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| 10 things to do before d-day There's a lot to do in the weeks leading up toy uor baby's birth. Being as prepared as possible will help you relax and enjoy time with your partner before your lives are sent into a spin of feeding and changing nappies. 1. Get the car ready It sounds obvious, but checking thst your car is roadworthy and has enough petrol to get you to and from the hospital is vital. As is knowing the quickest route and making sure you've got change for the car park.. 2. Pack your bags Have your hospital bag packed and ready to go from 36 weeks onwards. You'll really need two, one for you and one for your baby. 3. Line up your birth partner Make sure your birth partner is fully on board. There's no point picking someone who faints at the sight of blood! You can choose anyone, either your partner or someone else who'll really support you, like your mam or best friend. I was always lined up to be my wife's birth partner but I must admit I was feeling a little nervous. I'm terrible with needles, blood and even the smell of hospitals but I can tell you now on the day my son was born I stepped upto the plate and nothing phased me. I was even helping to clear up the mess afterwards. 4. Write your birth plan While it's no guarantee of how your delivery will pan out, a birth plan will help you focus on the kind of experience you're after. Decide what pain relief you want to use, which positions you'd like to try and how you'd like the delivery room set out. Do you want to hold the baby as soon as they're born, or let dad snip the cord. I must admit, I left that part to the professionals. 5. Try out the TENS TENS gives pain relief during labour by sending mild electrical pulses through your skin via pads at the base of your back. You can buy or hire a TENS machine and if you're planning to use one, please read the instructions carefully. My wife hired a TENS machine and she says it helped her through her labour. She only used a combination of gas and air and the TENS machine and nothing else, she was a real trooper. 6. Stock up on food Buy snacks, juices and smothies to keep you going during labour and cook some batch meals for the freezer. Choose quick, nutritious recipes that can be defrosted and eaten in the first few weeks as you get to gribs with family life. 7. Make a list of who to tell With todays technology people knew about the birth of my son within a few hours thanks to digital cameras and mobile phones. While many hospitals are relaxing the rules about the use of mobile phones in hospitals, it's still worth making a list of numbers for dialling the old-fashioned way. If you do plan on taking photos, make sure you have enough battery life and film or memory card in your camera. 8. Decide on visitor etiquette Decide in advance on who you'd like to see, but only if you're feeling up to it. Keep visits short and ask your partner to usher anyone away if you or the baby are showing signs of fatigue. When you get home, ask visitors to phone ahead. Never refuse offers of help, get guests to stick the kettle on and hang out the washing. Our family and friends were really understanding. we only had very close people around in the first couple of weeks. Special thanks must go out to the mother-in-law too for all the washing and ironing she helped with! 9. Give the pool a dry run We didn't plan a home water birth but if you are set up the pool and check the components. It will take a few hours to fill and be sure to check the water temperature on the day. 10. Keep busy on your due date There's nothing more dispiriting than sitting at home alone, waiting for that first twinge. Have something nice lined up for d-day that can be easily cancelled at short notice. A trip to the cinema, a curry or a vist to friends who'll understand if you bail out. |
