Did Anybody Hire a Baby Nurse?

[RobynScott]

Specifically, a lot of our friends have hired baby nurses that stay with them for a week to 10 days after the baby is born to help out, help take care of baby, etc.

I'm not sure if we want to or not (could be very $$) - so I'm curious if anyone has, what your experiences were and whether you would recommend hiring one or not. I know our friends would say definitely yes (b/c they have had them) - but I am interested in other opinions (including if it's that a nurse is not needed!). One thing I am looking for (if we do hire a nurse) is someone that will be supportive of breast-feeding since I really want to be able to make BF'ing work.

Thanks for any thoughts / advice!

[Ericka_Jarett]

I personally wouldn't want a baby nurse. Granted my son was in SCU for the first 9 days of life, but still wouldn't want one. Babies sleep like 20 hours the first few weeks and some even into months. When they are awake they need to be changed and fed (if BF you would be the one that needs to be up with baby anyway)

I remember on a Baby Story one ladies mom hired one and she was wanting to do this and that with the baby and the new mom wanted it done another way. She finally had the woman fired and couldn't have been happier.

[deliciousjones]

what about finding a post-partum doula?

[la_bride_2004]

Yes, I hired one. She was supposed to come right after the baby came, but since my baby was 5 weeks early and we weren't living in our house at the time (we were doing major remodeling) she ended up coming 2 weeks after he was born. Those first two weeks were a nightmare- I wish I had her there!

I would highly recommend a skilled baby nurse that you are compatible with. I had an emergency c-section and was very sore/sick, and it was unbelievably wonderful to have someone take care of the baby, do baby laundry, take over the bottle washing and sterilizing while I just rested, pumped, and had a chance to recover. I found it helpful too to have someone experienced to show me her way of giving baths, swaddling, etc. And it was worth it too to have someone on night feeding duty!

ETA- she was very supportive of my pumping efforts, and encouraging at a time I really needed it. I was so upset the whole BF thing didn't work out (premature baby who had a feeding tube, etc.), but I continued to pump thanks to her. I pumped every two hours around the clock in the beginning to establish supply.

Her partner came in the third week because she had to go to another client, and that woman I could not stand and had her out of the house within a few hours. (She didn't know how to heat a bottle, mixed breastmilk and formula, etc.) I did not interview her- my mistake! So I can see where it could be a bad experience too.

[PinkMartini]

Waste of $ IMO. I mean, people have been taking care of their children for thousands of years on their own... Unless your DH won't be around, then I could see it being beneficial.

[steviem]

We didn't hire a nurse. We did it all on our own.

My mom was supposed to be there for the first 2 weeks after DS was born to help with everything. Unfortunately, my dad ended up in ICU 2 days before my son was born so my mom had to stay home to be with him.

Anyway, I was so nervous and thought there would be no way I could take care of my son all by myself (while DH was at work), but in all honesty, it was totally fine. Like a PP said, newborns sleep A LOT so there is time to rest. The only major pain was having to BF every 2 hrs- this was worst during the night when you are just so tired, but even if you have a nurse and you are BF'ing, you'd be the one waking to BF your child anyway, right?

Looking back, I am so happy things turned out the way they did. It gave me tons of confidence, right from the get-go, knowing that I could take care of my son with no problem.

(Aside from the above, I could imagine how nice it would be to have help in the beginning just so you could rest but I know that there would be no way I could rest, knowing someone else was holding and taking care of my new little baby.... know what I mean? Now that DS is 8.5 months, I'd LOVE to hire a nurse to help me every once in a while.... hee hee. He is so much more work now but I truly love every minute of it.)

Good luck to you!

[mimieliza]

If your DH has to go back to work right away, it might be nice. I had a c-section, and it was so hard when DH went back to work after a week. We were both excruciatingly tired.

[Rico'sAlice]

In all my baby research I've actually never heard of a "baby nurse." (I mean outside of a visiting nurse for babies w/ health problems.)
I guess this is what I learned from CC today!

What I am familiar with is post-partum doulas. However, for the most part they are not there to take care of the baby. They are there to take care of you so that you can take care of your baby.
Here is a general overview from DONA International. But obviously individual PPDoulas will offer slightly varied services. IE some will cook for you, others may not.
http://www.dona.org/mothers/faqs_postpartum.php#4 (Hey look they mention baby nurses!)

If you have a supportive family or friends to help you out then you could lean on them for most of that stuff, and could have a someone else (like an IBC Lactation Consultant) come out to help you with the BFing.

Anyway, I wouldn't imagine that you'd *need* one- baby nurse or PP Doula. But that doesn't mean that you wouldn't find their services valuable and worth the cost.

[lml41981]

I didn't hire a post-partum doula or a baby nurse. My mother came to stay with us for a week. Her role was to take on the tasks that I would have done so that I could focus on DD. It was good in the sense that she was able to step back and let me be the mother. It was bad in the sense that I didn't get much rest because some personal stuff happened and my mom kept me up the whole time talking about it. By the time she left, I just wanted to cry because I was so exhausted. Then, we had one night to ourselves and DH's mom was going to come stay a week. She got there, spent the afternoon with us and decided I didn't need any help, so she went home.

This time, DH will be taking a couple weeks off work to be home with us. Others are welcome to visit during the daytime, but our home will not be open to overnight visitors.

I wouldn't want a post-partum doula or a baby nurse because you can never truly know how you will mesh with the person until you're in the thick of it. I wouldn't have wanted anyone shoving her opinions on me or trying to sabotage my breastfeeding efforts. I just wanted people to cook dinner for us, run the vacuum and let the dogs out.

[maplekitty]

I would say that if you are not in a position where your DH, or your mom/mil or family member could either stay with you or come over every day...then yes a baby nurse would definitely help.

But if your DH is able to stay home with you for the first week or two....honestly, I think one more person in the house full-time would just be like "too many cooks in the kitchen".

[mommydearest]

No way! DD is seven weeks and still eats every 1.5 to 2 hours during the day. A baby nurse would have been a waste of money in the beginning unless you are a single mom who needs someone to run to the groccery or throw in a load of wash or if you are formula feeding. Besides nursing and changing diapers, there just isn't that much to caring for a newborn. And, I wanted DH to help because he is the dad--I can't stand dads that don't know how to do anything with the baby. He is figuring it out alongside me.

My mom lives fairly close and came over a couple afternoons just so I had some company, but really, it wasn't that hard if you get your priorities straight and don't expect to accomplish much in a day. My MIL insisted on coming for a week and that was hellish--I was perfectly capable of taking care of the baby and she just got in the way.

My opinion.

[Mrs. M.]

I think it's better to get someone to take care of all the other stuff in the house - cleaning, laundry, grocery shopping,... so the new mom can focus on the baby and on recovering. My mom came in and did all those things and it was such a big help.

[amew]

I, too, have several friends who have hired baby nurses and highly recommend it. I can see it being helpful if neither your DH nor any relatives (mom, MIL, aunt, etc.) can be around much those first few weeks to help out. My DH will take at least couple weeks off and my mom will stay here as long as I need her, so I don't feel like we need one. Plus, baby nurses seem to be less common here--most of my friends that have had them are in large cities on one of the coasts.

[Sal03]

Plus, baby nurses seem to be less common here--most of my friends that have had them are in large cities on one of the coasts.


yup. I am just outside of NYC and just about everyone I know had a baby nurse. It is just the thing to do. I did not. I just did not feel comfortable having someone stay in my house. And with BFing I knew I would be nursing around the clock. That said, I did interview one nurse when I was considering it and she was very supportive of BFing and said that what she usually would do is bring the baby in whenever he/she needed to nurse and then take the baby away and be in charge of middle of the night diaper changes and getting the baby back to sleep. After the birth of my first child, it was just DH and I and we did great. After my second, my mom stayed with us for a week. She drove me nuts, but it was extremely helpful to have someone to help keep the house in order.

[RobynScott]

Plus, baby nurses seem to be less common here--most of my friends that have had them are in large cities on one of the coasts.

Hehe - that must be true! I am on the East Coast! My mom actually had a nurse for me when I was born. I am on the fence for all of the reasons you ladies mentioned. Most of our friends here have had them - and all of them had DH's that stayed home at least a week - and all have family around - so I'm not sure what the deal is. (Let me revise that - my friends with singletons had nurses; my friends with twins hired doulas b/c the baby nurse was way too $$ for two babies - and it's not cheap for one).

DH likes the idea b/c it's someone that could show us all of the things we need to do to take care of baby (which I think we could learn on our own / from classes, etc.). If we get one - my mom would probably come down after the nurse left - but otherwise she would be here right after baby.

One friend told DH she liked it since she was formula-feeding she could sleep through the nighttime feeding and get rest in the beginning (I don't think I could do that anyway).

We'll see - all things to think about. I definitely think it is also a regional thing. Thanks for the advice and please keep the additional thoughts coming ;)

[amew]

One friend told DH she liked it since she was formula-feeding she could sleep through the nighttime feeding and get rest in the beginning (I don't think I could do that anyway).

Yea, it seems like most of our friends that have had baby nurses have been formula-feeding and have used the baby nurse as a way of avoiding having to get up during the night to care for the baby (though I am with you on this--I can't imagine sleeping soundly while someone else tends to my newborn all night). I am not sure it would be as helpful if you're planning to nurse, though having someone bring the baby to you and handle diaper changes would still be nice, I'm sure. Seems like maybe a post-partum doula with lots of breast-feeding knowledge would be more helpful to a nursing mom, but I am no expert.

yup. I am just outside of NYC and just about everyone I know had a baby nurse.

We have several friends in NYC, and not one of them has not had a baby nurse. It seems to be pretty universal there. Though I do have one friend in Chicago and one friend in Houston who have had baby nurses, too, so I know it's not just a coast thing.

[Ericka_Jarett]

Robyn - I would just just mom to come, why spend the money on a nurse, when your mom is offering to come and help out. Just have her help with things around the house and offer advice if needed. A baby nurse is not really going to do anything with your housework just the baby.

Feeding time I feel is a special time for mommy and baby or daddy and baby if bottle feeding. It's a time to bond.

When DS came home I just slept when he did, one morning my hubby said don't worry about the house (we had just moved in) sleep when the baby does cause you look exhausted. (I was getting up at night with the baby since hubby was back to work) He was back to work the Thursday after I had Easton (he was born on Tuesday) since Easton was staying in the hospital for a while yet.

[RobynScott]

Robyn - I would just just mom to come, why spend the money on a nurse, when your mom is offering to come and help out. Just have her help with things around the house and offer advice if needed.

I know. Funny thing is - my mom is one of the people recommending that we get a nurse! *lol* We'll see. I'm sure we'll be fine either way - and right now with some very unexpected expenses (we seem to have discovered a termite infestation last night) - well, saving $$ is probably more important than the nurse ;)

Also, just to add since we were talking about NYC and nurses - I should probably mention I am originally from NY :)

[MidwesternGal]

I could see getting a nurse if you were having twins or triplets and your DH couldn't be home with you (or your mom or MIL come help for a bit). But for one baby, and if your DH and your mom are coming to help, I don't see how it'd be necessary.

I had a c-section (even with an extra abdominal incision cut vertically to get DS out), was on all kinds of pain drugs, couldn't sit up by myself from bed when I got sent home from the hospital, and had a bloody, bruised, and blistered nipple on one side. I also experienced excessive swelling after birth once I got home (my calves swelled up as big as my thighs).

However, DH had 10 days left on his vacation time by the time we got home from the hospital, and he got up at night and pulled me out of bed so I could sit in the chair to nurse, and he handled the diaper changes while I got myself settled. Actually, now that I think about it, that's pretty much how all day went too, with DH running to the store a few times. When he went back to work, MIL came down for one day and my mom came for two and they helped by catching us up on laundry, cleaning, and running errands. By that time, I was off pain meds, could walk around better, and the swelling had disappeared.

I think that if you have DH home with you the first week (or few days or however it works out) and your mom will be there for a week afterwards, that should be enough. Just remember to sleep when baby sleeps and have DH help with household chores when he comes home from work, and you should be fine.

**If you have the money, I'd spend it on take out, make-ahead meal kitchens before birth, hiring a cleaning lady!!!!!!, laundry service (ie, they wash and fold!!), and possibly a dog walker (if you have pets) that first month.**

Honestly, with a five month old who's beginning to be mobile and no longer takes naps, I'd rather have a little helper during the day for a couple hours now rather than before!! Before it was easy, even if I was tired!! LOL!

ETA: You can take classes if your DH is nervous. Most hospitals offer breastfeeding classes for before and after birth, have lactation consultants, have prenatal care classes, and newborn care classes. Additionally, local rec centers and comm colleges often have parenting classes too. Offer to babysit for your friends' babies a few times to get some "real" practice! Finding a mom's group in your area or joining La Leche League may help as well.

[tray622]

Heck, I am in the minority! I never had one but, geez, the thought makes me want another baby ;) I am exaggerating a bit but I have a friend who had a night nurse and with my first born I was schocked that someone would want to miss a lot of the night stuff. I loved every minute of it. My second was something else... I would have given my husband away for a night nurse... holy moly was this kid everything a parent is terrified of when night time came.

I can see both sides but agree that it really depends on how much help you have available. We have a ton of looky-loos who want to drop by, hold the baby, and leave 20 minutes later all why expecting to be entertained. For some the adjustment is smooth and other not so much.

[karlatta]

My DH won't be able to be around much after the baby is born - he just started a new job and even though he can take off as much as he wants for the birth, he'll fall way behind on his billable hours if he stays home for more than 2-3 days, because he hasn't had an opportunity to build any up yet. Depending on how labor goes, he might not be around for very long at all after birth.

So I'm having my mom come stay with me for a week or two. She will be here to cook, clean, do laundry, run errands, etc. We also have a foster son who will be 14 months when the baby is born, so if he's still living here, she'll be primarily responsible for caring for him. If I find that I still need help after she leaves, my sister, grandmother, or MIL will come to stay with me. I'm really thinking that it won't be necessary, though. I became an instant parent to an 8 year old and a 5 day old (straight from the NICU) when we had our foster children placed with us, and I managed that without any outside assistance. I know that giving birth will be a totally different experience, but I think I have a healthy amount of confidence that I can do it with just a week or two of outside support.

We currently have a cleaning lady come in every other week - around the time of delivery, I'm going to step that up to every week so that my mom and DH only have to worry about things like washing dishes and picking up after themselves, and the cleaning lady can do the other stuff - cleaning toilets, changing sheets, mopping floors.

And I really recommend spending some time with friends' babies if you can. I gained a world of confidence just by holding my friend's 3-day-old baby and seeing that I really could take care of him if I needed to.

[Alanna]

I would agree with the PPs... if you dont have someone (DH, Mother - MIL etc) who can really help out in the early weeks... i think it would make sense.

DH and I did all the caretaking by ourselves. We were really lucky he was able to take a month off and i had an easy delivery....

our parents live out of town and visited but didnt contribute to caring for our DD.

it was hard.. but i *loved* having that time just the three of us. It was a really special time.... but IMHO it is definitey a two person job for the first couple of weeks!

[Kanga]

We didn't for either of our dc. With my first I wanted to figure out everything by myself and there's no way I could have slept with a stranger taking care of my baby. I had a hard enough time when it was dh. I was constantly wondering if maybe the baby was hungry and dh didn't pick up on the cues and if it was me, I could offer the breast...did he remember to fold the diaper down so it's not over the cord, etc etc.

With #2, again the newborn is the easy one. It's my toddler that I'm trying to learn how to meet her needs while bfing, how to change a diaper and still keep a guard out for flailing toddler limbs and thrown toys. Meanwhile my living room is covered in toys, the sink is full of dishes and I'm not sure when the last time I did laundry was. What I need help with the most is entertaining #1 since she's not used to sharing my attention, housework, and I"m sure dh would appreciate someone to help out with errands.

[blondegirl]

My MIL offered to pay for a babynurse to come in for 2 wks after DS. (My SIL had a baby nurse when both her DS's were born - that's just the type of person she is), so my MIL thought I would need one. I did not want some one else coming in and taking care of my newborn in those first few weeks. I was having a c-section, and DD was only 11 months when DS was born, so I needed someone around to help out. When famil wasn't around, we ended up having a mother's helper around for a week, and DH's old nanny here for a week. They helped with housework, laundry, errands, entertaining my other kids so I could focus on the newborn.

[Cali_Katy]

We did not. We do not have any family nearby, but my parents flew in the day my son was born and stayed for a little over a week. They took care of everything in the house -- cooking, cleaning, even little fix-me-up projects we'd been putting off. When they left, they made sure my fridge and freezer were stocked with food and meals they'd prepared. It was so unbelievably helpful.

My husband went out of town for several days on a business trip when our son was about two weeks old, leaving me completely by myself. I managed just fine, but looking back, a post-partum doula would have been helpful at that point.

[moderngal]

No. I think the concept is so bizarre. I wouldn't want a stranger in my home bonding with my newborn. I can kinda see the benefit of a doula to help while learning to nurse the baby, but then again- that's what LCs and LLL are for.
I do, however, have cleaning ladies regularly and will have them come more often next time and I also have a great support network of local moms.

[BethIrish]

My Mom and Dad were here for a little over 2 weeks when DS was born. I don't know how I would have managed if they weren't here. DS was born on a Thursday and DH went back to work the following Wednesday. It was nice having my parents here - they took care of ME while I took care of DS. We had feeding issues that first 6 weeks, and DS was very cranky. My Dad sat up with me many nights and just helped me soothe DS. My Mom cooked and made sure I had nutritious meals and stocked my freezer. I was able to shower everyday and get a good nap in w/o worrying about DS. (and yes, I was breastfeeding and still am.)

I guess what I'm trying to say is that it was nice to have help easing in to motherhood. I was exhausted and sore after labor. I often said those first few weeks that this had to be Mother Nature's cruelest joke - going through the hardest physical labor in my life, being unbelievably sore...and having to learn how to care for a new life all at once.

[ihearttx]

We had one and I wouldn't do it any other way and already am joking that I will call her to make sure she's still working before I have #2! My husband and I had zero experience with newborns and having the nurse around to teach us how to do everything properly etc was the best thing for us. I breastfed DD so the nurse would bring me the baby in the middle of the night when it was time for her to eat and then take her back/change the diaper etc so I could get a little extra rest.

We had her for 10 days and when she left I cried. We didn't want my parents or my husbands parents (who live out of town) tellings us what to do etc so this was the best solution for our family.

I definitely think it's a regional thing, though as everyone we know has had one, but my friends in other areas of the country have never heard of such a thing!

[kimthebride]

East Coaster here. ;)

What exactly are you looking for help with? Because a Mother's Helper and a local LC could be just what you need.

When we had DS, the nurses in the hospital made a point to teach us how to do all the basics: bathe, change, calm, etc the baby. And they were all trained on BFing plus has an on-site LC to help with nursing. Plus the tv in the room had a channel that only ran "How-To" babycare programs (the channel was free because in NYC you can't leave the hospital without watching the Shaken Baby video and signing off that you know you aren't supposed to do that).

When we got home, my MIL came in and what we needed help with most was cooking, cleaning, helping with diaper changes, keeping an ear out for sleeping baby while I took a shower, run errands like groceries or finding the elusive newborn diapers. She did minimal baby care.

I also had an LC come to us the day after we got home from the hospital, since my Ped realized baby lost too much weight and we needed more help with that. She was so great in person then via telephone that i didn't need any more assistance than her.

Oh, and MIL had baby nurses (yep, a NYer!) and never BF'd. She's a big proponent of getting professional help.

This time, i have a toddler when I am due with #2. MIL will be here again, but I am looking to hire a Mother's Helper for once she leaves. This is someone who will be here for a few hours a few days a week to help watch my toddler, do light housekeeping, make him meals etc. I found - especially with our BFing issues - the first month or two were sooo draining, even with a DH who took a week or two off and did everything he could to help in any way he could.

I hope that helps!

[DianeCourt]

One of my sorority sisters is Jewish and her DD was born a week before mine. Even though her parents live in the same city, she & her husband had a baby nurse for a little over a week. I had never heard of such a thing, but she explained to me that most of the new moms in her Temple and her family's circle of friends had them. She was very happy with the experience - she ended up formula feeding, so the baby nurse would do the late night feedings. And let's face it....it's been years since her own mom has had an infant, so the baby nurse was able to educate them on a lot of ins & outs of infant care that grandma hasn't been in touch with. If you have the money to hire one, I say why not?

[mommydearest]

I'd much rather have a maid and take-out food. And a babysitter during the day for a couple hours maybe once a week until you go back to work so you can go to Target or the groccery story or doctor's appointments.

Who's going to take care the baby when the nurse leaves...? The middle of the night feedings really weren't that bad. I just laid in bed and fed the baby. DH occasionally changed the diaper if I was feeling lazy. Sometimes I fell asleep and woke up an hour later with the baby still attached to the boob--thank goodness for the boppy so I didn't drop her!

[LexyLou]

No baby nurse here, I'm way to A Type for that...but this thread is reminding me that I need to get my housekeeper to come weekly for the first 3 months (instead of bi-weekly). I think it will really help me to have her do all the cleaning, laundry, and even some light cooking.

I think my MIL will be staying with me for a month too.

[allyray231]

It is a big east coast thing because when I live in NYC I know a lot of people who did it.

My DH took the first week off from work and was home with me. My mom was there for the second week and cooked and clean. I had a c/s.

I can see a housekeeper (I had one once a month when DS first came) or family but a baby nurse, IMO freaks me out. I just can't imagine having someone take care of my child like that.

[jennylou]

I'd spend the money on a housekeeper. And one that will do everything as I know some services have certain things that they won't do. For instance, bil/sil's regular service doesn't move things to vacuum (couches, big things). If I wanted them to come in for the first few months, then I'd make sure they'd do that.

[RobynScott]

Thanks for all the replies! I'm pretty set that we don't need a nurse. I spoke to a friend who had one last night and she would have been just as happy to have her mom (but didn't for reasons particular to their family). My DH really wants us to have one (I guess for things like showing us how to bathe the baby and stuff - but we can learn that at the hospital before we leave) - so we'll see. I do agree (at least for us) that it would probably be easier to take advice from a nurse rather than either of our mothers b/c our mothers haven't had babies in 30 years - but I'm pretty sure these are things we could pick up pretty quickly on our own ;)

I will definitely think about having a cleaning service come in more often and maybe a lactation consultant as well (which I think would be really helpful)

Again - thanks for all of the thoughts. I think we can save the $$ but I'll have to see if I can convince DH of same. (even if not, one of our moms may insist on getting one for us - I'm pretty sure both of us had nurses - I know I did - again, must be the East Coast thing ;) )

Thanks for the thoughts!

[Bloomwood]

Robyn, it looks like you've decided, but I still wanted to add my 2 cents.

We didn't have one. We had my MIL here for 10 days right when we got back from the hospital and my mom was here for 3 days right after she left. MIL was great, my mom was a nightmare. Week 3 we decided dd was colicky and had a post partum doula come for 3 hour/day 3 days/week for 3 weeks. It was so I could shower, nap, and just have someone to talk to. I didn't let her do as much as she could/should (especially for the $100/day we were paying her).

The woman who watches DD now one day a week is also a night nurse. I asked her how it worked because I didn't understand it. The way she does it is have the mom pump all the time to build up bottles for the night time and then she has her own room set up and takes night duty. She does all the feedings and soothing so that the mom can get rested up. I'm sure there are all sorts of approaches that nightnurses can take, but this one is SO not a way I'd be comfortable. Yeah, the first months are hell, but I view it as a right of passage. I still love bonding with my daughter in those wee hours when no one else is awake (thankfully it only happens once a month at most!!). I can't imagine letting an unrelated woman/person share in that special bonding time.

During the days are a different story and I'm very supportive of professional help for getting through it.

[AlisonCO]

Like some other people have mentioned, I think that some of it would be your (and DH's) personality. I would have HATED having a stranger in my home for those first weeks - I would have felt like I needed to be clean and dressed and chatty and happy and well, I wasn't often all of those things;) I also think that a weekly housecleaner and maybe someone to bring in nightly meals would have been 100% more helpful.

Also, ITA with this:

Yeah, the first months are hell, but I view it as a right of passage.I can't imagine letting an unrelated woman/person share in that special bonding time.


My DH hadn't had any baby experience and it was so neat to go thru it together and learn how to do it as a team. Maybe you could have a post partum doula on call - she could come in during the day to help with breastfeeding and baby care and let you both have a rest.

[RobynScott]

Thanks again for all of the great advice. DH is still really pushing for us to have someone and I am thinking of hiring a post-partum doula to come in for 1-2 days.

I decided to bump this instead of starting a separate thread (but maybe I should) - I'm wondering what questions I should ask to help me choose a post-partum doula? Any advice? I think a pp-doula would be a good compromise for DH and I.

ETA - duh - I just checked the DONA website and there are some good questions there - but if anyone has personal advice / anecdotal evidence, that would still be appreciated :)

Thanks!

[moderngal]

A doula is a great idea.
btw, since you are in Philly-- there' a great class at Jefferson called "getting ready for baby" or something like that. We went when I was pregnant the 1st time and thought it was very helpful in learning the basics.