We just had our second daughter almost five months ago now (OMG, where did that time just fly by too?!?). While I felt extremely prepared for this birth, I know many moms who have asked me what tips I would give to them to have a great pregnancy and birthing experience. While I could go on and on about this topic, as it is one that I am passionate about, I have decided to list just 5 here for you today.
1- Tell yourself (and especially others) that your due date is two weeks after whatever the doctor tells you. When we first got pregnant with Skibbles, someone told me this. Even though her due date was November 16th, I continuously told myself throughout my pregnancy that she would be here sometime before December 1st. When November 16th came and went, I wasn’t upset because I knew that she needed me time before she was ready. The mistake I made that time was telling others my due date was November 16th. With Baby Love, I told everyone I was due sometime in June. When our due date of June 8th rolled around and passed, I didn’t have anyone hassling me about “That baby isn’t here yet?” because they didn’t know. This takes so much pressure and stress of you (and ultimately the baby) because you are prepared to go over the estimated due date given.
2- Decline unnecessary medical procedures. This is where a lot of research comes into play. I recommend reading Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth and watching The Business of Being Born I and II. Ultimately, unless there’s a medical need, you can decline all late term ultrasounds and internal checks. After 40 weeks, your doctor may wish to perform a non-stress test (NST) or an ultrasound to check fluid and that is fine; however, it’s important to note that measurements taken during ultrasounds late term are rarely ever accurate and can be off as much as 2lbs. Internal checks do nothing but provide a basis for how far dilated you may be. The problem with this is that you may be 2cm for 4 weeks before dilating any more or you may dilate from 2cm to 10cm in 4 hours. What happens though is that if you allow for internal exams week after week without any change, you set yourself up for mental side effects, thinking that your body may not be working, when in fact your body is working exactly how it should be.
3- Labor at home as long as possible. Hospitals are full of germs, they’re cold, isolated, and just not comfortable. Home is where the comfort is always. You can eat what you want, move around however you please, and relax to the fullest possible at the time of labor, especially if you are preparing for a natural childbirth without medications. Bounce on a yoga ball, lay in a tub (as long as your water has not broken) of warm water, walk, walk, walk, cat/cow yoga pose, etc. Most importantly, if you can, SLEEP. You will need all the energy you can stored up for labor.
4- Prepare to delay cord clamp and/or bank cord blood through ViaCord. With both girls, we were asked during our pregnancy if we wanted to bank our daughters’ cord blood. We had already read and decided to do delayed cord clamping for the immediate benefits to our girls that we had read about. Unfortunately, I had no idea though that you can still choose to bank your baby’s cord blood even if you choose delayed cord clamping or have a c-section. I really wish I would have known this, because I would have chosen to do both. Cord Blood banking is the process of collecting and storing the blood, which contains young stem cells, remaining in your newborn’s umbilical cord. ViaCord has been collecting and storing cord blood stem cells for more than 20 years and more than 350,000 newborns have their cord blood banked there. ViaCord wants every family to have the option to bank cord blood and has many different payment plan options to help with the cost. ViaCord and we agree that the best decision is an informed decision. Make sure to know and discuss your options with your provider so that you make the best one for your family. Watch ViaCord’s quick Cord Blood 101 video to see how it works.
5- Ask for immediate skin to skin contact and delayed procedures unless medically necessary. Immediate contact is healing and powerful for both the mother and child. It sets up the ideal situation for a boost to the immune system and a successful start to breastfeeding. Delaying procedures and allowing this bonding for a minimum of one hour after birth is ideal.
We believe every family needs to know about these tips, especially the benefits of cord blood banking – Please go to the ViaCord website to learn more and share this post with others so they can too.
Disclosure: I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own. I am not a medical expert – please consult with a medical professional before making any decisions.
We're Parents is a unique mom and dad natural parenting blog focusing on topics such as breastfeeding, babywearing, and car seat safety. You'll also find Delicious recipes, inspired travel recommendations, and more as you journey with us through parenting. 
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