I’m just a few weeks out from the birth of our second baby.  Unlike a lot of other women who have delivered babies, I can’t wait go through it all again.  My first labor and delivery was far from perfect.  It was painful, hard, and even scary at times, but there is no other feeling in the world like meeting your baby for the first time.  I’ll gladly do it all over again to experience that moment.

Because this is my second time counting down to labor and delivery, I feel like I have a better idea of what I need to do to get ready for go time.  I would have loved to have this list of things to do to prepare for labor and delivery when I was pregnant with Weston.  Instead, I just kind of went for it (which is okay too!)  If you’re anxious, nervous, or love to be prepared to the fullest, I hope this list helps you gear up for the big day.

10 Things you Should do to Prepare for Labor and Delivery

Exercises and Other Physical Preparations

I know that women in their third trimester probably don’t want to see the word exercise, but adding some specific physical activity into your routine in the weeks leading up to labor and delivery can make a huge difference.  Exercising can help build your stamina (for all that pushing), speed up labor, and shorten your recovery.  I’ve been following The Belly Only Pregnancy Program.  It includes an entire workout plan for the third trimester to help you get your body in baby pushing shape.  The workouts are all body weight exercises and designed to help you prepare for labor and delivery.  I really like the program and love that it comes with bonuses like nutrition guidelines and recipes!

When it comes to other physical preparations, I’m considering doing something I didn’t do the last time.  I recently had a labor and delivery nurse do a guest post for my blog.  In the post, she mentioned the benefits of doing a perineal massage in the weeks leading up to birth to help prevent tearing.  What the heck is a perineal massage?  I’m going to leave it up to this great article to explain it to you (because I’m not a health care provider and to be honest, I’m not the one you should be learning this from).  If you decide to give it a go, Fairhaven Health has a perineal massage oil that helps with elasticity and can also be used to help you heal postpartum.

Create a Playlist

If you’re a music lover, consider creating a labor and delivery playlist.  You can add songs that pump you up and get your adrenaline going, or songs that calm and relax you.  You never know what you’re going to want when the time comes, so try making a few different playlists.  When I was pregnant with Weston, I had told my husband to show me this hilarious video that always makes me laugh when I was in labor.  When the day came, he showed it to me in the middle of a contraction and I could have killed him.

Related: How to Induce Labor with Midwives Brew

Make a List of Affirmations

Whether you decide to go for a natural childbirth, or get an epidural, I can almost guarantee that you’ll be in pain at some time or another.  You’ll want to have some sayings or affirmations in your head to keep you mentally strong.  There are loads of birth affirmations out there to choose from, or you can create your own labor and delivery mantras to help you push through the pain.  During my worst contractions, I always reminded myself that I can do anything for a couple minutes.  It reminded me that a break was on the horizon.  I also reminded myself that this was going to be the best day of my life.  The idea that I’d get to meet my baby soon always made the pain more manageable.  If you’re looking for a fun and relaxing way to practice your affirmations, check out these birth affirmation coloring pages I created!  They’re full size adult coloring pages with empowering birth affirmations on each one.  This is a great way to destress and put your mind into a positive place.

Related: Meditations for Labor and Delivery

Create a Birth Plan

I’m a big planner, but I didn’t create a birth plan when I was pregnant with Weston.  I didn’t want to set myself up for disappointment and I always said that my plan was to have a healthy baby (no matter what methods I had to use to get there).  While a lot of my “birth plan” remains the same, there are definitely some other things that I’ve added through experience (like my desire to avoid induction if possible and my hopes to be given the opportunity to labor down).  Creating a birth plan doesn’t mean that you’re nailing down every detail of how you want the day to go, it means that you’re educating yourself and designing an idea of how you’d like for things to go.  If you’re looking for a little guidance, you can download my free birth plan template today!

Expect the Unexpected

This sort of goes along with what I just said about creating a birth plan.  The first thing we need to remember about babies is that they do things on their own terms.  You can plan and prep all you want, but your little one might just have a plan of their own.  Your baby might come a few weeks early.  Your doctor might not be available to deliver your baby.  You might have to have a C-section.  You might go well past your due date.  You never truly know what’s going to happen, so try to remain fluid with your plans and accept anything that might come your way.

Take a Prenatal Course

Another thing I didn’t do when I was pregnant with Weston was take a prenatal course.  I was working full time and figured delivering a baby would just come naturally.  It’s true.  Delivering a baby does come naturally, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take advantage of the opportunity to educate yourself.  There is so much that goes into delivering a baby and the best way to relieve your anxiety and fear around the matter is to learn.  This time, I’ve already taken Birth It Up.  It’s taught by a labor and delivery nurse and can be done in the comfort of your own home on your own time (and you can always go back to it for reference).  The course includes lessons like contractions, when to go to the hospital, routines and inductions, C-sections, pain, and more.

Know When to Go

Speaking of contractions and knowing when to go to the hospital, make sure you chat with your doctor about what to do when you think you’re in labor.  Many providers request that you call the office before heading to the hospital.  Your doctor will also give you a better idea of how to tell if you’re actually in labor.  If this is your first baby, it can be really hard when you have no idea what to expect.  You don’t know what true contractions feel like and Braxton Hicks can play some mean tricks.  The last thing you want to do is get to the hospital just to be told it’s a false alarm.  When I went into labor with Weston, it was nothing like you see in the movies.  My water didn’t break dramatically, I wasn’t in intense pain, and we weren’t racing through traffic to get to the hospital.  I had what I thought was a slow leak and some other “messy” things going on down there.  I called my doctor and she had me visit the office before going to the hospital.  Sure enough, I was in labor.  By the time we got to the hospital, they were completely prepared for me.

Know who you want in the Room

I suppose this could be part of your birth plan, but I highly recommend you and your partner discuss who you want in the delivery room well before your due date.  This can be a touchy subject for some couples and it’s the last thing you want to be talking about in between contractions.  Decide who you’d like to have by your side and let your friends and family know what your wishes are.  Make sure to check with your hospital about their policies as well.  Many hospitals limit the number of people allowed in the room during labor and delivery.

If you’re interested in having a birth photographer, make sure you know how to get ahold of them when the time comes and what your hospitals photography policy is.

Have a Plan for Go Time

Make sure that you have a flexible plan for go time.  Think about some of the different factors that might come into play and how you’ll handle them.  What if you go into labor at work?  What if your significant other is at work?  How are you planning on getting to the hospital?  Where do you need to park at the hospital?  Who’s going to watch over your other child/ren (if you have them)?  These are all things you need to consider when it comes to preparing for labor and delivery.

The Third Trimester To Do List

There are tons of things you can do during the third trimester that can help you simplify labor, delivery and postpartum.  If you’ve already entered those last 12 weeks of pregnancy, check out my third trimester to do list.  It covers everything from what to pack in your hospital bag to how to prepare your home for baby.

While knowing that labor and delivery is just around the corner can be scary, it’s also such an exciting time.  It’s a time to enjoy those final baby kicks, learn about the magic of childbirth (for real… I now believe that women are magical creatures), and prepare to welcome a new life into the world.  Whether you’re type-A and cross everything off this list or decide to just wing it, you’re going to do great.  No matter how much you plan, nothing can prepare you for the moment that you hold your brand new baby.  Enjoy it!

DISCLOSURE: Coffee and Coos is not intended to replace the advice of a medical professional. Always consult your doctor for medical advice.

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