It sounds obvious, but you should prepare for the fact that you need help, and a lot of it/ShutterStock
The pregnancy has already reached the last line, the bag for the delivery room is ready and in a moment the baby you are waiting for will join you.
It is true that the woman, the mother-to-be, the one who gives birth to the baby, goes through the biggest upheaval - both in her body and in her soul when she becomes a mother, but you, the fathers, are also waiting for a big change that will happen in an instant, with the birth.
In the first days of the baby's life you are going to find yourself very busy and performing a variety of roles, even while still in the hospital.
So what awaits you, you ask?
Here are some examples:
Providing assistance and support to the mother-
to-be sounds obvious, but you should prepare for the fact that you need to help, and a lot.
A woman after giving birth is in pain, fuzzy, flooded with hormones, excitement and fatigue, so you will be required to assist her physically and mentally in everything she asks for, but also in what she doesn't ask for.
This means: make sure she eats properly, help her stand, walk, shower, go to the bathroom, bring the baby to her if she has trouble getting up, communicate between her and the medical staff at the hospital, and more.
You already know your partner and know how to read her between the lines, so try to be efficient and adapt yourself to her.
Besides the practical help, be sensitive towards your partner - hug, contain the moods and be there for her (or give spice if she needs it).
Navigating between the visitors
Family and friends will want to come visit the new baby and the mother, either at the hospital (when it's not Corona days) or at home.
Talk to your partner and coordinate with her.
It may be that she will be too weak or too busy to take care of managing the visits, so you must take responsibility here and be in sync with her.
If she wants silence, respect her request and explain to the relatives that the visit will have to wait a little.
If you see that the visit has gone on a bit longer than she wants, politely tell friends or family members that it's time to go.
In addition, some women will ask their partners to be in charge of the phone: answer calls and messages or send a photo of the baby.
Keep in mind that you will be asked to do this.
Dealing with
a lot of bureaucracy "Topsiada" brings with it the new baby.
Registration of the Ministry of the Interior, confirmation of leaving the hospital, tests the baby undergoes, registration with the health insurance fund, making an appointment for a milk drop and much more.
The first days are accompanied by bureaucracy and if your partner doesn't have too much free time - it can definitely become your job.
If you have a son and you are about to be circumcised, there are also arrangements in this direction.
Arrangements and installations in the car and at home
If you drive home from the hospital, you will need a car seat or a wheelchair, so make sure everything is installed correctly.
If you have not yet taken care of this before the baby is born, or you are one of the couples who prefer to purchase but not bring home anything related to the baby before it is born, remember that now, after the birth, it is necessary to bring all the items home - crib, changing table, bathtub, etc.
This task is entirely yours so make sure everything arrives on time.
These are just some of the things that will characterize the first days after the birth, and of course what will mainly fill them is close care of the tiny baby.
Amidst all the hustle and bustle, don't forget to take a moment and breathe, look at the life you have created and be excited together with your new family.
Amidst all the hustle and bustle, don't forget to take a moment to breathe and look at the life you've created/ShutterStock
The Jama application was established with the aim of providing a response to mothers of babies between the ages of birth and three, and to gather for them content, activities, tips from experts and videos that will accompany them throughout this challenging period.
All the content in the application "grows" together with the baby and is precisely adapted to the stages of his development, so that the mothers receive only what is relevant to them and interests them at any given moment.
The Jama app is the place for mothers in Israel to meet and get to know other mothers around them, and to create new and exciting friendships in the fascinating journey.
Search us on Google: https://app.jama.co.il/
In collaboration with JAMA
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