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Having a child can be expensive! But having a child is also worth all your efforts. Plus there are some vital decisions that you need to take immediately after your child is born, such as getting him vaccinated. There is much more to what goes into bringing a child into the world. Here are the top decisions that you might want to make as parents of newborns.
1. Stem cell banking
The cord blood that is derived from the umbilical cord vein connected to the placenta is rich in stem cells, which are the precursors of hematopoietic cells. Cord blood can be saved and used to treat a range of disorders from genetic to immune system and blood. Stem cells are cryopreserved for future use. Talk to your doctor for an expression of interest or to give consent for stem cell banking.
2. Saving the placental blood
Since placental blood contains ten times more stem cells than cord blood, it might be ideal to save your placenta. In fact, your placenta can be converted to postpartum antidepressant capsules to enhance your breastmilk supply for your baby.
3. Consenting for Hepatitis B vaccination
Hepatitis B is known to be one of the most dreaded infections in the world and can transmit from mothers to babies at the time of birth. You might strongly be urged to vaccinate your child with Hepatitis B vaccination, but there are chances of harmful reactions if it is administered right after birth. You might want to vaccinate your child at a later stage. Vaccination charts have become the norm these days, so you might as well want to consult with your pediatrician.
4. Figuring out your career options
If you come from a nuclear family, then caring for your baby can be quite a challenge as a working mom. Talk to your partner about the options you have. Enquire about the maternity policies at your work place. Seek the help of family and friends or employ a reliable babysitter when you resume work. Should your workplace have a creche to care for children, then you can take full advantage of that.
5. Settling upon accommodation
In large cities, finding a suitable accommodation can be a challenge. With a growing family, you will need additional room in the existing house. However, you don’t have to look at expensive homes. While you sure will need more space to store your belongings, remember, your baby will be sleeping in its bassinet for most of the time.
6. Discussing your finances
Think about the medical bills that come right from your prenatal visits. Plus the expenditure that you will incur following the birth of the baby – you would have to spend thousands on diapers alone! So discuss finance with your husband. Make sure that you always have the buffer money and insurance coverage too.
7. Saying no to caffeine, tobacco and alcohol
While smoking and drinking are prohibited during pregnancy, it also means that you abstain from all this stuff until you are well past the breastfeeding stage. Did you know that cigarettes, alcohol, and caffeine might lower your egg quality? They could also lead to preterm labor, congenital disabilities or miscarriages. Men too must avoid these stuff if they want to retain their sperm quality.
Here are a few decisions that couples must make before getting pregnant. What were the decisions that you made? Write back to us.
