Are you ready?

As your due date approaches it’s a good idea to start preparing for the arrival of your new baby, there are several things you can do to help make it a smooth and stress free process.

 

Birth Plans

It is not essential to have a written birth plan, however, writing a birth plan is one way you and your partner can express in

advance your preferred choices for managing labour, birth and the early days after your baby is born.

From when you first get pregnant, women often have thoughts and sometimes fears about the forthcoming birth. It can be very helpful if you are able to share these with us so that we can best support you by knowing something about who you are. Please take some time to write down your personal feelings and needs however big or small.

If you have had a baby before and you wish to discuss the previous birth in more detail, please speak with your Community Midwife regarding the Birth Stories service.

Below are a few of the most common things about which women generally have preferences. It can help both you and your midwife to have already thought about these issues before going into labour. These are only a guide, please feel free to add anything else that occurs to you.

 

1.   Support through labour and birth e.g. from partner / relative / friend / doula

2.   Place of birth e.g. home / birth centre / hospital

3.   Coping techniques (different positions / breathing techniques / water / massage /

      TENS / drugs

4.   Positions for birth e.g. standing / squatting / all fours

5.   At the birth – do you want the baby delivered straight onto your tummy / into your

      arms / who do you want to cut the cord?

6.   The delivery of the placenta and membranes – do you want a natural delivery or

      assisted (after an injection)?

7.   Would you like your baby to have vitamin K (see leaflet and information on the

      website), do you want this as an injection or as oral drops?

8.   Feeding your baby – what are your preferences?

 

Have Your Bags Ready

Only 5% of babies actually come on their due date, so it is always a good idea to have your bags packed and ready to go. Although it is tempting to bring everything including the kitchen sink to the hospital, in reality you don’t really need very much.

Below is a list to get you started:

Handheld Notes

Old night/t-shirt for labour

Nightwear

Lightweight dressing gown

Slippers

Big knickers/disposable knickers

Nursing Bras

Wash kit

Towel

Sanitary pads

Going home clothes

Any medications that you usually take