Chapter 8 RP Decisions Facing Parentstobe

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Chapter 8 RPDecisions Facing Parents-to-be

• Childbirth classes
• Location of birth
• Supplies needed for Baby
• Breast or Bottle
• Child Care options
• Selecting a Doctor

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Childbirth Preparation Decisions

• Learn more feel more comfortable
• Prepared childbirth- childbirth classes
• Foster a closer relationship between spouses
• Promote the fathers involvement in pregnancy,
  labor, and delivery
• Allow the couple to meet other expecting parents
• Breathing and relaxation techniques
• Feel more confident and less afraid
• Answer questions

• Infant care classes
• Ease concerns
• Daily care instructions

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Where will the birth take place?

• Determine where the mother is most comfortable
• Either with her doctor or a mid-wife
• For many couples the location of the hospital is
  more important than the doctor
• Hospital Delivery Room
• Hospital Birthing Room
• Birth Center
• Home

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Hospital Delivery Room

• Make the decision, visit before the delivery
• Usually will be moved around a lot
• Labor room, delivery room, recovery room,
  hospital room.
• Delivery room is strictly used for delivering
  babies, especially high risks, equip with all
  materials necessary

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Hospital Birthing Room

• Special room in a hospital where a woman can
  labor, deliver, recover, and rest.
• Much more private, calming, and comfortable
• Has all equipment needed for uncomplicated
  delivery
• Homelike atosphere

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Birth center

• Non-hospital facility that provides prenatal and
  delivery care
• Comfortable
• Not equipped to handle emergencies

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At Home

• Some parents wish to delivery at home among
  family and friends.
• Want a warm. Loving atmosphere
• Usually not recommended
• Must check to see if state allows it, schedule a
  certified nurse- midwife
• Should not be done in high risk pregnancies

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What Supplies will be Needed?

• Babies need space to be bathed, sleep, and play
• Clothes and materials for daily living
• Prepare a budget, be realistic
• Borrow or build
• Baby showers
• Very Exciting Task

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Furniture for Baby

• His or her bed is most essential
• Cribs made before 1972 may not be safe for baby
  because of lead based paint
• The distance between the rails and mattress must
  be 26 inches
• Distance between crib bars should be no more than
  2 3/8 inches
• Top rails should be covered in plastic for
  teething
• Firm fitting mattress
• Chest of drawers
• Changing table
• Rocker

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Diapers

• Most essential need
• 90- 100 diapers per week
• Cloth or disposable
• Disposable
• 60 per week
• Environment
• easy
• Cloth
• Must wash each use
• 70 for four dozen
• Babies must wear something over them to protect
  from leaks

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Baby clothes

• See chart page 173
• Main concern is babys comfort, then ease of
  laundering, durability, fabric, and size

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Other Equipment

• Mealtime
• Bibs
• Bottles, bottle caps or breast pumps
• Nursing pads
• Bath time
• Ready after umbilicord falls off, small plastic
  tubs, gentle soap, cotton balls, washcloths
• Bedtime
• Waterproof pad or mattress cover, blanket
• Travel Time
• Car seats (until 20 lbs, rear facing)
• Strollers

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Breast or Bottle

• Make this decision during pregnancy to begin
  feeding shortly after birth
• There are advantages and disadvantages to each
• See page 176

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Child Care

• Employment Decisions
• Will one parent stay home?
• Job sharing
• Work from home

Advantages of Working Disadvantages of
Working Interacting with adults child care
costs Professional satisfaction being away from
the baby Continuing ones career having less
time Earning money feeling more stress Meet
familys goals role strain to balance
family and work
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Parental Leave

• Paid or unpaid leave from work to tend to
  parenting duties
• Maternity leave
• Paternity leave
• 3-4 months is best
• 4-6 weeks in some companies
• Usually part of benefits package
• Family and Medical Leave Act
• Can take up to 12 weeks

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Caregivers

• Primary Caregiver- provides the most care
• Are grandparents willing, able to care for baby
• Close friends and neighbors
• Child Care Centers
• expensive

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Selecting a Doctor

• Capable, Caring
• Well recommended
• Doctor will examine baby just after birth and
  needs to be selected before delivery
• Pediatrician
• Trust your doctor