You have made it through pregnancy, the delivery and the flurry of activities surrounding the arrival of baby at the hospital. Now it's time to bring baby home. So exciting! You have dreamed of this day for months. The car seat that sat in the house and the layette you carefully picked out are now about to be used.

Bringing baby home from the hospital, however, can be a bit nerve racking if not planned effectively. Therefore, to head off the potential head-spinning activity, here are some key strategies for bringing baby home and getting her settled in-who knows, she may sleep right through the whole transition!

Enlist the help of a family member or friend to take home the flowers and gifts received at the hospital. The only thing you want to have to be responsible for is you and baby.

Have as few people as possible there to greet you. As much as people will want to visit as soon as you arrive home, have someone tell them you're not seeing visitors for at least a couple of days to give you time to get into a routine.

Arrange for someone to help you during the first few days. Enlist your mom, grandma, a sister or friend to spend the first few days helping you make the adjustment. Choose a person who is willing to do what you ask- or better yet, anticipate your needs- and not try and take control of the situation. This person can be there so you can have uninterrupted time to take a shower, eat a meal, or take a nap. If it's someone who has baby experience, they can also show you how to change diapers and other tricks of the trade!

If you have pets, have someone else hold the baby while you greet your pet. They will have missed you and you'll want to avoid having them jump up and harm the baby.

New babies sleep a lot. In fact, often times, when baby is brought home to their new surroundings, they'll sleep right through it. However, you'll want to maintain a sense of calm in the environment so you can get comfortable and adjust. Here are some common scenarios and ways to organize your response to those situations:

Keep the tone in the house quiet and a comfortable temperature. You will be recovering physically from the birth of your child and more likely than not be a bit sore and uncomfortable. Having a quiet home to walk into will give you and your partner an opportunity to introduce baby to her new surroundings.

The phone will ring, a lot. Let it go to voicemail! People are curious and will want to know how you are, what your experience was like giving birth, and what they can do to help. Don't feel obligated to answer every call. You and your new family need to take time to adjust. Better yet, record a message that says, "Thank you for calling, you've reached the new home of [baby's name] who arrived on [date of birth]. She weighed in at [weight] and was born at [time]. Please leave your name, number and a greeting for the baby and we will call you back soon."

People will knock on the door. You don't need to let them in! Post a note above the doorbell that says, "Baby sleeping. Please DO NOT ring the bell." Put a pad of paper for the caller to leave a note and attach a note to the door stating "We will call you when we're ready for visitors. Please leave us a note!"