Women who are expecting should use the time before their babies arrive to baby themselves. They should also prepare for what's ahead by stocking their homes with everything that they'll need once their babies are born. Last, but not least, they should focus on nurturing their closest relationships because their lives are going to get very hectic once their babies come, which means a bit less time for hanging out or being romantic.

Pregnancy is a miracle that brings so much joy, as well as huge changes. The newborn phase is so magical, but it's pretty tiring, too. Preparing in advance is a good way to embark on motherhood in an organized and relaxed fashion. Preparing effectively will give a mom-to-be so much confidence.

Women may not choose to do everything on this list, but they might want to do a lot of it. From choosing a birth announcement to packing a "go bag" for this hospital and beyond, these tips are sensible ones. In particular, the self-care tips should be followed if they possibly can be. This is a time when women need to put themselves and their health and well-being before everything else.

20 Choose A Birth Announcement

When your baby arrives, you're going to be so happy. You're going to want to share the news with everyone that you care about. At the same time, you're going to be busier than you've ever been. This is why choosing a birth announcement in advance is such a smart strategy. You'll have it ready when you need it, instead of trying to find time to pick out a birth announcement that you really like, once you're at home with your newborn.

Perusing birth announcements online will also get you so excited about the future. Choose paper announcements (try to find announcements that are printed on eco-friendly paper) or go electronic. It's up to you.

19 Select A Pediatrician

You're going to need a great pediatrician for your precious new baby. It's best to select a pediatrician in advance. Some doctors accept new patients and some don't. Research online to find out which pediatricians in your area are accepting new patients. Then, read reviews of those doctors.

Once you've found a good candidate, reach out by paying the doctor a visit or calling his or her office. When you choose a pediatrician in advance, you'll have greater peace of mind. You'll know that you have a baby doctor to turn to if there's a problem. That is really important.

18 Pre-wash New Baby Clothing

Are you stocking up on adorable onesies and other clothes for your baby? You've probably got some infant clothes in reserve already. Use the time before you give birth to pre-wash those clothes, with a laundry detergent that is safe for babies. Some moms prefer to use "green" laundry detergents for babies, which don't have the lab-created chemicals. Others choose typical baby laundry detergents, which may have some chemicals.

Purex and Seventh Generation are popular brands, but there's lots of good options out there. When you pre-wash baby clothes, they'll be soft, clean and ready for your baby. It's important to pre-wash, as new baby clothes may be treated with fire retardants or other chemicals.

17 Buy Some Nursing Gear

Most women nurse these days, at least, for a little while. If you think you'll be nursing, you'll benefit from buying some underthings that are just for nursing mothers. When you have a couple of supportive and comfortable nursing bras, it'll be easier to take care of your baby when it's time for feedings.

Right after you have a baby, you may not feel like hitting a department store or shopping online. You're going to be busy with baby care and want to spend most of your time bonding with your baby. This is why it's better to get nursing bras in advance.

16 Pack A Hospital Go Bag

With labor on the horizon, you should think about what you'll need when it's time to go to the hospital and have your baby. Most women take "go bags" to the hospital with them. These bags are filled with labor, delivery and postpartum essentials. Your go bag should contain your birth plan, your nursing bras, an extra outfit, snacks and drinks for labor (it does tend to drag on, especially with a first baby), ID and some digital device to play music on. Think about what you want to take with you and then fill a bag with it. Put the "go bag" near your front door.

15 Sleep While It's Still Possible

You may be really busy when you're pregnant. You might be working full-time, or taking care of children, or whatever. Most women are very busy, whether they are pregnant or not. If at all possible, you should make an effort to carve out time for extra sleep. Hormonal shifts in pregnancy tend to make women very tired. The rest that you get while you're pregnant will help you to cope once you're home with your newborn. Keep in mind that it can be tough to sleep at the end of a pregnancy. Before the end, you should sneak in as many naps as you can and get eight hours of sleep at night.

14  Go On Date Nights If You're Partnered

If you're up to it, try to spend some quality time with your partner before you have your baby. If you're not partnered while you're expecting, hang out with friends and family. Pregnant women who are partnered should treasure their "date night' time with their significant others.

Do things that both of you enjoy, whether it's going to a movie, going for a walk or doing a pregnancy-safe activity. Sure, you can hire a babysitter once you've given birth, but you may find that leaving your newborn seems almost impossible. You'll be so emotionally attached and you'll want to be there.

13 Hit Up Some Fun Restaurants

Restaurants that serve healthy fare abound these days, so why not give yourself a break from meal prep while you're pregnant? Hitting fun restaurants is always pleasant and there are no dishes to wash. Let servers take care of you. Order healthy dishes that are good for you and the baby.

If you're missing out on your favourite drink, try ordering a mock-tail or a fancy appie. Treating yourself to a meal out once a week or a couple of times a week will be a pampering experience. It's kind of hard to take babies out to restaurants. It can be done, but they do get noisy and fussy sometimes. So, enjoy restaurants now.

12 Write A Cute Letter To Your Baby

One fun idea which is perfect for a quiet day (perhaps when it's raining outside and you want to hibernate) is writing a letter to your baby. You might make a scrapbook-style baby book and then paper clip the letter inside the scrapbook. Doing a fun creative project like this will take your mind off pregnancy aches and pains and you'll have something beautiful and meaningful to share with your baby someday.

What will you write in your letter? Well, it should come from the heart. Let your baby know how much you want to meet him or her and how excited you are about the future.

11 Plan A Maternity Photo Shoot

Most pregnant celebs do maternity photo shoots. They celebrate their baby bumps. They mark important milestones in their lives. If you can't afford designer maternity clothes, like Kylie Jenner, Beyoncé or Cardi B, and don't have money for a professional photographer, don't worry too much. Find your prettiest maternity outfit and ask a friend, partner or family member to take pictures of you.

Flowing, long dresses are good choices for maternity shoots. Another option is a body-conscious t-shirt that hugs your bump and shows it off. Let your personal style shine through and be sure to smile. You'll treasure your pics later on.

10 Read Up On Pregnancy and Baby Care

You're probably doing this already. During pregnancy, the urge to understand what's happening to your body may lead you to read, "What To Expect When You're Expecting" and other books on pregnancy. As long as your educational resources come from trusted sources, reading up on pregnancy will be a good thing. While you're at it, start reading up on newborn care. Once pregnancy ends, you're going to need to take good care of your infant. While part of mothering a newborn is primitive and instinctive, some of it isn't. You need to learn exactly what newborns need from their mothers.

9 Mull Over Baby Names

Now, we're back to the fun stuff. Here at this website, we offer so many amazing lists of baby names. The perfect name for your baby is right here. You just need to read some baby name lists to find it. Some moms-to-be have been planning the names of their babies for ages. Others have no idea what to call their babies. The best way to find the perfect name is to read a lot of baby name lists. Also, think about your baby. Will a very creative name help your child or be a hindrance? While it's fun to call babies Apple or Moonbeam, some kids grow to resent being saddled with whimsical names.

8 Get Your Budget Together

Cardi B has been rapping about money these days. She has money on her mind because she has a baby daughter. She wants to save that cash for her child. Your train of thought may be similar to Cardi B's. Money worries are quite common during pregnancy. Babies do cost a lot of money, although you don't need a luxury stroller or every baby care accessory out there.

If money is a concern, focus on putting together a budget while you're pregnant. How will your finances change once the baby is born? Crunching the numbers will help you to prepare. Be realistic about what you'll be spending on the baby.

7 Set Up The Nursery

Getting a nursery set up in advance will be fun and it will be a labor of love, before you actually go into labor. Some moms-to-be can afford much fancier nurseries than others. If you feel bad because you can't afford some Kardashian-style extravaganza for your baby, don't worry too much. Newborns don't need giant toys and massive square footage. They don't know whether cribs are designer or not. Add a safe crib that meets all safety regulations. Add a few cute decorations. Have fun with it. If you can afford it, a rocking chair or easy chair will be a good add-on. A changing table is must.

6 Time The Trip To The Hospital

Is your local hospital very close to your home or is it further away? If you're at home when you go into labor, and a lot of women are, you'll find that knowing exactly how long it takes to get to the hospital is helpful. So, why not drive there and time the trip? Factor in for things like rush hour or detours. Get a sense of how fast you can get there, without speeding.

With any luck, you'll have someone to drive you to the hospital while you're having contractions. Of course, you may not be at your place when your contractions start, but it's best to prepare to the extent that you can.

5 Come Up With A Birth Plan

A sensible birth plan that isn't too "out there" is the smartest option. If you're planning to give birth at a hospital, bear in mind that your birth plan will need to fit the hospital's rules and regulations (of which there are many, some of which you may not be aware of). Consider doctors and nurses when writing up your birth plan, but also consider your own wants and wishes. There are templates of birth plans online. Find one and use it as a good starting point. A birth plan will empower you by making it easier for hospital staff to respect your wishes.

4 Know Your Maternity Leave Rights

If you're going to be taking maternity leave, make sure that you understand your rights completely before you give birth. If there's a contract that you signed when you were hired, pull it out and read it over. Look for information about maternity leave. If you can't find the facts, and your company has an HR department, talk to an HR manager about maternity leave. You need to know your rights. You won't want any unpleasant surprises once you are at home with your baby. For example, will you be expected to handle work phone calls or emails while you're on maternity leave? Get the answers before you give birth.

3 Take Childbirth Classes

Taking a Lamaze class or another class of that type will help you to prepare for labor. With Lamaze, you'll learn controlled breathing techniques which help you to deal with the rigors of labor. While you may plan to get as much pain relief as you can during labor, it's still good to know how to ease some discomfort via breathing. Look around in your community and see which classes are offered. Instructors should be very knowledgeable, with impressive credentials. If you can't afford these classes, read up on Lamaze online and test out the breathing techniques on your own.

2 Freeze Meals In Advance

Sure, you may not feel like doing a ton of cooking and then freezing the results, but doing so before you give birth may make life way easier once you're home with your infant. Some new moms get a lot of food brought to them by friends and loved ones. Others aren't so lucky. If you think that you'll need to make meals once you're home with your baby, it will be smart to freeze some healthy items and then thaw them when it's time to eat. Sauces, stews, cooked meats and a host of other items may be frozen. Defrost in the microwave and then whip up meals in no time flat.

1 Install A Car Seat For The Baby

This is very important. Your car seat should be installed and ready to use before you head for the hospital. A good car seat is an excellent investment, so do your homework and find a highly-rated model that exceeds safety regulations. You don't need to spend a fortune on a good car seat, but you shouldn't cut corners, either. This is a vital piece of baby care equipment. Like a crib, it must be very safe for an infant. Luckily, there are plenty of wonderful car seats. Buy one, learn how to hook it up in your car and then pat yourself on the back, because you're almost ready to start being a mom.

References: Parents.com, En.wikipedia.org, Parenting.com, WebMd.com