Having a newborn can be hard enough to mentally prepare for. However, there are plenty of other things to keep in mind during your hospital stay, which you may not even think preparing for. To help you mentally and physically prepare for your hospital stay while in labor, here are our top 4 tips to consider.
Although you may be expected to deliver at the hospital that your healthcare provider is connected to, you should weigh your choices and find the best one to your own choosing. Make sure that they have impressive reviews and success rates, have strong policies that fit your needs, and have a professional and friendly staff to help you through your delivery. It may seem trivial, but even checking things like the hospital tv systems and food can be wise. You never know how long you might stay. Once you have a hospital in mind, submit it to your healthcare provider, and see if they can approve your request.
This is one of the most important tips for surviving your hospital trip. Only go to the hospital when you are ready to go. In general, you should listen to the instructions given to you by your doctor about when to head over. However, if your contractions are inconsistent, you are in pain, or your baby feels ready to come out, get to the hospital as fast as you can. Even if you show up too early, it’s not the end of the world. They will either send you home or tell you to walk around to get your labor on track.
If this is your first time being pregnant, it may be difficult to know what labor feels like, so there may be a few false starts. In fact, most hospitals expect first-time parents to arrive earlier than they should. On the flipside, if you are comfortable being in labor at home for a bit, you can do that as well. As long as there is nothing strange about your labor, you can stay at home for a few additional hours, rather than spend that time at the hospital. Just make sure you give yourself enough time to get there before the baby comes.
Your doctor may be the one delivering the baby, but the nurses are the people who will be taking care of you, both during and after your delivery. They can help you out when your doctor can’t. Plus they know which vending machine has the best snacks. It is your, and your baby’s, best interest to be nice and gentle with the nursing staff. Being kind will make it much easier for the nurses to do their job and gain you some points in their book, too. However, being nice does not mean you must withstand mistreatment and bad attitudes. If you do not like your nurse, request a different one.
When you are at the hospital, you want to be as comfortable as possible. What could be more comfortable than bringing a little piece of home with you? Bring your own pillow and maybe a blanket with you. You may also want to bring a nursing pillow with you. This will keep you comfy and relaxed throughout the birthing process. Just be sure that you don’t bring a fancy pillowcase or heirloom because birth can be a very messy process. You will need to thoroughly wash anything you bring with you to the hospital.
Delivering your child can be a stressful process that every mother has to endure. Hopefully, our tips could relieve some stress off your shoulders and provide an easier delivery for your growing family.
Brooke Chaplan is a freelance writer and blogger. She lives and works out of her home in Los Lunas, New Mexico. She loves the outdoors and spends most her time hiking, biking, and gardening. For more information contact Brooke via Twitter @BrookeChaplan.