There are so many unknowns to think about during your pregnancy...

Who will the baby look like? When will s/he be born? Will there be any complications? Which style of Sticky Bellies monthly stickers should I buy? (He..he...just kidding on that last one...I think.) But, there is one thing you can and should think about as you prepare for your big day - your labor and delivery.  To help you think about the many things you should consider before baby makes his/her grand arrival, we are honored to have a guest blogger, Ashley Stabile, RN, writing for us today. Ashley is also the creator of LaborLooks Hospital Gowns (hospital-approved and breast-feeding friendly) so she's also included a great giveaway for one lucky Sticky Bellies' fan!

Pin It

1.  Educate Yourself

There are great books, websites, classes and even videos and podcasts to help prepare you for the delivery of your baby. Try one! Better yet, try more than one. Each author or creator has their own belief system about how birth should be. Browse through and find the one that fits your own personal beliefs and desires. Make sure the people who will be supporting you in labor have a bit of knowledge about the process too. Nurses love to teach and will be glad to help but it's easier to teach someone if they already know the basics. Knowledge is power, it can help you have the birth you want and alleviate some of the fear that many women feel once labor starts. 

2.  Have a Plan and Make it Early

Think about what want your L & D experience to be like and talk it over with your support person. Jot these items down. Talk them over with your Doctor or Midwife at one of your prenatal appointments. In the moment is not the time to tell your provider that Dad faints when he sees blood, so please do not give him a tour of the placenta. There are birth plan templates online, pick and choose the items that are important to you, leave off the ones that are not. It may be as simple as, "I plan on getting an epidural. I would like my partner to cut the cord. I would like to have my baby skin-to-skin after delivery and breastfeed as soon as possible." When you get to the hospital, discuss your birth plan with your nurse. 

3.  Know Who You Want at the Birth

This is your decision for a very personal experience. Decide who you want in the room for delivery and let people know ahead of time. People who care about you should understand. If you suddenly discover while in labor that your best friend since the first day of kindergarten, or your mother, or whoever, is not as helpful as you had thought they would be, let your nurse know. The nurses are there for you, most will have no problem kindly asking people to go to the waiting room and take the heat for you.

4.  Choose a Support Person

I would highly recommend asking someone besides your partner to be available to support you during labor, especially if you plan on an unmedicated delivery. Do you have a family member or friend that would be there for you? Have you considered a doula? Research your doula like you researched your doctor or midwife, to make sure their birth philosophy melds with your own. 

5.  Pack your Hospital Bag

Early labor is not the best time to put together your bags. Don’t pack enough to move in, just pack the basics. Basic toiletries, gum, hard candies, lip balm, hospital gown, socks or slippers, one outfit and blanket for baby, an outfit for mom to wear home, phone charger and camera. You may consider a premade hospital bag like the Push Pack. Are you breastfeeding, did you pack a nursing bra and breast pads? Are you bottle feeding, did you pack a sports bra?

6.  Decide on a Pediatrician

Ask around, visit their offices, some may even meet with you, or have a phone appointment before the birth. Then decide who will be the best fit with your childrearing philosophy and with whom you feel most comfortable.

7.  If You Plan to Breastfeed, Prepare for It

Are you planning to breastfeed? While more and more people now days know they want to breastfeed, the reality is they often do not know how much work it will be. Understand that most of your time in the beginning will be spent feeding your baby. Express to your family and nurses your commitment to breastfeeding. Request a lactation consultation. Know your rights as a breastfeeding mom and know who you can go to for support. I knew I could call my sister. I also knew I could find encouragement and accurate information through The Leaky Boob. I could log on, ask a question and get multiple responses from other breastfeeding women in minutes.

8.  Be Your Own Advocate

It is your legal right to have an active role in the decisions made about your care. You can refuse things. You can request things. Ask questions. Here are some examples:  

The doctor comes in and says he wants to break your bag of water. Ask him why. Ask him what the risks are. Ask him if there are alternatives. 

You have been told you cannot eat anything now that you are in active labor but you are hungry. Ask your nurse why you can’t eat? There may be a very good reason or maybe she can check with your provider and bring you in some food. You don’t know unless you ask.

9.  Be Flexible

While it is important to be educated, have a plan and be your own advocate, it is even more important to BE FLEXIBLE. Nothing in my birth plan involved a crash c-section for fetal distress but it happened and it was my experience. Read this short essay “Welcome to Holland” by Emily Perl Kingsley. It applies beautifully to the labor and delivery experience.

10.  Be Patient

Labor is a process. Sometimes it can be lightening quick, other times it goes at a snail’s pace. Once baby is born, remember that there are so many things they are trying to learn when they come out. How to breathe, how to keep warm, how to eat, how to comfort themselves. Your baby did not read a book or take a class… be patient with your baby as they adjust to this world. Be patient with yourself and your partner as you both adjust to your new roles as parents. Remind yourself to relax and enjoy this amazing new life.

A great giveaway from our friends at Labor Looks...

Labor Looks gowns are designed specifically for the laboring and recovering mom. They have been designed by Ashley, a Labor and Delivery Nurse and Brittani, a Certified Nurse Midwife to meet the needs of moms and hospital providers.

All gowns are made of comfortable, high quality 100% cotton. Gowns are machine washable, dryer and iron safe and are made in the U.S.A.

Win the LaborLooks gown of your choice (Retail value $58) by entering below. Good luck! (Widget needed to enter may not be viewable on mobile devices. Please try on your computer!) Scroll down a bit to see the Rafflecopter entry box! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway