Pregnancy

During your prenatal visits, talk with your doctor or midwife about what you would like to happen during your labor. Consider writing up your labor and delivery preferences in a birthing plan, either in a Reference childbirth education class or on your own. You can find examples of birthing plans on parenting websites.

Because no labor or delivery can be fully anticipated or planned in advance, be flexible. Your experience after labor begins may be totally different from what you expected. If an emergency or an urgent situation arises, your plans may be changed for your own or your baby's safety.

When making plans for your baby's birth, consider the Reference location of your delivery, Reference who will deliver your baby, and whether you want Reference continuous labor support from a Reference doula Opens New Window, a friend, or family members. If you haven't already, this is also a good time to decide whether you'll attend a childbirth education class, starting in your sixth or seventh month of pregnancy.

Learn about labor and delivery ahead of time. Think through your preferences for comfort measures, pain relief, medical procedures, and fetal monitoring. And think through how you want to handle your first hours with your newborn. For more information, see the topic Reference Labor and Delivery.

Planning to breast-feed

Plan ahead for breast-feeding by learning about breast-feeding and finding a good Reference lactation consultant Opens New Window ahead of time and buying necessary supplies. For more information, see the topic Reference Breast-Feeding.

Reference Reference Breast-Feeding: Planning Ahead

Cord blood banking

Sometime during your pregnancy, you may get information about cord blood banking. Cord blood is the blood left in the umbilical cord after birth. Think about whether you want to bank your baby's umbilical cord blood for possible future use.

Opens New Window Pregnancy: Should I Bank My Baby's Umbilical Cord Blood? Opens New Window

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This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Reference Terms of Use. Reference How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.