Prepare your birthplan

Being pregnant is a big deal. Yes, thousands and millions and billions of women have done it before you. That doesn't make it any less life altering, confusing, consuming, and overwhelming. A birth plan is a record of what you would like to happen during your labour and after the birth. It can make you more calm and at ease knowing what you want to happen during the labour and after, even if you can't predict exactly what is going to happen.

Being Pregnant

Your body isn't yours any more. It changes every day, you just have to go along for the ride. It's not like you can swithch it off and take a break from your pregnancy. Your emotions are all over the place, there's not much control over your tears and frustration either. You probably never felt so vulnerable.

There's a lot of considerations and precautions to be made. A long list of things to avoid, and remember. There's this feeling of constant worry for your baby, and this feeling will likely never go away, bacause you are about to become a mother.

Making a Birthplan

Planning your birth plan with your midwife gives you the chance to ask questions and find out more about what happens in labour.

Think about what kind of birth experience you want to have. Do you want epidural? Water birth? Home birth? You can't know the outcome but it's good to have reflected on these things. And if you do want something specific like a water birth you have to notify the hospital in advance.

Giving Birth

Let's be honest. It's gonna hurt. Like nothing else. But the reward is so sweet, it changes everything for you. In the months and weeks leading up to your due date, you can do a lot of things to prepare:

Work out. Giving birth is probably the most exhausting excersise you will ever have to do. So get your body ready by sleeping as much as possible, eating well and staying active. You won't regret it.

Get all the babystuff that you need for your home.

Prepare a safe place for your baby to sleep, both day and night. Think about where you might sit and breastfeed. Buy and wash the babyclothes, and get enough nappies and cotton wool for a few weeks. Set up a baby changing station. Buy cream for sore baby bums. Buy a thermometer for babies, so yu are prepared in case your baby's temperature rises.

Prepare meals. When you come home from the hospital you have enough work to do taking care of a tiny human, you can't be bothered with making supper. It's a good idea to have dinners ready in the freeser, unless you have relatives over to help or are planning to order in all the food. Your partner can help but you will probably want him to help you with the baby instead. Make things easy on yourself.

Buy a stroller. Consider what kind of needs you have and the climate where you live. You might also want to invest in a travel stroller if you are planning flights with the little one.

Prepare your partner. This person will have to be extra understanding with you in the first days and weeks after the birth. Your hormones are very unstable and you might burst into tears for whatever reason and you most likely are very sensitive to any form of critique.

Pack your hospital bag. Bring a nice outfit for when you are going home, as well as other neccesities, see our packing list. Plan how you will get home from the hospital. Will you bring the baby home in a car? In that case you will need a car seat.