How to prepare for child birth

Preparing for Baby: 10 Things to Do Before You Give Birth

Whether you are expecting your first child or your fourth, giving birth can be a roller coaster of emotions. Having a new baby can be pure bliss, but it can also be equally exhausting and overwhelming. Particularly during the newborn phase, you may find once routine tasks difficult due to either lack of time, lack of energy or both. 

To help you prepare for baby, here are 10 things to do before you give birth that will help you savor those precious, fleeting newborn moments. 

Before the baby arrives you should have certain things purchased, assembled, and tested to make sure they work and you know how to use them. We’re firm believers in the less is more philosophy when it comes to baby gear. The most important essentials are a properly-installed car seat and a safe place for baby to sleep such as a bassinet or crib. If you plan to use other items like an infant swing or changing tables, you’ll want to assemble those as well.   Some things you will not use until the baby is bigger such as an exersaucer, but if you have the storage space you may want to assemble everything you can while you have time.

This does not have to be seen as a huge chore as many people find decorating and furnishing a nursery enjoyable. Some women have “nesting” urges while pregnant, and this is the perfect place to funnel that energy. Having a completed nursery, plenty of seasonally appropriate clothes, diapers and wipes will give you peace of mind. 

In the weeks leading up to your due date, consider premaking and freezing meals so you are not scrambling for things to eat or relying on less healthy packaged and take-out options. Sometimes friends and family will offer to bring meals to meet the baby, but you can’t always rely on that. 

There are plenty of recipes out there that are easy to make and can be frozen and reheated. An easy way to stock your freezer is by doubling the recipe for something you are already making for dinner. Enjoy half that night and freeze the other half for later. 

It’s easy to get wrapped up in caring for a newborn, but it’s important for parents to take care of themselves and eating a balanced, healthy diet is a big part of that.

The last thing you need when caring for your new baby on little sleep is to run out of toilet paper. Before the baby comes, stockpile things like toilet paper, paper towels, safe cleaning products, and personal care products that you use regularly such as shampoo and soap. If buying in bulk isn’t your thing, use technology to your advantage and automate as many things as you can through subscription services like Amazon’s Subscribe & Save. You can save by setting up regularly scheduled deliveries from monthly to every six months. And don’t worry, you can modify or cancel your delivery schedule at any time. 

Another thing that may not be essential for everyone, but absolutely essential for many is making sure things are in order for your pet to be properly cared for after the baby comes.

You can make sure your pet is cared for by stocking up on food, treats, toys, and any medications they may be on like monthly flea and tick prevention. Also, arrange for someone to stay with them or take them to be boarded while you are in the hospital if necessary.

If you are worried they will suffer from lack of attention, you can ask friends and family who are offering to help to come play, walk them, or simply give them some time and attention. 

If you think your pet might have problems adjusting to the new dynamic and are worried about them developing behavioral issues, you can work with a pet care professional like your vet or a trainer to come up with a plan for everyone to safely coexist.

If you or someone in the family takes certain medications regularly, or know you will need them in the future, make sure to get prescriptions filled shortly before the baby comes so you’ll have them on hand. Take inventory of your medicine cabinet and stock up on over the counter medications and first-aid essentials your family may need.

Leading up to the birth of your baby, it may seem like all of your healthcare has been pregnancy oriented. However, before the baby is born, you should take care of other routine healthcare tasks. Go to the dentist and the optometrist for preventative care. If you need dental work or new glasses or contacts, take the time to get these things done while you do not have to worry about bringing a newborn along.

This won’t be needed until the baby is older and mobile, but getting ideas and making lists of things you need to do can’t hurt. Also, many parents say that it is worth beginning to babyproof early if you can swing it. Your baby could be mobile and trying to get into everything in the blink of an eye. Here’s a helpful checklist for babyproofing the house so you do not forget anything.

We also recommend taking some time to review recommendations from The National Safety Council about important safety measures to protect your child.

The time before you have your baby is valuable for more than checking logistical things off a list. Taking time out for yourself, both alone and with your partner, is important. You’ll love your new baby in an all-consuming way, but you might still miss having alone time or a quiet moment with your partner. Take the opportunity to enjoy the things you love before the baby comes. 

Some people go on vacations, or “babymoons,”  before their babies are born. If you have the means, time, and energy for this type of vacation, then go for it! It will probably be the last time you’ll be able to have a child-free getaway for a while. Be sure to plan it during a time in your pregnancy when it is safe to travel.

If you can’t swing a full-fledged vacation, don’t sweat it. Weekend staycations in your town or even just planning downtime to stay home are great ways to take time for yourself and with your partner. 

As the due date approaches, you should prepare for your stay in the hospital. This includes knowing the best routes to the hospital and packing suitcases to have on hand in case you need to leave in a hurry. Here is a helpful list of suggestions for what to pack in the hospital bag. Again, remember less is more. Most of the essentials will be provided for you at the hospital. 

Newborn photographers can book well in advance so if there is a particular one you’d like to work with, contact them now. 

If you are going to send birth announcements in the mail, go ahead and select the design ahead of time. You can finalize the birth details later. Most services have an option to sync your address book so you never have to address or stamp an envelope. You can even opt for digital birth announcements or forgo a formal birth announcement altogether. The choice is up to you, but we suggest deciding ahead of time. 

—

At Kernodle OB/GYN, we know that preparing for a baby can be both exciting and overwhelming. We want to make your experience as comfortable and stress-free as possible. So, while you take care of these tasks, we’ll be here to take care of you. If you would like to schedule an appointment, contact us at (336) 538-2367 or schedule online. 

What You Should Do Before Your Baby Comes

Written by WebMD Editorial Contributors

In this Article

• Ways to Prepare for Labor
• Preparing for the Cost of Labor and a New Baby

Having a baby is a big life event that can feel overwhelming. There is a lot to consider, but preparation can make the move into parenthood easier.

Ways to Prepare for Labor

Your body naturally prepares for labor on its own, but there are a few things you can do to help lower your stress. 

Take birthing classes. Birthing classes can answer a lot of your questions about what will happen during labor and delivery. You will learn how to work through contractions and stay in control, and you will practice these strategies so you’re ready for delivery. Most women take their birth support person with them to classes so they can practice together. 

Classes are usually available at your local hospital or birthing center, but your doctor can help you find the right class for you. It’s a good idea to take classes a few months before your due date, as they can fill up quickly. 

Take breastfeeding classes. If you’ve never breastfed before, breastfeeding classes are an important part of preparing for a baby. These classes teach you about proper latch, how to hold your baby while feeding, and how to know when your baby is getting enough. 

You might find breastfeeding classes through your hospital or local support programs. Taking a breastfeeding class will also give you a chance to meet a lactation consultant who can help you after you give birth.

Take parenting classes. Parenting classes can help you understand the different stages your baby will go through, how to keep your baby safe, how to dress and change your baby, and how to tell when your baby is having a medical emergency.  

Make a birth plan. A birth plan is an outline of what you want for your delivery. This plan helps your doctor or midwife, nurses, and support people understand your personal wishes.

You should talk about your plan with your support person and your doctor or midwife. Not only will it help them understand you, but it will also help you figure out if what you have in mind is feasible and safe for you and your baby.

Birth plans should be working documents. Be flexible and open to change, as births don't often go exactly as expected.

Visit the hospital. Knowing what to expect and what to do can help you feel more comfortable on the day of the birth. Set up an appointment for a tour of the hospital. A nurse or other hospital staff will take you through where you will have your baby and what you can expect while you’re there. This will also help you figure out what options are available so that you can plan your birth.

Pack your bag. You will need supplies for both you and your baby at the hospital. Hospitals may have different rules about what they give out to moms and what you will need to bring from home.

Some things you should pack in your bag include:

• Your birth plan
• Loose and comfortable clothes, like a nightgown or night shirt, for labor and feeding
• Two to three changes of clothes
• Two to three soft sports bras or nursing bras
• Breast pads
• Five to six pairs of underwear 
• Two packages of extra large or maternity sanitary napkins  
• A cosmetic bag with shampoo, conditioner, gentle soap, deodorant, a hair brush, hair ties, and chapstick 
• Nipple cream
• Headphones
• A book or something to keep you busy
• Healthy snacks
• A water bottle
• A camera
• Any medications you take
• Sleepers and hats for your baby
• A blanket and swaddling blankets
• Lots of diapers and wipes
• Clothes to go home in
• A car seat for travel

Set up your nursery and home. Getting your home ready for your baby and making it a safe and comfortable place is an important step in preparing for labor.

Preparing for the Cost of Labor and a New Baby

You will need to plan for the cost of your hospital stay and regular check-ups for you and your baby. If you have health insurance, find out how to add your baby to your policy, which doctors you can see, and the kind of care that is covered. Find out how much money you will need to pay for your delivery and doctor’s visits. 

If you need help paying for health care, contact your local and state health departments about programs in your area. Your local hospital or social worker can tell you where to go for help and where to find a free clinic for women and children in need.

Setting up your nursery and buying the supplies you need can be a big up-front cost. Some ways to prepare for the expense include:

• Setting up a gift registry and sharing what you need with your friends and family
• Asking a close friend or family member to host a baby shower for you
• Looking for supplies early in your pregnancy and buying when items are on sale
• Shopping second-hand stores for gently used baby clothes 

Preparing for childbirth - useful tips | Blog

The birth of a child is an exciting event that has a significant impact on the lives of parents. After the birth of a child, habits, daily routine, home environment and life change. And for the appearance of the baby, both future parents need to prepare. That's right - both. And we will talk about this in order in the article.

• Let's start with what future parents need to know about childbirth?
• Birth plan
• Psychological preparation for the birth of a baby
• Physical training of pregnant women for childbirth

Once you find out you're pregnant, do you think about what you need to know about childbirth? This question is especially asked by women who are expecting their first birth.

The main thing to remember is that childbirth is a physiological natural process that can proceed painlessly, in comfort and peace. No need to transfer the experience of your mother, grandmother or girlfriends to yourself - this is their experience, not yours. nine0003

A positive attitude towards natural childbirth is already a huge success in the birth of a healthy child.

Labor can begin with training contractions. Starting from the 32nd week of pregnancy, the uterus contracts 10-12 times a day, but there is no pain. Why is this happening? Everything is simple. The uterus is a muscular organ that must perform training exercises before a serious competition. The cervix does not open during training contractions, and only real labor can open it. nine0003

Childbirth has 3 periods:

• first period - contractions;
• second period - attempts;
• third period - afterbirth or birth of the placenta (afterbirth).

The duration of labor can vary from woman to woman. Moreover - even for one woman, if she gave birth to more than one child - the duration of labor is different. In a first-born woman, childbirth can last 12-14 hours, and with repeated births - 6-8 hours. Therefore, do not worry, but it is better for both future parents to be patient and trust the doctor who will conduct your birth. nine0003

There are 2 options for the onset of labor:

• discharge of amniotic fluid,
• or the appearance of contractions (contractions).

If your waters break , tell your doctor right away and call the maternity hospital, and come to the maternity hospital within 2 hours.

If your contractions start every 7-10 minutes is also a wake-up call that you already need to go to the hospital, because you are starting the first stage of labor.

You can assume any position during contractions. And you not only can, but you must! Focus on your feelings. nine0003

Don't forget about breathing during childbirth. It is special - "abdominal". In order to learn how to breathe like this, you should practice in advance. Put your palm on your stomach and inhale through your nose so that your stomach rises with your palm, and you need to exhale air through your mouth, lips folded into a tube. This is necessary in order to increase the resistance to exhaled air.

And it is important to remember that the tandem of the patient and the doctor in childbirth is the key to success. The period of attempts is especially important. Follow in turn what the doctor tells you and your attempt will be as effective as possible. nine0003

Birth preparation should start early and should include:

• psychological preparation for both future parents;
• mother's physical training;
• organizational issues of childbirth.

And above all, we recommend that you draw up a plan for preparing for childbirth, according to which you will act in the future.

We have put together some useful items for you to include in your birth plan. nine0036

1. Training. First of all, you need to remember about the need to attend classes for future parents.
   Lelek, for example, operates School of Responsible Parenthood , where lectures for pregnant women, classes on preparation for childbirth, breastfeeding, newborn care, etc. are held.
   The courses tell about how labor begins, when you need to go to the hospital, what positions in the pushing period, and which one to choose, what is the role of a partner in childbirth and what he needs to do, breathing during childbirth and much more. nine0008
2. Choosing a maternity hospital. This issue should be approached as carefully as possible and take into account the most important points for you: the level of medical care, the qualifications of medical personnel, technical equipment, the level of comfort for future parents.
   To make it easier for future parents to get to know the maternity hospital and its staff, learn about its level, and also get answers to their questions - Leleka Maternity Hospital holds Open Days for childbirth . nine0008
3. Doctor's choice. For some pregnant women, making an appointment with a doctor or midwife can help them feel more confident and relaxed.
   If you plan to choose a doctor for childbirth, then do it in advance. Then you can consult with your doctor in the last weeks of pregnancy. This will allow the doctor to monitor your condition until the onset of childbirth and be constantly in touch with you.
4. Birth planning . If you have chosen a doctor, it is advisable to discuss the birth plan with him.
5. In order for you to have a step-by-step understanding of what will happen, prepare in advance a list of questions that you want to ask the doctor. Questions can be very different: how are contractions, attempts, how to breathe and push properly. It is especially important to discuss the period of attempts.
   The partner birth scenario should also be discussed and selected. Some women are more comfortable giving birth in the presence of a person they trust, who can be taken into a partner birth. It can be a husband, mother, sister, girlfriend. We at Leleka support partner births, because we know for sure that the presence of a loved one at such an important moment in a woman's life is a great support. nine0025 If you have answers to all questions, you will definitely be calm and set for a physiological, easy birth.
6. Pack things for the maternity hospital. Of course, you need to take a minimum to the Leleka Maternity Hospital and this:

• pregnancy exchange card and documents;
• fluorographic examination of the future partner of childbirth;
• baby clothes;
• mum's clothes for discharge.
  But if you will give birth in another maternity hospital, find out in advance what you need to take with you and fold your bag. nine0008

When everything is collected, you have discussed everything with the doctor, you can safely go with the future dad to the most long-awaited meeting - the birth of your child! nine0003

When we talk about psychological preparation for childbirth, we mean not only the moment the baby is born in the maternity hospital. It's only a few days in a parent's life. And we are talking about the appearance of another family member, which significantly affects the life of parents in general, their habits, daily routine, life, etc.

It must be remembered that a man is a person who helps a woman to realize herself as a mother, satisfies the needs of the family and is support. Of course, he also has his own needs. Therefore, the couple needs to negotiate, talk about needs, and not forget about romance. nine0003

In addition, the husband and wife should have a common time, which they will spend only together. Without an element of romance, there will be no such mutual understanding.

If the family does not get along before the baby is born, then it will be more difficult to do it later. A couple should be united when they have a baby.

Children inspire to move on and develop. They can force self-organization, build boundaries, find help. Often Ukrainian women want to be strong, so they don't talk about their weaknesses. It is worse when they bring themselves to such a state when apathy sets in, depression that prevents them from finding their needs. nine0003

Therefore, the psychological preparation of both future parents is of incredible importance. To do this, you should:

• conduct individual conversations and lectures with your doctor, clinic psychologist;
• attend group classes in special gymnastics;
• should only be read and listened to verified information from highly qualified doctors.

At Leleka, we made every effort to ensure that future parents receive all the necessary preparation before the birth of a baby. nine0003

Throughout their pregnancy, women who monitor their pregnancy at Leleka have the opportunity to:

• attend classes for pregnant women and young parents with their husband;
• get ready for childbirth together;
• talk to a psychologist;
• attend exercise therapy or massage for pregnant women, etc.

Psychoprophylactic preparation for childbirth is also carried out, aimed at eliminating negative emotions and forming positive conditioned reflex connections in a woman:

• removal of fear of childbirth and labor pains in a pregnant woman,
• engaging her in active participation in the birth act.

Do not forget about physical training.

In today's world, pregnancy doesn't have to limit you. Continue to engage in physical activity that you did before, unless your doctor has decided that it is contraindicated for you.

If you want to take up a new sport while you are already pregnant, you should choose swimming pool, Pilates or yoga. In these sports, breathing exercises are of great importance, which will later come in handy in childbirth. nine0003

Also, don't forget that outdoor walking is also part of the sport. However, walks should be done in such a way that you feel comfortable and that they add strength, and not vice versa.

We hope you find our advice on preparing for childbirth helpful.

We wish all future mothers an easy delivery and the birth of healthy babies. And we will gladly help you with this.

How to prepare for childbirth

Natalya Pylyonok

seriously preparing for childbirth

Author profile

In January 2019, I became a mother for the first time, and three years later I gave birth to my second baby.

Both pregnancies were uneventful, without complications or contraindications. The children were born naturally. Despite the large weight of the babies, I did not get a single tear and was able to quickly recover after giving birth. Of course, the reason for this is not only in my preparation for childbirth, but perhaps she also played a role.

I’ll say right away that I don’t have a medical education, I just want to share my experience: how I defeated the fear of childbirth, what sports I did, how much it all cost, what helped me and what didn’t. nine0003

See a doctor

Our articles are written with love for evidence-based medicine. We refer to authoritative sources and go to doctors with a good reputation for comments. But remember: the responsibility for your health lies with you and your doctor. We don't write prescriptions, we make recommendations. Relying on our point of view or not is up to you.

Why prepare for childbirth

When I got pregnant, I realized that I knew nothing about childbirth, except for short stories from my mother, sister and friend. It should be noted that they were reluctant to talk about their experience, limiting themselves only to general phrases. nine0003

Preparing for childbirth - NHS

Then I decided that I wanted to learn more about this process, understand what would happen to me and the baby, what I would feel, how I could help myself. I also wanted to get rid of the fear of childbirth.

Preparing for childbirth — Uptodate

Preparing for childbirth will help you get answers to the following questions:

• how to understand that labor has begun and it is time to go to the hospital;
• how to behave during contractions and pushing;
• how to reduce pain;
• what doctors do;
• which is definitely not worth doing during childbirth.

For example, if you do not know how childbirth begins, you can arrive at the maternity hospital ahead of time and spend extra days there. If you do not understand how to behave in attempts, the risk of perineal tears is higher. And if you do not mentally prepare for the process, you can get very scared, do not trust the doctor and midwife, which also does not contribute to a soft delivery. nine0003

/rody-v-mashine/

How I paid 113,500 R for childbirth, but gave birth in the car myself

Because of the fear of natural childbirth, many women choose a caesarean section without sufficient reason. The number of such operations is growing: according to WHO, every fifth child is born by caesarean section, and the operation is not always performed for medical reasons.

Increase in caesarean sections - WHO

Sometimes caesarean sections are indispensable - for example, when a vaginal delivery threatens the health of the mother or baby, but unnecessary surgery can be harmful. nine0003

In my opinion, preparing for childbirth helps to remove fear and dispel unfounded fears before childbirth, which means that more women will give birth without surgery if they have no contraindications.

Also, physical activity is usually included in the preparation for childbirth. This will make it easier to endure childbirth, recover faster, and not gain excess weight.

What a woman who is preparing for childbirth must know

Anastasia Belova

obstetrician-gynecologist of the Fomin Clinic network, Moscow

First of all it is worth finding a source of reliable information about how the process of giving birth to a child occurs both from the side of the woman and from the side of the fetus. You need to understand the biomechanics of childbirth: how it begins, how the baby goes, what attempts and contractions are, what the outpouring of water looks like, and so on. nine0003

It is important to choose schools and courses for pregnant women carefully so that a woman is not taken in the wrong direction - it often happens that under the guise of preparing for childbirth, they promote the refusal of medical interventions and the help of doctors, home births and other things that run counter to evidence medicine and common sense.

My preparation for childbirth

According to international recommendations, women who were physically active before pregnancy can continue their usual activities. Those who have not been involved in sports before can choose safe activities based on their training: yoga, Pilates, walking. nine0003

Physical activity during pregnancy - American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Physical activity during pregnancy reduces the risk of gestational diabetes, emergency caesarean section, postpartum depression and many other problems, helps to recover faster after childbirth.

Physical activity for pregnancy - American Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC

During pregnancy, it is not recommended to engage in injury-prone and contact sports such as skiing, ice skating, rollerblading, team games, and the like. nine0003

Before pregnancy, I led a fairly active lifestyle: I went hiking, skiing, cycling, often and for long walks, periodically visited the gym and swimming pool.

When I found out that I was expecting a baby, I changed my physical activity.

Walks. Until the end of the first trimester of pregnancy, I only walked. I tried to walk every day, at least an hour. She walked about 7,000-10,000 steps a day.

Water aerobics for pregnant women. From the 13th week of pregnancy, I began to attend group water aerobics classes for pregnant women.

The coach urged me to find out from the doctor about the absence of contraindications before the start of classes, and, if possible, bring a certificate. Trainings were held twice a week and lasted no more than 45 minutes. There we performed exercises with various equipment, dived under water, getting objects from the bottom of the pool, paid special attention to breathing, balanced on the water and relaxed. nine0003

Thanks to the classes, I learned to breathe deeply, to exhale air through my nose and mouth into the water for a long time, while immersing myself, to hold my breath. And also, classes in the water helped me relax, swelling decreased from them and my back hurt less.

/sport-pregnancy/

How to keep fit for health benefits during pregnancy

I was engaged in the pool until the 40th week of pregnancy, that is, almost until the very birth. A subscription to water aerobics cost me 2300 R per month, I went to training for about six months. For classes, it was necessary to buy a cap and swimming goggles, a swimsuit. I already had all this. nine0003

Training also helped me during childbirth. In the process, I breathed, imagining that I was exhaling air into the water, as we were taught in the lessons in the pool. This perfectly distracted me from pain and helped to endure contractions more easily.

Water aerobics classes for pregnant women can be spent from 14,800 R

Subscription for 6 months

13 800 R 9000 for pregnant. I did it once or twice a week at home using the free MaMagerya app on my smartphone. nine0003

These sessions focused on opening the chest and pelvis. We did exercises to help get rid of cramps and maintain body tone.

The training sessions lasted about an hour, consisted of a warm-up, a training part and relaxation. Every week, new exercises were opened in accordance with the load allowed at this stage of pregnancy.

Such exercises helped me to strengthen the muscles of my legs, back and arms. After training, I felt cheerful and filled with new forces. nine0003

/list/sports-myths/

“We need to close the carb window” and 9 other common myths about sports and health

From the inventory, I needed a yoga mat and a fitball that I already had, as well as a yoga brick — instead, I used small sofa cushions.

Home yoga equipment can cost 1750 R

Fitball

800 R

Yoga

550 R

Yoga Brick

400 R

Bath. I also went to our home bath about once every two weeks. She was in the steam room at a temperature of +60-80°C for no more than 15 minutes. I made no more than three visits, I always drank a lot and put on a hat in the steam room. nine0003

My pregnancy passed without complications and contraindications, in other cases, the bath may be prohibited - you should definitely consult a doctor.

Is it possible for pregnant women to go to the bath

Anastasia Belova

obstetrician-gynecologist of the Fomina Clinic network, Moscow

You can go to the bath at any stage of pregnancy, if there are no contraindications from the general health of the woman or the fetus:

It is important to bear in mind that after pregnancy, tolerance to high temperatures, very humid or dry air may change. It is desirable that someone be next to you, you do not need to visit the bathhouse alone, especially if this is the first time.

Even if a woman is used to bathing in a "cool" bath, she should not immediately do as before: it is better to start with low temperatures, not spend a lot of time in a hot bath for the first few times. Those who are not fond of the bath, all the more need to start gradually. nine0003

Otherwise, you may feel worse, you may faint. Red flags: dizziness, nausea, weakness, heart palpitations. If such symptoms appear, you need to leave the bathhouse or sauna, it is advisable to sit down and ask someone to stay nearby in case you need help.

Physical activity recommendations for pregnant women who have not previously exercised

Duration of lessons

30-40 minutes per day, minimum 150 minutes per week

Number of lessons per week

minimum 3-4

intensity

Light or average, you must easily maintain conversation during

Environment

Avoid overheating, monitor the access of fresh air

It is important to drink and sniff out for the use of fresh air

hour before class

Recommended exercise

Walking, swimming, yoga, Pilates, light aerobics, exercise bike, light weights

Non-recommended physical activities

Injury and contact sports, scuba diving, jumping, running, training in the mountains at high altitude

My preparation for childbirth

During pregnancy, stretch marks, or striae, may form on a woman's skin. They look like stripes on the skin, more often appear in the abdomen, thighs, chest and buttocks.

Stretch marks after pregnancy - NHS

At first they are pinkish-red in color, and the skin on them is slightly convex. Gradually, the striae increase in length and width, become dark, and eventually turn pale, but usually do not disappear. They do not cause harm to health, but they can cause discomfort, as the appearance of the skin changes.

Some women are very complex because of the presence of stretch marks on the body and try to hide them under clothes, feel uncomfortable on the beach in a bikini.

The appearance of stretch marks on the skin during pregnancy is difficult to prevent. Even if they were avoided during the first pregnancy, they can still appear later. It depends on the elasticity of the woman's skin, how she gains weight, and other factors. nine0003

During my pregnancy, I took care of my skin to make it more elastic. This approach does not guarantee that stretch marks will not appear, but I was lucky - after two pregnancies, there were no marks left on my skin.

Monitored nutrition. This is necessary to prevent sudden weight gain - it increases the likelihood that striae will appear. With an increase in body weight, stretch marks can appear even without pregnancy. Thanks to nutrition, my weight increased gradually, I think this affected the condition of the skin. nine0003

/list/obstetrics-gynecology/

“Pregnancy is not a disease, it does not need to be treated”: 19 important questions for obstetrician Oksana Bogdashevskaya

I followed the drinking regimen. I drank at least one and a half liters of pure water a day. Drinking enough water is basically important, and I think it helped keep the skin hydrated.

I applied oil to my skin and massaged my body with a dry brush. I used Weleda oil, spent two bottles and 2000 R. I did massage to improve blood circulation in the skin. nine0003

There is no evidence that skin care products prevent stretch marks, although many creams and oils claim to be effective. And yet, it seems to me that from oil and massage my skin became more elastic and well-groomed. I bought

My preparation for childbirth

Perineal tears during childbirth are common, it is not always clear why this occurs. The risk is higher if the birth is first, the baby is large, misplaced, or the labor is long. nine0003

Perineal massage to reduce perineal trauma - Cochrane systematic review

To prevent tears, I decided to do perineal massage from the 34th week of pregnancy, the technique I found on my own. First, I took a warm shower or bath to relax my muscles, and then I massaged in a comfortable position.

Perineal massage - a systematic review in the International Journal of Urogynecology

As a lubricant, I bought oil for the skin of the intimate area from Weleda, it cost about 1000 R, one jar was enough. nine0003

I did this massage in both pregnancies. There is some data on its effectiveness, but in general, the method has contraindications, so it is better to consult a doctor.

Is it worth doing perineal massage during pregnancy

Anastasia Belova

obstetrician-gynecologist of the Fomina Clinic network, Moscow

Perineal massage during pregnancy is not included in standard recommendations. The soft birth canals of a woman - the vagina and cervix - are already ready for the child to pass through them without additional measures, this is evolutionary. In addition, due to hormonal changes, by the end of the third trimester, the extensibility of tissues still increases, they become more elastic. nine0003

There is some evidence that perineal massage is beneficial in preventing tears during labor, but two facts must be taken into account:

1. For this procedure to be safe, a woman must be able to perform it. That is, she needs to be taught this - and taught correctly. Firstly, it is not so easy to massage the perineum when you have a big belly, and secondly, you need to know what to massage. There are many qualified pelvic floor specialists abroad who train women, but we do not have such. nine0008
2. Perineal massage can be harmful if the technique is violated, it is not indicated for all pregnant women. In addition, many women do this procedure not with special lubricants, but with various oils. This can, for example, cause an exacerbation of vulvovaginitis - inflammation of the external genital organs, which, on the contrary, increases the risk of ruptures, because the inflamed tissues lose their elasticity.

In medicine, as in any field, there are fashion trends, but the basic rule is the same - do no harm. Do not be zealous and pay too much attention to perineal massage. So, I had a case when, because of this, a woman went into labor with a large hematoma in the vagina. nine0003

It is important to know that even a proper perineal massage does not guarantee the absence of tears. Their most effective prevention is careful tactics of labor management and proper obstetric care: do not push when it is not necessary, do not stretch the perineum in the process, do not do unnecessary vaginal examinations.

My preparation for childbirth

Offline courses. During my first pregnancy, I attended paid full-time childbirth preparation courses. They are primarily needed to prepare psychologically for the process. nine0003

In the perinatal center where I was registered, they held free conversations with pregnant women, but they were at an inconvenient time and not in the format I wanted. As a result, I chose paid courses. In 2018, a month of such classes cost me 8,000 rubles.

Classes were held twice a week in the fitness center. The teacher was a woman - a mother of three children, with a psychological education and experience in helping other women in childbirth. There was only one woman in the group who already had a child, the rest were pregnant for the first time. nine0003

I think that such courses are definitely worth attending for those who have their first child. In the classes, I received a huge amount of knowledge about how childbirth goes, how to breathe properly, how a partner can help, what medical manipulations can be applied in the maternity hospital and for what.

/list/pregnancy-courses/

6 prenatal courses recommended by parents

In addition, we were told how to breastfeed, how to help yourself with milk stasis, how to feed a nursing mother, how to care for a baby in the first months of life, how to recover after childbirth. nine0003

In each class, after the theoretical part, we did physical exercises - something like Pilates. They also did art therapy and sang lullabies for their future babies.

It should be noted that a calm, sincere atmosphere reigned in the group, we were relaxed, shared thoughts, experiences, experiences, fears. I even found a friend there - we have been family friends for more than three years, our children go to the same kindergarten.

Online courses. During my second pregnancy, I also took a course on preparing for childbirth, but already online. This allowed me not only to refresh my knowledge, but also to learn something new, to note the features of the course of the second birth. In 2021, the course cost 16,000 R, but I got it for free, as I won it in a drawing on a social network. nine0003

After the course, I compiled a short cheat sheet about the stages of childbirth and what sensations may arise during them. These notes helped me to find out what stage I am at, how long it will last, how much time I have before leaving for the hospital. I note that the second birth went very smoothly, slowly, I easily survived them.

/platnie-rodi/

How much does it cost to give birth in Moscow

How I defeated the fear of childbirth

During my first pregnancy, I was afraid of childbirth because I didn't know what to expect. After a course on preparing for childbirth and communication with women who had already given birth, my fear disappeared.

I can’t say that I went to the first birth without excitement and anxiety, but I didn’t feel fear at all. By the way, the first child was born in partner labor, together with her husband, which also gave some confidence. True, in the process, my husband rubbed my sacrum heavily, trying to alleviate the pain during contractions. nine0003

During my second pregnancy, I knew about childbirth not only in theory, but also in practice, I understood what I should prepare for, how to behave in different periods, how to relax and save strength. As a result, I gathered my will into a fist and spent maximum time at home, in a calm and relaxing environment, and went to the hospital exactly at the moment when I needed it.

/i-want-to-hold-your-hand/

My husband and I had partner births

It was easier for me to experience contractions in the second birth on the fitball, although in the first birth it did not help alleviate pain and even irritated me. nine0003

Another way to reduce fear is to choose a doctor you trust. I learned about such an opportunity in the perinatal center of our city, but such a service was not provided there. We do not have private maternity hospitals, so we had to rely only on ourselves. In the end, everything went well, I think my psychological readiness played an important role in this.

Remember

1. It is better to learn about what childbirth is, not only from the stories of women who have already given birth, and find good courses in preparation for childbirth, which pay attention to psychological readiness for the process. nine0008
2. It is worth preparing for childbirth not only mentally, but also physically: if there are no contraindications, physical activity is a must.
3. Perhaps partnered childbirth will be a great option to solve the problem of fear of childbirth. You can also arrange delivery with a doctor you trust, if possible.
4. Perineal massage should not be performed unless there is indication and one hundred percent certainty that the technique is correct.

   ---

   Learn more

   • 
     Spotting in 15 week of pregnancy
   • 
     Birth of baby by operation
   • 
     Taking newborn out in winter
   • 
     Why do newborns vomit
   • 
     When does morning sickness symptoms start
   • 
     How to get more milk
   • 
     Normal stool for babies
   • 
     How many times a day should an 8 month old eat solids
   • 
     Dehydrated baby head
   • 
     What do cramps mean during pregnancy
   • 
     How to deal with a child that doesnt listen