How to Prepare for Parenthood

Plan for the Birth Process

• Even though the birth process is just a blink when it comes to the entire lifespan of your child, preparing for this time can calm your nerves and help ready you for what's to come. Create a birth plan that will outline how you envision the birth process, what medical interventions you want, how you plan on managing pain and who you want with you during delivery. Your birth plan may also include your wants or needs post-delivery. For example, note whether you plan to bank your newborn's cord blood or not. Although reading up on the birth process can help you plan for what is to come, nothing takes the place of a medical professional's advice. Write down any questions that you have as you think of them. Bring your list to your regular check-ups and discuss any concerns with your doctor.

Get Your Financial Future In Order

• Even if you feel financially secure right now, having a baby changes how, when and where you'll spend your money. The average middle-class family who has a child born in 2013 can expect to spend $245,340 to raise a child, according to the United States Department of Agriculture. Prepare financially for well beyond your child's infant years. While allocating parts of your paycheck for diapers, formula, a crib and other baby needs is a must, don't forget that you have 18 or more years of support your child to look forward to. Review your monthly budget and add in expected expenditures for the near and distant future. For example, include the cost of diapers, wipes and baby clothes for now. Create separate budgets for other stages of your child's life. This may include adding in the cost of preschool for when she is 3 years old or for college when she is 18. Discuss these expenses with your spouse and make sure that you are both on-board with the family's budget.

Start a Healthy Lifestyle Before Baby

• During pregnancy, women need to eat a nutritious diet, participate in doctor-approved exercise and stay away from drugs and alcohol. Planning for a healthy pregnancy lifestyle can carry over into your baby's childhood. As a parent, you're a role model for your child in every way. Eating cupcakes, munching on chips or relaxing on the couch instead of running outside no longer only affects you -- they affect your family, too. Preparing for your life as a parent should include making a commitment to be healthy now and stay healthy for the years to come. This doesn't mean you can't snack on the occasional cookie or take a break from your exercise routine every once in a while. Instead, maintain an overall healthy lifestyle that you can show and share with your child throughout the years.

Find Comfort in Other Parents

• You can prep, plan and make all of the lists that your spouse can handle. But, when it comes to parenthood, sometimes there's nothing like hearing what to expect first-hand. You can prepare for the journey to come by talking to other parents who have "been there and done that." If you have friends, siblings or other similarly-aged relatives who are parents, ask them for advice. Discuss specific concerns or ask for their No. 1 piece of parenting advice. Don't just focus on the early years. Ask about preschool, starting grade school or planning for college. If you're the first of your friends to become a parent, consider an online community. Join a parents chat or web-based group to share your concerns.