It’s always great to sit on the couch together, nice and cozy and daydream about the new baby. What will he look like? What color eyes will he have? Whose nose will he get? Maybe you’ve already come up with a pet name that you use when you communicate with your baby. Perhaps you are using his ‘real‘ name.
That way your child becomes a part of your family, even before he is born. You allow your other children
to rub your pregnant belly and talk to their new brother or sister. They can draw a picture of the baby or maybe even help with drawing and designing the birth announcement. This was a little girl’s response
to her mother’s announcement that a new baby was on the way: “Mommy has a surprise. Guess what’s
in mommy’s belly?” “A horsie!”
When the due date is nearing, it’s time to make a decision on the baby’s name. One never knows if the baby might enter the world earlier than expected. What’s the best way for the two of you to agree?
You could sit down together, leaf through a naming book or visit a baby naming web site to
research what you really like and don’t like. Mothers-to-be often have
a name in mind even before they get pregnant. What if father doesn’t
agree with her choice? Advice often heard is to make a list and check
regularly to see whether the top three names on it are still your
favorites. You could make a list together or draw up ‘his’ and ‘hers’
lists to compare each other’s ideas. Once in a while you can add
a new name to your list and drop your least favorite from it.
Both may encounter those who suggest new names or ideas that
inspire an adjustment to your list. Perhaps during ironing or dishes,
or other household chores an appealing alternative will come
to you. Just add it and cross out the bottom name.
During the course of the pregnancy you can see whether or
not the top names last. Practice by saying the name you both
like out loud. Most parents-to-be definitely have to get used to the new name that they’ve come up with.
The sooner you familiarize yourself with the sound of the name, the sooner you’ll be used to it when the
baby arrives. When you’re certain as to what name you’re going to give your child, you can visualize him
using the name. That’s nice; another step closer to baby’s arrival becoming a reality.
Why Donna?
“When I finally got pregnant after years of trying, our list included at least fifteen names.
We had a hard time deciding which one was the best. Names were crossed out, others were added,
but that one name that we both really liked still wasn’t on there. One day we were at a party
and heard the song ‘Donna’. We were dancing, as space would allow, and both of us were thinking: ‘Donna, that’s it!’ Once we were home Donna remained our number one choice and when I read
that Donna means ‘gift’ – she was born after three fertility treatments – I was sure about it.”
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