Childbirth can be such an amazing and transformative time for the whole family! A sweet new baby is joining your world which is magical and exciting.
But if I’m being totally honest – it can also be kind of scary! There is a lot that feels unknown. But have no fear – these ways to prepare for childbirth will help you give birth with confidence.
If you are a planner, like myself, you may be wondering how to prepare for childbirth, whether you are planning for a vaginal birth or a cesarean section.
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How to prepare for childbirth
1. Find a health care provider you trust (and ask them lots of questions!)
Whether this is an obstetrician, family medicine doctor, or a midwife, find a health care team that you can rely on. Your birth experience matters, so be sure to find someone that supports your goals and you feel safe asking questions to.
Finding a healthcare provider you trust and that creates a safe space for you to ask questions is a great way for new parents to make an informed decision.
You may want to ask your provider about their practices. For example, how often do you perform cesarean sections? In the United States, this number should ideally be less than 30%. You can also ask how frequently they do different medical interventions, such as operative (vacuum or forceps) deliveries and/or episiotomies. These things should be reserved for special situations only and should not be routinely done. There can be many negative consequences to unnecessary medical interventions during childbirth.
2. Take a childbirth class
Taking a childbirth preparation course is the best way to prepare for labor and birth. Childbirth classes will teach you exactly what you need to know. While it may be tempting to try and research it all on your own, its very possible that you could miss important information that can improve your birth experience.
There are many different online childbirth classes you can take to prepare you for labor. These are great because your support person can take them with you and you can do it whenever its convenient for you.
I recommend taking the BirthSmarts Online Childbirth Course as it is the most comprehensive course for the cost. It’s designed for those that desire a hospital birth, so it may not be the best choice for you if you are planning a birth center or home birth. Whether you are planning an unmedicated birth, to get an epidural or other pain medication, or a c-section, this prenatal class will get you prepared.
Most health insurance plans cover the cost for childbirth preparation courses. Talk with a representative at your insurance company to see if they will reimburse you! BirthSmarts will give you a certificate of completion at the end of your course to submit to your health insurance.
In this course you’ll learn:
- The different stages of labor- early labor, active labor, and transition and what to expect during each stage
- Pain relief options, both with and without pain medication
- Info on vaginal birth, cesarean birth, labor inductions, and more
- Tips for your support person in the delivery room (with printouts, so they don’t forget what they learned!)
- Tips for getting through labor pain
- Postpartum information to make your recovery a breeze
- Learn how to advocate for yourself throughout pregnancy, labor and postpartum
- Information on postpartum care, postpartum depression, current best practices, and more!
The BirthSmarts class is one of the only prenatal classes that covers postpartum as well. It’s more than a birthing class as it covers the first weeks postpartum, too!
When should you take a childbirth class?
The best time to take a birth preparation course like BirthSmarts is at the end of your second trimester or beginning of the third trimester. Somewhere between 27 and 34 weeks of pregnancy is ideal. The nice thing about an online course is that you can take it again as your due date approaches. You can even refresh your memory during labor!
Should your partner take antenatal classes?
As a labor and delivery nurse, I’m a firm believer that birth classes are for anyone you invite to be on your birth support squad. These courses teach different ways to support someone in labor and will give everyone peace of mind.
I think it is especially important if you are planning a more “natural childbirth” – or one with minimal interventions. It will seem less scary to your support people and will help them coach you through the pain of childbirth. They’ll feel prepared with a wealth of knowledge when its labor time and can help coach you through your baby’s birth!
The beauty of online prenatal classes is that you don’t have to work with many different schedules to take a course.
3. Read some positive birth stories
Learning from others is a great way to prepare yourself for birth. Ask others for some positive birth stories so you don’t develop a strong fear of childbirth from negative experiences. Find blog posts, podcasts, or ask friends and family about their experiences.
4. Take a prenatal yoga class
Prenatal yoga is great at any point of your pregnancy. You can start in the first trimester and continue through your due date.
Taking a prenatal yoga class is great for building up your pelvic floor muscles and practicing some relaxation techniques. Both of these may help you have a faster and easier labor!
5. Pack your hospital bag
It can be stressful to pack a hospital bag. How will you know what you need?!
You can grab a free hospital bag checklist here, but here are a few things I would recommend adding:
- An extra long charger (or two!)
- 1-2 outfits for baby in newborn and 0-3 months
- Toiletries – toothbrush/toothpaste, brush, shampoo and conditioner, etc.
- A few comfort items
- A few changes of clothes for your support person
- Snacks (here are my recommendations)
It’s always a good idea to have a few family members that can bring you backup items if needed. That way you don’t have to overpack and end up with a tiny hospital room full of stuff.
You’ll also need to bring a car seat to take the baby home in. If you have an infant seat with a base, you can leave the base installed in the car. Just bring the bucket seat for discharge.
This is a really easy way to prepare for childbirth that can be done weeks in advance. Your future self will thank you!
6. Find a pediatrician
You need to have a pediatrician designated before discharge from the hospital. Your care team will want you to follow up with them a few days after discharge to make sure all is going well with your baby! This is a big one that many first time moms and dads miss.
When choosing your pediatrician, look for things like their hours, whether they have separate waiting room for sick kids, and for a doctor, physician’s assistant, or nurse practitioner you trust. Click here to learn what else you should look for in a pediatrician.
7. Create a birth plan
Birth plans are not a necessary thing, but they can be helpful for designating your preferences during birth and your pain management plan. If you have a vision for how the birth of your baby will go, this is one of the best ways to communicate your wants and needs.
Birth plans or birth preferences can be done for any type of delivery. Whether you want a more natural birth or have plans for an epidural or cesarean, a birth plan can help you distinguish whats important to you.
Your birth plan might include things like:
- Your pain management plan
- If you’d like a water birth or to labor in a warm bath
- If you want delayed clamping of the umbilical cord
- The name of your support team
- Your feeding preferences for baby (breastfeeding, formula feeding, pumping, or a comibination)
- Any medical conditions you have and how you treat them
- Things you’d like at your baby’s birth
- Your wish to use hot packs or cold packs
- If you wish to have a peanut ball or birth ball available for use
- If you’d like to try things like warm compresses to the perineum or perineal massage during pushing
As you can see, a birth plan is totally open to interpretation and you can include many different things. You can write your own, use a template, or meet with me one-on-one to create a hospital birth plan together. As a labor nurse, I know what options you have, and we can discuss them together to create a custom birth plan.
8. Take a breastfeeding class
If you plan to breastfeed, taking a breastfeeding course can be very helpful to get you prepared. Look for one with a certified lactation consultant, preferably an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. They can teach you different techniques for feeding your baby. This is less about preparing for birth as it is for preparing for a baby.
You can take these online, like the ones from Lactation Mamas, or look for a local lactation consultant to meet 1:1.
If you don’t want to take a class before birth, ask the hospital staff if there is one you can meet with while you’re there. Most hospitals do have lactation experts available to help.
9. Take a hospital tour
Towards the end of your pregnancy, take a hospital tour where you plan to deliver. You can usually find these by looking at your hospital’s website, or give them a call to see if someone can show you around.
You can learn where you’ll be during your hospital stay, might get to peek at the operating room, and can familiarize yourself with your local hospital.
10. Stock up on postpartum essentials
I always recommend to new parents to stock up before baby comes. Not only on things like diapers and wipes, but also on household items. The first few weeks with a new baby are overwhelming, so its nice to not make a run to the store for simple things like laundry detergent or dish soap.
Here are some things you may want to buy in bulk:
- Cleaning supplies: laundry detergent, dish soap, kitchen and bathroom cleaners, etc.
- Paper products: tissues, toilet paper, paper towels
- Toiletries: shampoo, conditioner, body wash, hand soap, face wash, makeup, lotion, etc.
- Postpartum items: pads, nursing pads, nipple creams/butter, and other breastfeeding essentials
- Baby items: diapers, wipes, stain remover, burp cloths, formula, etc.
11. Prepare some freezer meals
The best thing I did for myself before I brought a new baby home was create some easy freezer meals. These meals saved the day when I wanted a healthy, hot meal and no energy to make it. Pop a meal from the freezer into the oven and VOILA! Dinner is served.
12. Get a prenatal massage
There are few things more relaxing to your sore, pregnant muscles than a massage.
Prenatal massages focus on your especially sore areas like your hips, feet, and lower back. You may be asked to lay on your side for your massage, though some facilities have a pregnancy massage table with room for a pregnant tummy.
13. See a chiropractor
A chiropractor may help get your pelvis ready for birth! Check with your healthcare provider first, but most are A-OK with patients seeking relief from a chiropractor.
Look for one that is trained to work with pregnant patients, or specifically Webster certified.
Bringing a new baby home is so exciting. You’re doing the smart thing by being prepared and getting yourself ready for a huge life event. I hope you have a fast, easy birth and a beautiful baby!
