Many women are at a loss as to how to prepare for the arrival of their first-born child.
Most mothers would go out and buy everything under the sun, just to keep all bases covered.
This is not necessary in fact and this article will help bring things into perspective as well as get you organized for your period of pregnancy and beyond.
The number one lesson is learning not to buy too much, but instead stock up on the things that you really need and can never have too much of - newborn and infant-sized nappies are one.
Baby wipes, jumpsuits, as well as bibs all fall into this category.
It is expected that your baby will need to be changed at least a several times each day, so grab these necessities whenever you see them on sale.
In the event that you decide to use cloth or material nappies, look for a nappy cleaning service as they will save you a lot of time and energy.
There should be many around your area so scout for a service you find most convenient before your baby is due.
If you decide that it's too expensive and you want to wash them yourself, then ensure that you have sufficient nappies (buy heaps of these) so that you only have to do laundry once every couple of days or so.
Many baby toiletries are not essential but it's a good idea to buy some cream just in case your baby develops nappy rash.
Bath wash is another good item to have - you can skip the shampoo in this case as they won't be necessary for your baby.
Don't forget to get some lotion to moisturise your baby's extremely delicate skin.
Get a dummy - they are really a life-saver.
Even if you don't intend to use it, you'll never know when you might need to use it as a last resort, especially in the middle of the night.
Hopefully this quick list of things to prepare for has been useful to you.
Remember that the key to having everything flow smoothly after pregnancy is to always plan in advance, stay calm, and avoid as much unnecessary work as possible so that you may spend more time enjoying your new bundle of joy.