Preparing for Pregnancy, Labor, Delivery and NewBorn Care

Preparing for Pregnancy, Labor, Delivery and New Born Care

What if we were to compare buying a new car to bringing home a newborn? They are quite similar in the amount of planning and preparation that goes into them, but there are some obvious differences too.  In both cases, you want to make sure your “baby” is healthy.     

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In the case of the car, you would research things like miles per gallon, crash test safety, price, and if you are buying used you would want to know how many miles were on it, as well as if it was in any accidents, and how the last owner treated it. Not only would you research your new car, you would also prepare for it by: cleaning out the garage, making sure you had insurance, and that it could pass emissions so you can get it registered.

In the case of baby there is also a lot of research and preparation. Some parents need the help of science to become pregnant while others need to arrange for a stand-in mother to carry their baby to term.  Under such circumstances, there would definitely be a lot of research and planning put in ahead of time to choose the best options and/or candidates possible. Natural pregnancies also take a lot of planning before conception or maybe some change of plans after conception if it wasn’t planned before.

Whether pregnancy is natural or must be facilitated in some way, all expecting mothers need to prepare their bodies to house the little one. The habits a woman before pregnancy will be the habits she takes into pregnancy. Women therefore, need to take care of their bodies long before pregnancy occurs. Some healthy habits include: eating right, exercising regularly, getting adequate rest, keeping stress levels low, taking supplements such as iron and folate, and kicking the habits of smoking and drinking early. In the words of Jacob, “O be wise; what can I say more?” (Jacob 6:12).

To review, new cars and newborns bring big changes. Researching which car to buy is a lot like pregnancy, you are planning and preparing and maybe even freaking out a little (hence there’s a reason why pregnancy is 9 months). Making your first down payment and driving your new car off the lot is like labor and delivery. You’ll have to choose a name and fill out the birth certificate as well as lots of other paperwork before you can leave the hospital. But when you take her home she’s all yours. Caring for the upkeep of your car (gas, oil, carwashes, maintenance fees, insurance, and monthly payments) is a lot like caring for a newborn. There will be a lot of gas, lots of eating, sleeping and pooping, and lots and lots of diapers.

Other than the fact that cars and babies look nothing alike, there’s one big difference between driving a new car and a new baby home: You need a license to drive your new car, but you don’t need a license to be a parent. There’s no test you have to pass, no class you’re required to take, no driving range.

Just as there’s no guarantee you won’t crash your new car, there’s no fool-proof why to prepare for parenting. You may hit some bumps along the way but it will be one of the most rewarding journeys of a lifetime.