge for a diaper.

~ Hang a shoe bag with see-through plastic compartments on the wall behind the changing table to store your baby’s undershirts and socks.

~ To keep baby wipes moist, store them upside-down, or periodically flip them over.

~ Use a fifteen- or twenty-five watt bulb for one lamp in your child’s room to provide softer lighting during nighttime diaper changes and feedings.

BUYING CLOTHING

~ How much clothing to buy really depends on how often you plan to do laundry. For a newborn, buy enough clothing to provide for three clothing changes a day, times the number of days you want to go between loads of laundry.

~ Look for clothing made out of soft, roomy, durable material. Soft knits stretch more and can be changed more easily, and loose material fits best over your baby’s big belly.

~ Separates give you the option of changing an item that’s dirty without putting a whole new outfit on your child.

For easy diaper changes:

~ Use onesies, pants, jumpers, or coveralls that snap at the crotch so you don’t have to remove them for diaper changes. If your child outgrows sizes with snaps, switch to easy-to-handle sweatpants with no drawstrings.

~ Find shirts with snaps, buttons, or zippers at the neck if your baby does not like to have things pulled over his head

~ Use undershirts instead of bulky sweaters to add a layer of warmth.

~ Be careful when buying patterned socks, as the loose yarn on the inside can catch in your baby’s toes.

~ Look for booties that fit snugly so they’re difficult to kick off. You’ll save yourself from bending over countless times to pick one off the ground.

~ Avoid denim jackets, while they look cute, they are generally too stiff for your baby’s sensitive skin. Stick with a fleece jacket or sweatshirt instead.

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