If you're a parent-to-be going back and forth between preparedness and paranoia, Anita Gaind, MD (CWR '94) knows how you feel. Try this busy mom's tips for preparing your "nest", and yourself, for the new arrival:

When you shop, separate neat from necessary. "You have pressure to buy all these new things, but much of it is just based on great marketing," Gaind says. You need bath, meal and changing essentials.

Get on your knees, literally, and investigate your house the same way your child will. Fix or remove dangerous objects.

Take time on the nursery. "It's a place for you and the baby to bond," Gaind says.

And the best advice of all? Keep smiling. "You can prepare completely, but embrace and enjoy the unexpected."