Conversations for Parents-To-Be to Have Before Baby Arrives

Welcoming a baby into the world as a couple of a very exciting time! Perhaps this was something you planned for months or maybe your baby was a surprise; either way there are so many wonderful things to prepare and look forward to. There are also decisions to be made on how to parent right from the beginning. Rather that bring these up as you go and possibly have arguments, we have made a list for you so you can talk before your sweet baby arrives! Start early! Thankfully, you have nine months to get squared away on these sometimes tough topics. It always helps to get information so that you can discuss with facts, not just opinion.

• Where to deliver? Hospital, Free-standing Birth Center, Home?
• Family bed or crib right away? Some families choose to co-sleep and have a family-bed until a certain age; others may choose to have the baby in their own crib.
• His last name, her last name or combine the two? Whether married or not, this is a decision that will have to be made at some point before your baby arrives for the birth certificate.
• To vaccinate or not to vaccinate? In recent years, this has become a hot topic! There is a lot of information out there, be sure to use reliable sources.
• Hold them to sleep or cry it out? Another hot topic. Some have strong advice about this and it comes at you in all directions! Take time to just make a decision together.
• Daycare or stay at home parent? Some parents take the plunge to quit their job and be a full-time stay at home parent. There is a right answer for everyone. Try and write down the pros and cons to help you make a decision.
• Sex after baby... The average safe time to begin having sex is 6 weeks but that doesn't mean both parties with be ready. A woman's body goes through a lot when it comes to birth, it is okay to wait until you are comfortable and important to set some expectations.
• Placenta, keep it or toss it? There are different ways to keep your placenta; placenta encapsulation, planting it, and more. It is okay to toss it too!
• If it's a boy...circumcising or intact? This is a very personal decision for families and definitely one to discuss ahead of time!
• Who will be in the room during birth and after? Grandma, grandpa, a sibling, a friend, a doula?
• Dad during birth? Discuss the kind of support you would like from him.
• Night duty. Talk about ways you can share the parenting role at night. Perhaps dad on diaper duty and mom on nursing.

This is a good place to start. Try to talk about the bigger topics one at a time and if the conversation gets heated, take a break and come back to it!