| As you due date approaches you may gaze | | | | monitors that we no longer own our bodies or our |
| longingly at the calendar hoping to fast-forward | | | | birthing process, but we do. |
| time to that magical date that your doctor and | | | | The best way to seek control over the birthing |
| every online due date calendar has bestowed | | | | experience is to create a Birthing Plan. Know and |
| upon you for the "big day." Although only about | | | | map out in advance what your ideal birthing |
| 5% of babies are actually born on their due date, | | | | scenario would be. Decide who you would like |
| it's nice to have a target in mind so you can at | | | | present at your birth, obviously where you would |
| least organize your life and feel some control over | | | | like to give birth. Should you opt for a home birth |
| your body and your future. As you get increasing | | | | you will need to make those preparations with a |
| closer to your due date in the last trimester, | | | | midwife well in advance. You should know exactly |
| oftentimes the due date anticipation can become | | | | what essentials are needed for that for a home |
| overshadowed by due date anxiety, particularly | | | | birth down to the details of bedding and clean-up |
| for first time moms. We all hear the birth horror | | | | and a back-up hospital plan should you need more |
| stories of long hours of pushing, last minute | | | | help as our labor progresses and in case any |
| c-sections and the overall agonizing pain of labor | | | | emergency that should arise. |
| which can hit anytime in those final weeks and | | | | Many women planning hospital births are further |
| days. We hope and pray we will have some | | | | helped by a Birthing Plan that they can review in |
| control of the details surrounding our babies | | | | advance with their doctor and loved ones who will |
| introduction to the world and that it can be as | | | | support them during labor. Your husband or |
| pleasant of an experience as possible if not a | | | | birthing support members may need to help |
| joyful one. | | | | communicate their needs during the labor process, |
| Well, it turns out we do have more control than | | | | so having your "team" on board with your exact |
| we think. Women's bodies are actually designed | | | | wishes will provide your with further assurance |
| for childbirth and for having a child naturally, should | | | | and emotional support. It will also help you relax |
| we choose to do so. If we opt in advance, or | | | | as you approach your due date and enable you to |
| even last minute, for some additional medical | | | | visualize and anticipate your labor in a positive |
| assistance in the way of labor induction or | | | | way. |
| painkillers, that's ok too. The nice thing is that we | | | | The next important step is to pack your hospital |
| do have options; we can plan a homebirth, a | | | | bag well in advance. Pack all the props your need |
| birthing center birth or a hospital birth. We can opt | | | | for labor support including your favorite CDS and |
| for a midwife, a doula, and/or a doctor and | | | | music mix, tennis balls for back message, change |
| whatever company we want in the room. Our | | | | of clothes for during and after labor, a camera for |
| husbands can be trained as a birth partner to | | | | those first newborn photos, nursing bras, |
| share in the experience and help us through our | | | | Bravado nursing tank and possibly nursing |
| hardest moments as well as share in the triumph | | | | pajamas or nighties to wear at the hospital for |
| of our baby's birth. We can train in Lamaze, yoga, | | | | after you have or baby. Also pack for your baby |
| hypnotism and any number or breathing, | | | | including the baby sleepers, socks and blankets (as |
| self-visualizing and relaxation techniques. Gyms | | | | well as your carseat!) so your can feel your baby |
| have countless classes for expecting women, | | | | is your own and not the hospital's and also to |
| salons have special prenatal massages and yoga | | | | make those first pictures all the more personable |
| classes have created an industry around | | | | and memorable. |
| expecting and postpartum mothers and their | | | | Overall, the more action you take in advance to |
| newborns. | | | | plan your birth and your early postpartum days |
| The biggest obstacle for most expecting women | | | | from readying your baby's nursery to "coaching" |
| is themselves and not trusting in their bodies for | | | | your doctor, midwife and loved ones on your |
| labor and delivery. Doctors are there to help and | | | | preferred birth plan, the more in control and |
| monitor us through labor if we go with a hospital | | | | relaxed you can be for your big day. Remember, |
| birth, but they cannot birth our baby. It is our | | | | your body is your best friend, so set the stage |
| bodies that nourish and birth our baby and | | | | for it to do what it is designed for in the most |
| perform the contractions necessary to carry out | | | | relaxing, personal and friendly setting possible and |
| this process. It is easy to feel that once we put | | | | you will be rewarded. |
| that hospital gown on and get hooked up to | | | | |