The Basics of Preparing for Childbirth

Childbirth is something that pregnant women think about from the moment they decide they are ready to start a family. The thought of delivery, for first time moms especially, can be intimidating, albeit exciting. While there is little that mom can do to change her feelings regarding childbirth, she can alleviate some of her fear by doing as much research as possible and by preparing her mind, body and home before her baby is born. When a woman finds out she is expecting, visiting an ob-gyn is the first step to start monitoring her health and the progression of the pregnancy. When you visit your ob-gyn, speak to him or her about your current diet and exercise routine. You can discuss how to alter both to help promote a healthy pregnancy and healthy baby. Exercise, which used to be thought of as a cause for miscarriages, actually helps prevent excess weight gain during your pregnancy (which can be unhealthy for mom and baby)_ and can help during delivery because you’ll have greater muscle control. As labor gets closer, moms can finish up preparations in the home. Having your nursery set up, all of baby’s new clothes and linens washed and folded, and the baby’s car seat properly installed in the car will all help you feel ready to welcome home your newborn. You can also have your hospital bag packed and in the car so you are ready to go when labor arrives. Before delivery day comes, decide what you’d like to do regarding pain management during labor. Perhaps write out a birth plan with your preferences outlined. Barring any medical complications, pain management comes down to your preference of whether you want to go natural or use medication. There are a few other ways you can plan on naturally managing your emotions and pain during labor by constantly reminding yourself to relax, ask your partner for a back or foot massage, take deep breaths and even have soft, comforting music playing in her hospital room. Other things to consider when writing out your birth plan include post-delivery decisions. Deciding whether you’d like to breastfeed or formula feed is a personal preference that you can make for yourself and your baby. If you choose to breastfeed, consider attending a breastfeeding class to learn more about it. You can also consider optional procedures like cord blood banking for the future health of your baby. Cord blood banking is where the blood that remains in the umbilical cord after birth is collected and stored for potential use in treating a future medical condition. With all the preparation and research that you can do before delivery day, relaxing and going into the delivery room with confidence will help your delivery go smoothly and let you focus on bringing your new bundle of joy into the world. "This article was written by Katie Moore. Katie is an active writer within the blogging community who discusses maternity, motherhood, prenatal health, childbirth and other topics within this niche. If you have any questions or would like to connect with Katie please contact her via twitter @moorekm26."