Planning Your Labor and Delivery

As you approach the last weeks of your pregnancy and all the preparations for your baby’s arrival are nearly in order, there is one thing that will be on your mind the most: delivering your baby! Lets look at the most important things to consider for having a positive idea of what to expect and as you are planning your labor and delivery.

Educate yourself

The first step to having a positive labor and delivery experience is educating yourself. Talk to your doctor or midwife about your concerns and ask him or her all the questions that are on your mind. They will help you understand the full process of labor and the birthing options that may be best for you.

Talk to Your Partner

You and your partner are a team and since the labor and delivery process is a team effort, it’s important that you talk to your partner to be on the same page. They will be by your side through the entire process with full knowledge of how you hope your experience will be.

Make a Birth Plan

A birth plan is an outline of what you expect your ideal labor and delivery to be. In this plan you can include everything from the type of delivery you prefer to how your baby will be handled as soon as he or she is born.

Read this related article: Making a Flexible Birth Plan

Be Flexible

Like we mentioned before, having a birth plan as well as certain expectations are way to give you a clear idea and outline of how you hope the experience turns out. It’s important for you to keep in mind that every delivery experience is different and you must be ready to be flexible with your plan, always keeping the well being of you and your baby in mind.

Be Prepared

Having everything you need ready to go before you go into labor will give you peace of mind. Keep a checklist of the items you want to have ready and make sure you reach these goals in the beginning of your third trimester.

Read this related article: Being ready before baby arrives

Relax and Be Patient

The more relaxed you are, the better your experience will be. Of course, we know it’s easier said than done since the labor experience can be beautifully intense. Yet having a patient attitude and a relaxed mind will help ease your flow and thus give you a better chance at achieving your ideal labor and delivery experience.