In preparation for baby, did you wash the clothes? Stock the fridge? Build furniture?

The natural process of nesting involves cleaning and organizing in preparation of the home for baby's arrival. What was done to prepare woman to become mother or man to become father?

I have been reading 'Beyond the Blues' by Dr. Shoshana Bennett and Pec Indman Ed.D., MFT. The book shares a collection of stories from women and their partners who have experienced any sort of postpartum disorder. In one of the first excerpts, a mother commented that she thought she was prepared for baby but in looking back, she realized that the birthing and parenting classes mainly covered breathing and what to pack in the hospital bag.

Perhaps this is some great oversight but I've spoken to many families who say, you can't know until you are in it. Perhaps, we can't truly prepare parents for all night long cry fests, explosive bodily fluids, physical and emotional roller coasters and love like you have never felt before. But if we could...what would you suggest we tell the expectant mother?