Buying guide
The first weeks at home – what to prepare beforehand
Not just stuff – food in the freezer, who helps with what, where you change at night and which numbers to keep handy. A plan for the first weeks after maternity.
In short
- In the first weeks what matters is sleep, feeding and recovery. Prepare the house for that, not for visitors.
- Cook and freeze in the last month of pregnancy. And say clearly who helps with what.
- Set up two “stations” – one for changing, one for the night – with everything you need within reach.
- Put on the fridge the numbers of your family doctor, the paediatrician, the community midwife and 112.
All through pregnancy you prepare for the day of the birth. Few people prepare for day three at home, when the adrenaline has worn off, nobody has slept and the fridge is empty. This guide is about those weeks. They do not need many things, they need a plan.
Food
- Cook and freeze in the last weeks of pregnancy: soups, stews, sauces, dishes you can reheat in one pot.
- Snacks you can eat one-handed: nuts, fruit, bars, yoghurts, biscuits. Breastfeeding and sleepless nights make you very hungry and leave you little time.
- A big bottle of water next to every place where you feed.
- Online shopping or a list for whoever goes to the shop.
Help
Help is more useful when it is specific. Instead of “let me know if you need anything”, make a list of what others can do:
- cooking or bringing food;
- washing and folding laundry;
- shopping and trips to the pharmacy;
- walking the dog, taking older siblings to nursery;
- sitting with the baby for an hour so that mum can sleep or have a shower.
Decide beforehand, the two of you, how many visits you want and how long they should be. It is fine to say “not yet”. Anyone who comes must be well and wash their hands before holding the baby.
The two stations
The changing station
A chest of drawers or a changing table with everything within arm’s reach: nappies, wipes, cream, a spare outfit, a basket with a lid. If you live on two levels, set up a second small station, a basket with everything in it, for the other floor. More in the baby’s room.
The night station
Next to where you feed at night:
- a dim lamp with a warm light;
- water and a snack;
- a phone charger;
- muslin cloths;
- a spare bodysuit and nappy;
- if you breastfeed, breast pads and cream.
Papers and numbers
- Important numbers on the fridge: family doctor (medic de familie), paediatrician, community nurse or midwife, the maternity hospital, 112.
- The discharge note and the vaccination booklet, in a plastic sleeve, where you can see them.
- Registering the birth at the civil registry office, within 30 days of the birth. Ask at the maternity hospital how it is done; in some hospitals it can be done right there.
- The family doctor: the newborn is registered automatically with the one who followed you during pregnancy. If you want another, ask for it in writing before the birth. See how to choose a doctor for your baby.
For mum
Recovery after birth takes weeks, not days. Prepare:
- postpartum pads and disposable pants, more than you think;
- comfortable, loose clothes that open at the front if you breastfeed;
- a pillow or a comfortable spot for feeding;
- the phone number of a lactation consultant or a support group.
What can wait
- Deep cleaning. A reasonably clean house is enough.
- Professional newborn photos, if you have no energy. Phone photos are memories too.
- All the optional purchases. You make them when you know what you are missing.
- Thank-you notes for gifts. Everyone understands.
Our recommendation
A month before your due date: a full freezer, a help list handed to those close to you, the two stations ready and the important numbers on the fridge. Together with the hospital bag and the car seat fitted, that is everything that matters. The rest gets sorted along the way.
Frequently asked questions
What needs to be ready at home when you bring your baby back from the maternity hospital?
A safe place to sleep, with an aired mattress, a few washed clothes, a pack of nappies and what you need for changing, the care kit with a thermometer, the car seat fitted in the car and, ideally, ready-made food for a few days. The rest can be bought or brought later.
How do you handle visitors in the first weeks?
Decide beforehand, together with your partner, how many visits you want and when. Short visits, from people who help with something concrete, are the best. Anyone who comes must be well and wash their hands. It is fine to put visits off until you feel ready.
When should the baby see a doctor after discharge?
In the first days after discharge, the family doctor usually contacts you or the community nurse comes to your home, and the doctor will tell you the schedule of check-ups and vaccinations. Ask at discharge what comes next and who to call if you need anything.
Think it could help someone else?
Send the guide to your partner or to a friend who is expecting a baby.