How do I prepare for my first birth?

The importance of preparing for childbirth

You must be crossing off days of the calendar and looking forward to when you meet your little one for the first time. The moment is approaching, and it is natural for you to be a little nervous, but with the proper preparation and answering the question of how to prepare for childbirth from specialists and doctors, you will be fine. The important thing is to be mentally and physically prepared and to be surrounded by supportive people, starting with the medical staff, including the obstetrician, the midwife, and the support team if you choose to use a doula, and of course, your husband, your mother, and a close friend you trust.

How to prepare for childbirth

1| Attend maternity classes

In Omooma’s Preparing for Childbirth course, you will find answers to all your questions about labor and childbirth. You will learn from experts how to breathe correctly during labor and techniques for controlling anxiety. You will know the signs of labor in detail, the stages of labor, and all the information you need. Enroll in the course during your third trimester, and watch the lessons anytime, anywhere.

Experts also recommend enrolling in a breastfeeding course to educate yourself, get the correct information, and reduce stress and anxiety from this essential step. In the breastfeeding preparation course from Omooma, you will learn how to hold your baby correctly. About the correct latch, necessary for successful breastfeeding, signs of baby’s satiety, and other information that will make this journey easier for you. Attending a newborn care course is vital to understanding newborn health, vaccinations, weight gain, infant sleep, newborn safety tips, and other important information. These courses will answer many of your questions and give you the knowledge you need to get through this experience without worry or stress.

2| Preparing a birth plan

A birth plan lists everything you want or don’t want during labor. It will detail your most important wishes to the medical staff and your family without embarrassment or complications. Before you print the plan, discuss it with your husband and doctor to find the best options that are comfortable for you and safe for your baby. It is essential to be flexible and receptive to any changes that may occur, even if they are not in line with your desires.

3| Visit the maternity hospital

Visit the hospital where you will give birth. This visit will help you prepare for the big day. Make an appointment to visit the maternity ward, see the labor and delivery room, and learn about the hospital’s procedures and policies. You can use the information from this visit to adjust your birth plan. You can choose to have a water birth or a hypnobirthing birth if these are options available at the hospital.

4| Preparing the hospital bag

Preparing your hospital bag is one of the most essential steps for childbirth preparation. You and your baby will need many supplies during your stay in the hospital. It is necessary to ask the medical staff during your visit to the hospital if there are things you cannot bring in your birth bag. You can view the detailed hospital bag contents for childbirth in this article.

5| Perineal massage

The perineum is the area between the vagina and the anus. This area may be torn during childbirth, and the doctor may sometimes have to make an episiotomy. However, massaging the perineum starting from the thirty-fourth week helps reduce the risk of perineal tearing or episiotomy. The best time to massage the perineum is after showering when the area is softer. Only medical preparations and natural oils should be used to massage the perineum to avoid any infections.

6| Recognizing the signs of labor

Some women may feel cramps similar to menstrual cramps, which gradually increase in intensity, and some women may also feel a flow of warm fluid, the amniotic fluid before the actual labor begins. Still, it is one of the first signs of the onset of labor. Labor varies in intensity, and the periods between each contraction and the next are close together. The periods may start with feeling the pain once every half hour, then once every twenty minutes, and so on until it reaches once every five minutes. In the final stage of labor, the contractions are continuous. It is also essential to recognize false labor to avoid going to the hospital unnecessarily. You can realize false labor when it is irregular, its intensity is acceptable, does not increase, and the pain may go away once you move, lie down, change your sitting position, or drink water. It is also essential to know the sure signs of labor and when you should go to the hospital, perhaps the most important of which is the rupture of the amniotic fluid or vaginal bleeding. Do not ignore danger signs such as severe bleeding, severe pain in the pelvic area, lower abdomen, or back, stopping of fetal movement, a temperature of more than 40 degrees Celsius, and vision problems, such as blurred vision, as this may be a sign of preeclampsia, and vomiting. Persistent nausea. Inability to urinate or defecate, and feeling dizzy or faint.

7| Accept the need to resort to an induction

In some cases, such as severe high blood pressure, preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, or signs that the fetus is not growing as expected, your doctor may recommend inducing labor. This may not be what you expected, but it is essential to anticipate and accept this possibility to maintain the safety of the fetus.

8| Learn about labor pain relief options

 Since this is your first birth, no matter how prepared and informed you are, you will not be prepared for pain you may feel, especially after the start of active labor. Therefore, knowing that there are safe options to relieve labor pain is essential. Ask your doctor about them and learn the details of each one. Perhaps the most popular choice for labor pain relief is an epidural, which acts as a local anesthetic that relieves labor pain while still allowing you to experience the experience of giving birth while you are awake. You can have an epidural at any stage of labor, and it does not cause any harm to you or your baby. There are several options to relieve labor pain, including medication and natural options. Learn about them well before giving birth so that you are informed and can choose the most appropriate one if you need it.

To sum up,

Preparation and knowledge are the two most essential tools that will help you get through any experience, no matter what it is. This also applies to the first birth, so we have prepared this guide for you to answer the question of how to prepare for the first birth. It is through the knowledge experts provide in the Omooma courses, visiting the hospital, talking to health care providers, and getting the answers and advice you need.