A pregnant woman. Photo/babycenter.com
Giving birth is an exciting, emotional, and uncertain event. There is so much focus on the joy of preparing for a baby choosing a name, setting up a nursery, folding tiny little ones in the drawer that we often forget to spend time thinking about how the baby will actually arrive.
Choose a pregnancy care provider
Having a baby means making appointments for regular checkups with a healthcare provider who will listen, share, and inform your care. For pregnancy care, you can choose from seeing an obstetrician/gynecologist, a certified nurse-midwife, or a family medicine doctor. Each of these specialists has different training, skills, and outlooks regarding pregnancy and childbirth, so you can choose one that caters to your health and your plans for labor and delivery.
Tune into your body
With near-daily changes in your physical being, it's important to observe and tune into what's happening from week to week. Report anything you're worried about to your doctor or midwife he or she has seen it all and can tell you what's normal and what needs monitoring.
Stay fit
Light activity like walking and stretching is important to keep up through delivery day you'll need the stamina. And prenatal-specific classes like pregnancy yoga can help with strength, flexibility, and focus while also preparing your mind for the changes happening in your body. Be sure to talk directly with your provider about what level of exercise during pregnancy is best for you. Namaste, baby.
Surround yourself with love
You don't have to sit in a drum circle covered in rose petals with your friends and family unless that's your thing, but it's important to make sure there is positive energy around you especially at this time of your life.
Take a birthing class
Most communities offer both private and public birthing classes you can go to a series of them over a number of months or attend one session that’s a few hours long. Either way, you’ll leave with a clearer idea of the many ways childbirth can happen. Bonus: You’ll meet potential expectant-parent friends, too!
Learn about pain management
Even if you're planning to get an epidural, you will feel some parts of childbirth, and it's intense. It's important to keep in mind that labor pain is a productive pain, so instead of fighting it or trying to make it stop, being present with it and accepting it can actually relieve it a bit. There are many empowering techniques for managing pain deep breathing, meditation, changing positions.
Listen to your body
There is an abundance of childbirth advice out there both solicited and not. Friends, family, books, and even articles like this have a lot to say. It's great to stay informed, but remember that you know yourself best. Be sure to listen to your body and what's happening, and be an advocate for your care.