Please provide some do's and don'ts on preparing for labor and delivery.

Ignore: Make sure you eat before coming to labor and delivery!

Ignore: Do prepare a suitcase full of essentials weeks in advance of your due date, to bring to the hospital.

Ignore: Stay active and always keep a copy (summary) of your medical records with you.

Ignore: Natural childbirth, exercise, deep breathing,passive stetching, diet, multivits.

Ignore: Keep an open mind - a healthy mother and baby are the things that matter!

Ignore: Don't feel bad for asking for IV pain medication or an epidural- Labor hurts!

Ignore: Regular exercise throughout your pregnancy can help prepare your body for labor.

Ignore: Do take childbirth classes. Do keep prenatal appts. Do familiarize yourself with the hospital.

Ignore: Practice breathing and relaxation techniques before delivery, as these will help when the time comes.

Communicate: Communicate with your medical team. Let them know what you need and ask questions.

Personalize: Personalize your surroundings.n birthing rooms you can make changes that will make you feel at home.

Change: Change positions frequently. Walking in the halls or sitting in a rocker will help labor progress.

Remain: Remain mentally flexible. Use techniques such as relaxation or controlled breathing to help you.

Stay: Stay positive. Have confidence in yourself and your body.

Bring: Bring warm socks and your favorite PJ's!

Buy: Buy an infant care seat and have it set up in the car and ready for use.

Prepare: Prepare a list of all the things the baby's father should do for U, since you just experienced labor.

Buy: Buy some nursing bras and bring them to the hospital with you.

Keep: Keep a restful environment in your labor room (quiet, low lighting, soothing music).

Carefully: Carefully select support people for a calm environment.

For: For discomfort: Using various positions (all fours, sitting on toilet, kneeling, pillow support).

For: For comfort, get Massage/back rubs by support person.

For: For comfort, get "Effleurage" (light massage of abdomen).

Have: Have your partner or support person rub a tennis ball over your lower back for comfort.

Apply: Apply warm or cold compresses for comfort.

Practice: Practice guided meditation using calming imagery.

Use: Use comfort techniques as an excellent way to involve first-time partners in supporting 1 another.

If: If you are in too much pain, ask for medications!

For: For your first delivery, you are encouraged to discuss episiotomy with your physician or midwife.

Do: Do wait for the natural urge to bear down before starting active pushing.

When: When asked: Push by "holding your breath and push as hard and as long as you can.".

Hold: Hold your baby skin to skin in the first hour following birth, it helps with breast feeding.

Do: Do try and breastfeed, at the least until 1 year.

Driving?,..Always: Driving?,..Always place the baby in the car seat, beginning with the ride home from the hospital.

Jot: Jot down five or six points of concern about labor and delivery and discuss them with your doctor.

Ask: Ask Doc about their birthing philosophy, sharing the same ideas can go a long way.

Don’t: Don’t underestimate the importance of your support person/people.

Choose: Choose Encouragement, Not Sympathy During Labor.

If: If You Feel Anxious Or Panicky, Take A Break!

If: If you're the support person, watch mom's face for signals.

Make: Make Sure You and/or Other Support People Take Regular Breaks.

Keep: Keep Supporting Her After The Baby Is Born!

Once: Once the baby is born, lots of attention is on the baby, so make sure mom has lots of attention too!

Ignore: Expect the unexpected. Make plans but remember the best birth plan is flexible.

Ignore: DO have reasonable expectations. Things don't always go as planned. The end goal is healthy mom&baby.