So where do you start when choosing a name?

A few parents-to-be seem to already have their favourites chosen before conception, which to me seems a bit pre-emptive. For many the best place to start is with some research of baby names, either by looking through a baby name book or searching on the Internet to find names that you and your partner like.

You could look at the Office of National Statistics website to find the top girls and boys names from 2002 to 2006.

But what if choosing a name is just too hard, or you and your partner really can’t agree? Why not put your favourite names to a public vote, like the one on the Baby Centre website?

I eventually came round to the idea when he pointed out the many benefits there would be, such as it would be much better for our kids to grow up with dogs than end up scared of them (like I was), and, as keen walkers, would help keep us fit and healthy as well as being fun.

As it turns out I love having our dog and it has helped me to overcome my fear and understand why dogs behave like they do. In fact I would go as far to say that in many ways it has helped prepare us as parents because many of the skills we have picked up will (hopefully) transfer when we have our first baby in a few months’ time. For example we have to work together as a team and be consistent in our approach to behaviour and training. We have also come to learn what much of his behaviour and signals mean, much like we will get to learn the different needs of our new baby.

As little as a year ago I would have been very worried about the prospect of having a dog and baby together, but since having our dog I feel confident that, with the correct supervision and training, all will go well.

If you have a dog and are expecting a baby I would recommend doing some research and preparing your dog in plenty of time for the new arrival.

I found some good general advice about preparing your dog for the arrival of a baby in Victoria Stilwell’s book ‘Its Me or the Dog’.

I also found a great website that details how you can prepare your dog and other pets for the arrival of a new baby.

Try to pack your hospital bag well in advance of your due date so you have peace of mind knowing that it is all organised and so you won’t have to worry about it during the onset of labour.

For the mother to be:

• Some snacks and drinks for you and your birth partner.
• A front opening night gown will be useful if you are planning to breastfeed.
• Dressing gown and slippers - useful if you end up walking around the hospital corridors.
• Items for relaxing - such as magazines, a book, a CD (check if there will be a CD player or whether you will have to bring your own), massage oils.
• A TENS machine if you are planning to use one.
• Loose, comfortable clothes for you to wear in hospital and for going home. (Remember that it’s very unlikely you will fit back into your pre-pregnancy clothes at this point.)
• Toiletries such as moisturising cream, toothbrush and paste, deodorant, lip balm, hair brush.
• A towel.
• Water spray or a hand held fan to keep you cool.
• A camera to take pictures of your gorgeous newborn baby.
• Your pregnancy notes including your birth plan.
• A couple of nursing bras and some breast pads.
• A few packs of maternity pads - these are similar to thick sanitary towels.
• Cheap or disposable knickers.
• Phone numbers/contacts for friends and family to let them know the good news, plus change or a phone card to use the hospital’s phone.
• Some women find the homeopathic remedy Arnica in tablet form helpful for stitches and bruising.

For the new baby:

• Newborn nappies.
• An outfit for the journey home.
• A few baby grows and vests for the baby to wear during his/her stay in hospital.
• Depending on the time of year and weather you may need a hat, booties, a warm blanket and a jacket.
• Muslin squares - these are soft squares of muslin fabric that are used to catch and mop up milk dribbles.
• A suitable car seat to get the baby home from hospital if you are planning to go home by car.

In particular we are not sure what equipment we will need for feeding the baby, as although we hope to breastfeed we are not sure yet how easy or hard its going to be and how many months to continue for.

A friend with a 6 month old daughter recently recommended a kit which contains everything you need regarding feeding your baby from birth through to toddler. It contains items such as a steriliser, bottle warmer, breast pump, bottles, breast feeding DVD, cups for weaning and some pampering ‘must-haves’ for both mother and baby. My friend has used everything in it and says it was well worth the money. It also takes the hassle out of buying the items separately and seems to represent good value for money.

Mothercare Avent Birth to Toddler Essential Pack - £149.99

Mothercare also offer a Hospital Bag, which contains a lot of items that you and your baby will need during and after the birth. Everything is packed into a neat bag ready for you to take with you into hospital.

Mothercare Hospital Bag - £49.99

However, I would highly recommend the NCT’s (National Childbirth Trust) antenatal classes to any parents-to-be. It’s a great opportunity to learn about pregnancy, labour and coping with a new born in a supportive environment where there is no such thing as a stupid question. The classes are led by trained antenatal teachers who have usually been through the experience themselves a few times.

What I particularly liked about the sessions is that they focus not only on the physical and practical side of labour and birth, but also on the emotional and psychological parts of it, as well as giving really good advice to the fathers to be (or whoever your birth partner may be) about how they can be a help and support during labour and after the birth.

The sessions are usually held at the weekends and in the evenings so both parents can attend. The classes consist of a small number of couples, who attend each session so you can build up a rapport with the group and hopefully make some life long friends.

You normally have to pay for the classes but a year’s membership is included in the price, which allows you to attend NCT events such as coffee mornings and nearly new sales.

For more information visit the NCT’s website.

An ovulation calculator asks you for information such as the date of the first day of your last monthly period and the average length of your cycle. It can then calculate when your most fertile times are likely to be over the forthcoming months. They are usually free to use and can be found on various pregnancy websites, such as this one from babycentre.

Do be aware that the dates given provide an approximate guide to when you might be ovulating as every woman is different.

Ovulation predictor kits can be bought from around £20 and can provide you with a way to check that you are ovulating and when your most fertile times are. They work by measuring changing levels of hormones in your body. They are reliable but not totally foolproof.

Ovulation predictor kits can be bought in many of the high street pharmacies, as well as over the Internet, such as this one from Clear Blue.

Years ago women were encouraged to put their feet up and take it easy throughout their pregnancies. These days, although we are told to slow down, it is a well known fact that certain types of gentle or moderate exercise can be beneficial during pregnancy.

I am a keen runner but stopped running a few months into my pregnancy, mainly due to morning sickness and tiredness, but have replaced it with regular walking.

The latest medical evidence suggests it is okay to continue to do most forms of exercise to a certain degree during your pregnancy, but to not take up anything new. It is still quite amazing, however, to read about the likes of Paula Radcliffe, who managed to run throughout most of her pregnancy.

If you are interested in finding out more about running during pregnancy, Runner’s World provides some advice from mothers on their website.

During the later stages of pregnancy a birthing ball can be used to help get your baby in a good position ready for labour and can help you maintain a comfortable posture. During labour the ball may be useful for sitting on and rocking to help get you through the contractions.

Birthing balls are very similar to gym balls, the main differences being the name and the price. Prices can vary greatly so it’s worth shopping around to try to get the best deal. When buying one you will need to think about your height as they come in different sizes.

45cm - for a height up to 5′0″
55cm - for a height of 5′0″ to 5′5″
65cm - for a height of 5′6″ to 5′10″
75cm - for heights over 5′10″

When buying one make sure it comes with an appropriate adaptor to use with a pump. The one we bought from Argos was good value for money but unfortunately it didn’t come with an adaptor so we had to resort to a makeshift one using a straw (which made the job of inflating it a lot more difficult!) Also make sure the ball you buy is ‘anti-burst’ and strong enough to take your weight.

For more info about using a birthing ball visit the Yoga Birth website.

• Don’t buy too many newborn baby clothes or toys. Once the baby is born you will get given plenty of gifts and clothes from friends and family, and until you know the weight of your baby you may find you buy clothes that are too small or too big for him or her.
• Hold a baby shower and write a gift list. Baby showers are common in America and are becoming increasingly popular over here in the UK. A baby shower is usually hosted by the mother-to-be, who invites her female friends and family members to her house for a social gathering. Invitees bring a present for the baby for when it is born. By writing a gift list you can get what you want and avoid having items duplicated. You could set up one with a well known high street or Internet shop, much in the same way as a wedding list works.
• Buy second hand or borrow. Go to ‘nearly new’ sales, such as those run by the NCT (National Childbirth Trust), to buy second hand clothes, toys, furniture, baby equipment, and borrow or buy from friends or relatives that have had babies. However, don’t ever buy a second hand car seat or cot mattress due to safety issues.
• Don’t buy needless stuff. A baby really doesn’t need much in the way of clothing, toys and equipment to survive. Get recommendations from friends and family that have had children on what they actually really needed and what they could have done without. Research all products carefully before buying to make sure you definitely need it.
• Always shop around. Supermarkets, high street stores and chains, and the Internet can often provide cheaper supplies than specialist baby and nursery shops, so always shop around to compare prices and get the best deal to suit you. If you plan ahead and allow plenty of time for buying goods you should be able to buy what you need cheaper in the sales or on ‘buy one get one free’ offers.