Are You Ready For Your Baby?
Congratulations! This checklist will help you stay on course as you get closer to the big day.
1st Trimester
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Announce the upcoming event to family and friends
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Stop smoking, drinking alcohol and using street drugs
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Schedule your first prenatal visit with physician/midwife
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Discuss any medications you have been taking with your doctor
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Contact your insurance company to see if you need a pre-certification/authorization number
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Start a pregnancy diary and a photo album of you and your expanding shape each month
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Make sure to take prenatal vitamins with folic acid
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Start drinking lots of fluids, particularly water
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Begin reading about pregnancy
2nd Trimester
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Pre-register at the hospital either in person or online
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Bring or send a copy of your insurance card
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Check with your employer about maternity and family leave benefits
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Register and attend prenatal classes
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Start thinking about baby names since you'll need to fill out the birth certificate in the hospital
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Start reading and singing to your baby
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Clean the house, update fire extinguishers and test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
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Choose a doctor for your baby and schedule an introductory meeting. You can call 1 (888) 676-8484 or (727) 462-7500 for a free referral or use our online physician finder.
3rd Trimester
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Register and tour the hospital's Birth Center where you will give birth
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If you are considering a tubal ligation, discuss this with your obstetrician around week 30
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Make arrangements with your obstetrician or pediatrician for circumcision, if that is your choice
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Discuss an advance medical directive with your physician and family members
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Shop for baby care items
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Prepare to breastfeed by taking a class and gathering supplies
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Begin to think about child-care plans, if returning to work
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Start gathering items to pack for the hospital
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Make plans about how you will get to the hospital, night and day and take a practice trip
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Learn to use the infant car seat (by law, you must have a car seat for discharge)
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If you have other children, prepare them for the birth or consider a Big Brother, Big Sister class
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Prepare and freeze some meals
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Double check that you have needed supplies for baby and mom
For more information, contact the Maternity Center at Morton Plant Hospital at (727) 462-7000.