• Being prepared for your newborn's arrival can make the transition go smoothly.baby image by Dron from Fotolia.com
  
  Being a first time mommy is probably one of the greatest experiences you will ever have in your life, but preparing for the baby can also be extremely intimidating as well.
  
  Chances are, you have people giving you advice from all different directions, which can lead to even more anxiety and confusion. Even if you think that you have no idea what you're doing, it will come to you naturally, and the best way for you to figure things out, is to experience them for yourself.
  
  There are a few items you will need and preparations to make in order to make the experience go as smoothly as possible.
  
  

Take Care of Yourself

• First and foremost, to have a healthy baby, you have to be a healthy mommy. Upon your first visit to your health-care provider, you will be given a prescription for prenatal vitamins; take them as instructed. This will help give your baby all the vitamins and nutrients she needs while in your womb.
  
  Eat a healthy diet, and try to resist some of those cravings you get for greasy junk food. This will also help you keep your weight gain down to the recommended 25 to 35 pounds, which will be easier to get rid of after the birth.
  
  Try to take brisk walks for about 30 minutes each day. Believe it or not, this can lead to an easier labor than if you were to sit around all day, not doing anything physical. Exercising can prepare your body for the pain that will occur when your baby is ready to be delivered.
  
  

Prepare for the Baby

• If you're taking care of yourself, then you can typically rest assured that your baby is being taken care of inside of you. Now it's time to prepare your home for its new resident.
  
  Essential baby items for the nursery are the crib, a bassinet, crib mattress, nursery layette set, chest or dresser, crib sheets, and any decorative accessories to go along with the theme of the nursery.
  
  Items such as diapers, bottles, pacifiers, formula or breast pump, clothing, car seat and stroller are probably the most essential items you will need for when the baby comes home. Your baby will need a diaper change often, especially if you are feeding him about every three hours, so always have plenty of diapers on hand.
  
  If you will be formula feeding, have plenty on hand, as well as bottles; you will be surprised at how quickly you can go through a batch of formula.
  
  If you will be breast-feeding, purchase breast pump. Pumping milk to save for a time in the future will allow someone else to take over feeding duties once in a while.
  
  

Pack for the Hospital

• When the day comes when you go into labor, the last thing that you want to think about is what to pack for the hospital.
  
  The hospital will supply you with diapers, formula and bottles, so you mainly need to worry about the items you will need. Pack a couple of soft, loose-fitting clothing items, slippers, hair brush and toothbrush for yourself, as well as some items for your partner--such as magazines, books, clothing, pillow, blanket, tooth and hair brush.
  
  Make sure that the car seat is installed correctly in your vehicle. You cannot leave the hospital unless you have the proper car seat securely attached in place.