7. Arrangement for Help

Get somebody to agree to help you during the first month or two, which is your confinement, way before you give birth.  Discuss ahead what is your expectation, what are the do's and don'ts, etc.  Don't leave to the last minute.  Ensure that your help is in agreement with you regarding the care of the baby, your diet, etc.  E.g if you are breastfeeding, do make sure your help is pro-breastfeeding and will not introduce a bottle of formula unless you agree to it.  (Uh, sometimes mothers and mothers-in-law have a tendency to do things against your will behind your back because they might think that they know better than you do.)

If you are engaging the service of an employment agency to get you a confinement help, you may have to book the nanny 6 months before delivery.

8. Moving to the Confinement Home

Some people move to their parents' place or parents-in-law's place for their confinement.  If you need to move, please do so a couple of weeks before your EDD.  Moving usually takes a day or two for you to move all the necessary baby stuff and your own stuff over.  This will also give you time to move things that you may have forgotten earlier.  You don't want to start running to and fro for stuff  when the baby comes.

You may even wish to move in just before you give birth, so that you can 'settle down'.

9. Talk to People

Talk to people who have experience, e.g. other mommies and mommies who have successfully breastfed.  Learn from their experience.  Be cautious about who you talk to, though.  You do not want to be filled with negative stories.  Avoid people who have traumatic birth experience.  Talk to people who will strengthen your faith.  You also want to make sure that the people you talk to know what they are talking about.  E.g. don't rely on people who are sold on formula milk to give you accurate information on breastfeeding.

When you talk to people, make sure that you also do your own reading up and research so that you can double-check, cross-reference, and sift out the wrong information and retain valuable advice.

9. Gift Registry

If you intend to have people give you gifts instead of monetary gifts (i.e. the ever popular Ang Pow), you might want to set up an online gift registry.  Some department stores and Mothercare do have gift registry services but I don't think they are online.

Here are some online gift registries you can try.

http://www.findgift.com/Registry/GiftRegistry.shtml

http://www.mygiftlist.com/

http://www.wishlist.com/index/