Don't watch the birth shows on the medical cable channels. They are designed for ratings. That means that of the hundreds of births they film, they will air the most "dramatic" ones, giving you a very distorted view of what a typical birth is like. Instead, watch births (especially home births & natural births) on YouTube. I know it sounds gross, but you'll get a much better idea of the reality of what childbirth is like than the edited-for-maximum-advertising-revenue version.
Try to witness at least one mother breastfeeding successfully before you give birth. Talk to people who are successful at it and ignore those who weren't. Hire a lactation consultant to come visit you in the hospital the day after the birth, even if you're sure you won't need one.
Room in. Keeping your baby with you in the hospital while you recover may seem like extra work that you're not up for, but the confidence it gives you when you're back home is well worth it. You'll want to be there the first time your baby has a coughing fit or screams suddenly or does any number of scary things so that you can get first hand experience handling it in the presence of professionals.
Prepare your partner for the worst, but be your best. Apologize in advance for all the horrible things you will do and say to him (or her), and then do your best to NOT live up to that picture.
Be nice to the nurses, even if they're annoying the shit out of you. To do a job like that every day it's easiest to just turn off your compassion, but it's harder to do that when they actually empathize with you and like you.
At some point during labor, even if you're not drugged up beyond coherence, you will feel like you are. Don't be afraid of that feeling; relish in it. It's what will get you through the next couple of hours and leave you wondering why you were so worried about giving birth.
If possible, have someone there to take pictures, if not during, then immediately after the birth. Later you won't believe how beautiful that slimey, wrinkly little thing was, and wonder if you're remembering it correctly.
If the hospital offers the option of a private recovery room at an extra expense, and it won't break the bank, go for it. Or, ask friends to contribute money toward a private recovery room at your baby shower. (Much more useful than the 20th through 80th pink or blue size NB onesies.)
Have a birth plan. Those who say that the term "birth plan" is an oxymoron don't understand the definition of the word "plan," and probably aren't very good at "planning." Don't you look up directions to a place you've never been before, even though there's a possibility that some of those roads will be closed? More on birth plans in a future post.
Try to witness at least one mother breastfeeding successfully before you give birth. Talk to people who are successful at it and ignore those who weren't. Hire a lactation consultant to come visit you in the hospital the day after the birth, even if you're sure you won't need one.
Room in. Keeping your baby with you in the hospital while you recover may seem like extra work that you're not up for, but the confidence it gives you when you're back home is well worth it. You'll want to be there the first time your baby has a coughing fit or screams suddenly or does any number of scary things so that you can get first hand experience handling it in the presence of professionals.
Prepare your partner for the worst, but be your best. Apologize in advance for all the horrible things you will do and say to him (or her), and then do your best to NOT live up to that picture.
Be nice to the nurses, even if they're annoying the shit out of you. To do a job like that every day it's easiest to just turn off your compassion, but it's harder to do that when they actually empathize with you and like you.
At some point during labor, even if you're not drugged up beyond coherence, you will feel like you are. Don't be afraid of that feeling; relish in it. It's what will get you through the next couple of hours and leave you wondering why you were so worried about giving birth.
If possible, have someone there to take pictures, if not during, then immediately after the birth. Later you won't believe how beautiful that slimey, wrinkly little thing was, and wonder if you're remembering it correctly.
If the hospital offers the option of a private recovery room at an extra expense, and it won't break the bank, go for it. Or, ask friends to contribute money toward a private recovery room at your baby shower. (Much more useful than the 20th through 80th pink or blue size NB onesies.)
Have a birth plan. Those who say that the term "birth plan" is an oxymoron don't understand the definition of the word "plan," and probably aren't very good at "planning." Don't you look up directions to a place you've never been before, even though there's a possibility that some of those roads will be closed? More on birth plans in a future post.
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