For all you mamma’s to be out there, I wanted to share some helpful tips on how to prepare for labor. As you get closer to the end of your pregnancy, it can sometimes feel overwhelming. And by sometimes, I mean most times! I always say, knowledge and prep work are power. And feeling like you have some sort of control in this circumstance where you don’t know how things are going to go down and how your body will handle everything, can be seriously reassuring even if it’s on a subconscious level.
Every woman is different and no birth experience is the same, but coming from a specialist, here are some of the things we recommend to make your day as seamless as possible!
1. Take a Birth Class:
Learning the ins and outs of birth beforehand will help reduce your stress and anxiety going into your labor! Classes are great for learning the different stages of labor, for practicing comfort and relaxation throughout, and helping with pain management. It’s also a great way to connect with your partner before the baby arrives and to get questions you have answered as you enter this exciting new chapter of your lives!
2. Pack You Hospital Bag:
This is the fun part in my opinion! Put together a bag full of all your skincare must-haves, toiletries, and fave goodies, that way you have everything you need to feel your best self in the hospital. Having all this together in the weeks before makes it very easy to just pick up and go when the time comes!
3. Keep on Moving:
Your body may be slowing down and fatigue/body aches might be setting in, but moving your body is so important for building stamina and strength. Labor takes a lot of work, so the stronger you are going into it will definitely help. And when I say keep moving and exercising, I don’t mean high intensity workouts so don’t worry haha. Low impact workouts and walking are best! I def recommend moving 4-5 days a week if possible.
4. Eat Right:
This might feel like an obvious one, but it truly is important to fill your body with the nutrients it needs as it prepares for giving birth. Definitely avoid fatty and hard to digest foods, even in your are craving them. Instead opt for some of these pregnancy superfoods: lentils, yogurt, salmon, nuts, lots of veggies, lean meats, and whole grains!
5. Preregister and Tour:
Paperwork is the least fun part of prepping, but it is definitely something that is easy to tick off the list and get done before heading into the hospital. You can mail it in before hand, scan it, or print it out and put it in your hospital bag that way you don’t forget it. Some people also find comfort in touring the hospital or birth center also, so they feel at ease when they arrive. If this is something you are interested in I definitely recommend it and you can also do this virtually!
6. Create a Birthing Plan:
Mapping out how you would like things to go can definitely help with confidence going into birth. I always suggest to keep this plan very simple that way you don’t freak out if things aren’t the way you perfectly envisioned. Definitely talk to your provider beforehand so she can help answer any questions and offer feedback to you. Some things I think that are helpful to include or think about in your birth plan are: the type of support you want during labor (someone talking you through it, music, massaging), who you want with you, do you want pain medication if offered, etc.
If you have any specific questions, please leave them in the comments and I will try my best to answer them quickly for you!
