QuestionDorothy,
I am 30 weeks pregnant right now and getting more nervous about delivery by the day! I had a doctors appointment yesterday and the ultrasound showed that I was measuring two weeks ahead, so the doctor said that I should be packing a hospital bag around 37 weeks.
My questions are:
What in heavens name am I supposed to put in my hospital bag?!
Also, how can I help prevent having a c-section? I would really prefer to have a vaginal delivery and so far the dr. said everything is looking good, but is there anything I can do to help ensure that I won't have a c-section?
Thank you so much!
Samantha
AnswerHi Samantha,
Don't stress out too much about the hospital bag! Bring two bags - one for during labor, one for postpartum. Here are some suggestions of things you might want to bring for those bags, but really - the only important things are:
Carseat for baby, going home outfit for you (something that fit you at approximately 6 months pregnant), going home outfit for baby, camera, cell phone.
Everything else on any list is a suggestion of things that you might like to have. And remember, if you left something home, chances are that your partner will be able to get it for you! Here are some additional suggestions for things that people have found helpful to bring:
http://www.pregnancytoday.com/articles/labor-preparation/the-hospital-bag-2100/
To help insure you avoid an unnecessary cesarean, try to get as many of the Lamaze Healthy Birth Practices as you can:
http://www.lamaze.org/ExpectantParents/HealthyBirthPractices/tabid/251/Default.a...
All of these (well, except the last one, because that has to do with after the baby is born!) will decrease the likelihood of you needing a cesarean. So if you allow labor to start on its own (as opposed to being induced), are active and moving around during labor(as opposed to staying in bed), have continuous support (perhaps consider hiring a doula), avoid interventions that are not medically necessary, and follow your body's urges to push rather than giving birth flat on your back - ALL of these will increase your satisfaction with your birth as well as increase your chances of avoiding a cesarean.
On the Lamaze website, they have a place to sign up for a weekly confidence builder,
http://magazine.lamaze.org/iLamazeBuildingConfidenceWeekbyWeeki/tabid/181/Defaul...
and they also have twitter for receiving encouraging tweets to help build your confidence for your birth. I would also encourage you to sign up for childbirth classes - you can find a childbirth class in your area through the Lamaze website.
Ultrasound can be off by over a pound, so don't let ultrasound weight guesstimates scare you into thinking that you're having a big baby.
I wish you the best with your upcoming birth!
