Many first time expectant parents have a common misconception. They concentrate on all of things that need to be done prior to the baby's arrival such as decorating the nursery, pre-washing baby clothes, and selecting the perfect car seat. Most even do plan accordingly for the hospital stay, all of which is a necessity. But how often do they concentrate on things that could / should be done prior to the big event that help the mother for her first days at home with the baby? Unfortunately, these things often get overlooked. Here are a few suggestions and recommendations of things that you could be done prior to the grand debut to help mom have an even more enjoyable postpartum experience:

Stock Up on Dinners
Immediately following birth, babies tend to eat every 2-3 hours. While your day consists of continuously feeding the baby, how likely is it that you'll have time to put dinner on the dining room table without much effort? Although it does require a bit more time and preparation, stocking up on dinners will become a lifesaver in the long run. During the last few weeks before delivering, cook two meals instead of one. Double your portions so that you can place one in the freezer for after the baby arrives. As new parents you are almost guaranteed to have a supply of baby food stocked up on, so why not take advantage of the opportunity to do so for yourselves?

Home Improvements
All of the time and energy required for home improvements is likely to be consumed once the baby is home. Instead of just painting the baby's nursery, why not paint the rest of the house before the big day? Hey, the paint and brush are out anyways, right? Of course, be sure to check with your doctor for safety concerns.

The most common reason for postpartum depression is being stuck in the house staring at the same four walls. Well, at least this way you can stare at the beauty of what you've done rather than staring and thinking of all you should have done and no longer have time for.

Shop From Your Home
How many of us can say that our fridge is stocked the day we come home with the baby? After three days of staying in the hospital, chances are our refridgerator needs some replenishing. Take advantage of delivery services offered by grocery stores. It's much easier to take a few minutes while the baby naps to place an online order and have it delivered directly to your front door than it is for you to pack up baby and the entire diaper bag and spend an hour in the store, based around feedings of course. 

Don't Forget The Little Luxuries
After a few restless nights with little to no sleep, you'll definitely want some time for relaxation. That bubble bath you're in dire need of will be much more fulfilling with some actual bubbles and bath salts on hand. Let's not forget about the scented candles either! Of course, these delicacies are probably the last things from your mind when preparing for the baby. This is all the more reason why you should stock up and have them on hand. A bubble bath with scented candles can do wonders!!

By taking the time to make these simple preparations, mom can focus on recuperating and spending quality time bonding with her little bundle of joy!