728x90
my iParenting
From Our Sponsors
e-newsletters
Sign up to receive our free weekly e-newsletters

new terms of use
new privacy policy
award-winning products
The iParenting Media Awards program helps parents find the best products for their families.
Home › Articles › Emotional and Mental Health › Preparing for Baby

Preparing for Baby

A Month-by-Month Primer

By Kelly Burgess

Pages:  1  2  3  4  

There are few life events more exciting than finding out you're pregnant. It seems like you may have nothing but time – nine whole months! – but you'll find that the time flies. You don't want to be trying to paint the nursery when you're too awkward to stand on a ladder, so follow this handy guide to getting ready for Baby in every phase of your pregnancy.

First Month
  • Begin reading up on pregnancy and parenting. This first trimester is often a time when you're nauseated or low on energy, so work on things that don't require a lot of physical stamina and can be done while resting.
  • Celebrate your new pregnancy by signing up for baby-tracking and pregnancy-tracking calendars. There are many sites on the Web that offer features such as a week-to-week look at your baby's development or offer handy daily pregnancy tips such as iParenting's Pregnancy Daily.
Second Month
  • Start a blog. Tired of people asking you every other minute how you're feeling, when the baby's due or what you need for the baby? Start a Web log and tell them to sign on and read it. Free blogs are available in a variety of formats at many different sites. Blogs are particularly great if you have family scattered around the country. As your pregnancy progresses you can post updates, ultrasound photos and even a wish list!
Third Month
  • Start doing Kegel exercises. Kegels are contractions of the vaginal wall. To begin, isolate the pelvic floor by contracting it as if you were trying to stop the flow of urine. Continue practicing until you can control both the contraction and relaxation. Tracy Washington, an exercise physiologist at Canyon Ranch Spa in Tucson, Ariz., says Kegel exercises have long-term benefits. They keep the pelvic floor strong, thus helping to prevent muscle damage during birth and urinary incontinence afterwards. Kegels also keep the vaginal canal toned, which benefits your sexual health and pleasure.

    • Pages:  1  2  3  4  

    Want to see more?

Comments

There are no comments for this article yet.Be the first to add a comment.

Post As:
Enter your comment below:
Title
Comment Text
CAPTCHA
Please note that any comments submitted become the property of Disney Family / iParenting and can be edited and posted at our discrection.