Preparing for birth can sometimes feel daunting but it can also be a fun and wonderful experience! I wanted to write a concise guide to help mums get everything together, here it goes.
That all-important hospital bag
Preparing a hospital bag for the birth of your baby is important. I had my hospital bag packed and ready to go by 36 weeks. Inside, I had packed for my baby, myself and my husband. I only expected to be in hospital one night, but ended up staying for 6 nights, so my advice would be to pack for at least 2 to 3 nights, and if you end up staying longer, dad can get more things. Amongst things, pack comfortable pijamas that allow you to easily breastfeed if you plan to, plenty of snacks (dates and other dried fruits are great for energy and quick snacking), sanitary towels and breast pads, and phone chargers. Make sure you also have your pregnancy notes with you, and your birth plan.
Top tip: The hospital will keep your pregnancy notes after your birth, so if you’re interested in keeping a copy of the records, make sure to take a photocopy towards the end of your pregnancy or as you go along.
Ante-natal Classes
The NHS offers free ante-natal and breastfeeding classes to try to prepare you for birth. My husband and I went to one-day sessions on birth and breastfeeding, and they were truly helpful. You will learn about the different options your hospital offers for your birth (for example home birth, birth centre or labour ward), how the body gears up for birth (by releasing the very important hormone oxytocin) and what happens during and after birth, when to call and when to go in to hospital, options available for pain relief, vaccinations and/or vitamins offered to your baby and breastfeeding. Breastfeeding will usually help you to understand different latching positions, expressing
Top tip: Before your milk kicks in for breastfeeding, your breasts produce colostrum (thick and yellow), which is full of protein, nutrients and antibodies for your babies early development.
The Birth Plan
If you’ve had a baby before, you may be familiar with a lots of these terms. But for new mums, there is a lot to digest! The birth plan is a story about how you would like the birth of your baby to be. You might want to have a lot of detail, you might want minimal detail or you might not wish to write a birth plan at all. That’s ok, it is completely mum’s decision to have one or not. If you’d like to write one, this will typically include details such as where you would like to give birth (home, birth centre, labour ward), the type of birth you would like, if you’re ok with medical students being present, the type (if any) of pain relief you might want, who you’d like present, how you would like to deliver the placenta, when and who will cut the umbilical cord. You can also write an alternative birth plan (this might be in case of an emergency).
Top tip: Images are sometimes a nice way to convey your birth plan
The Car
Make sure your baby’s car seat is fitted in the car and ready to go before the birth of your baby. Hospitals will require you to have a baby car seat to take your baby home. Also, it might be useful to have some absorbent pads or towels for the car (in case your waters break when you’re in the car!).
Having a baby is such a wonderful, beautiful time. It can however be very tiring too, so it may be useful to have some help during the early days. Try to have some home cooked meals in the freezer ready to go before the birth of your baby to make sure you can keep eating healthy on those days both mum and dad are too tired to cook. If you can, it’s often nice to have the first few days just mum, dad and baby so think about delaying visits. When you do get visits, get friends and relatives to drop by some home cooked foods (always better than too many clothes!).
Wishing you all the best in the arrival of your baby! My little one came to the world in April 2019. He is my first one, and the reason I have started this shop, wanting to give him soft garments for that precious delicate skin and protect the world he will grow up in.
