1. Prime Your Body
Childbirth is a physical activity. Staying fit and healthy are important ways to prepare for labor and delivery. Maintaining a healthy pregnancy weight, doing prenatal exercises, taking prenatal vitamins and following your practitioner's advice are all parts of staying fit and healthy. If your practitioner has limited your activity, ask her if you can still stretch. Even the most simple stretching exercises will help to keep your body in shape for childbirth.
2. Pack Your Bags
Having the right items in your hospital bag will help you during labor and delivery. Packing your bag before you go into labor helps you to prepare for your labor and delivery. Make sure that you pack a toothbrush and toothpaste because you will probably want to brush your teeth during labor or right after the baby is born. Bring other items that will help keep you comfortable such as extra socks, massage items, hair brush and ties, relaxation supplies and something to focus on during intense contractions.
3. Go to School
Take a childbirth class to help you learn breathing and relaxation techniques. Practice these as much as possible before you go into labor. These can help you to control the pain of contractions. In addition, breathing exercises will help you during the intense pushing phase of labor. You can find out what childbirth classes are available in your area by asking your health care professional or by calling the hospital where you plan to give birth.
4. Plan Ahead
In most cases, it is possible to get things ready for your labor and delivery before you head to the hospital or birthing center. If you have other children, find babysitters in advance of your due date. Make sure that you have a few possible babysitters just in case your first choice is unable to watch your kids at the last minute. Pre-registering at the hospital or birthing center is a good idea. When you do this, you can usually just sign an admission form and won't have to fill out a lot of other forms or deal with insurance information when you are in labor.
5. Write it Out
Make a birth plan and discuss it with your doctor. When making your birth plan, make sure to include your pain relief preference. Discuss this with your doctor ahead of time so that you can make an informed decision about options such as spinals, epidurals or natural pain relief. You can also include things in your birth plan such as who you want to cut the cord, who will be in the delivery room and your nutritional preferences during labor. Keep in mind that a birth plan is just a list of your preferences. In some cases, you may have to deviate from your birth plan to have the best birth for you and your baby.
