Preparation before giving birth: 13 things pregnant mothers need to note

In the late stage of pregnancy, many pregnant women start to think about what to prepare before giving birth. To avoid accidentally forgetting important things, save these 13 notes from aFamilyToday Health.

After months of pregnancy and being careful enough, the near-delivery period can make you even more worried about whether you are well prepared to welcome your baby? This is a common concern of pregnant women entering the last weeks of pregnancy. For more peace of mind, you can see if you have prepared all the following 13 notes.

13 things pregnant mothers should pay attention to before giving birth

Before giving birth, you should not only worry about the birth or the health of the fetus, but also need to pay attention to prepare for life changes after birth. For first-time mothers, this can be confusing because you haven't had any experience yet. aFamilyToday Health will help you solve this problem more easily with the following information.

1. Keep a healthy weight

The first thing you need to prepare before giving birth is to maintain a reasonable weight, because women who keep the recommended weight usually give birth faster. The weight of pregnant mothers is kept at an appropriate level to help improve flexibility and pregnant mothers will have enough strength to give birth without medical intervention. You can keep a healthy weight by applying a diet for pregnant women  or by exercising regularly as directed by your doctor.

2. Exercise

In addition to helping you get a suitable prenatal weight, exercise can also help pregnant mothers improve their health, reduce unpleasant symptoms during pregnancy and most importantly help mom go through the transition period. More convenient and lighter. You can choose to participate in fitness classes exclusively for pregnant mothers or practice the pregnancy exercises that are best for you.

3. Make a list of people who can help

Of course your husband will always be there when you are about to give birth, but at that time you will also need the help of someone experienced in things your husband cannot do. Therefore, when preparing a birth plan , make a note of each family member, friend you can support, and what specific work they can help you. Don't forget to get in touch with them early to make sure things go according to your plan.

4. Decide whether to breastfeed or bottle-feed

One of the things you should prepare before giving birth is to make a decision about whether you should bottle or breastfeed depending on your particular situation. However, you should keep in mind that during the first year of life,  breast milk can have many benefits for your baby's health . Breastfed babies are less likely to experience infections (especially diarrhea) and allergies than babies who drink formula.

Breastfeeding is both inexpensive, and it is always possible to feed your baby at the right temperature without heating or heating with special equipment. Breastfeeding is also especially convenient in case the mother and baby are traveling. Even if you have to get back to work early, breastfeeding your baby, even for just a month, can do many benefits for your baby. After you return to work, you can choose whether or not to continue breastfeeding, depending on your own needs.

You can offer formula if:

You decide not to breastfeed your baby;

You need to stop breastfeeding but the baby is still less than 1 year old;

You need to provide more nutrition for your baby because the source of breast milk is still not stable.

5. Reassure yourself

For mothers who have their first baby, the period from when the signs are about to appear until you actually go into labor can last 12 to 24 hours on average . For later births, this time can be shortened to about 8-10 hours . When uterine contractions start, you will feel the contraction in your lower abdomen or you will feel numb in your lower abdomen, then you should be very calm yourself. Anxiety will inadvertently make you pay more attention to the pain, and your breathing will become extremely heavy. Instead of worrying, let your body relax by walking or taking a bath.

6. Learn to massage

If you feel any discomfort and pain before labor, massage can help you significantly improve the condition. According to BabyCentre , massage can help relieve pain and anxiety in the early stages of labor - one of the three common stages of labor . In addition, during pregnancy, the benefits of massage for pregnant women are also quite diverse, such as reducing muscle tension, reducing headaches, improving sleep, ...

7. Supplies need to prepare before giving birth

The prenatal preparation process is definitely indispensable to purchase supplies for both mother and baby. However, you may be confused when there are so many things to buy, or wonder what  supplies are required for a delivery kit . To avoid missing essential items during delivery, make a list of what to buy early and complete this preparation about a month before the due date.

8. Learn how to breathe during labor

Another note that you should prepare before giving birth is to practice breathing during labor. Pregnant mothers almost always feel stress when giving birth. This not only affects psychology but can also make you tired, have difficulty breathing and increase the risk of complications during the delivery . Therefore, you should try to limit this condition by understanding how to breathe during labor . Breathing properly will help you calm down and can retain your energy to focus on giving birth.

9. Snacks need to prepare before giving birth

Snacking before labor will help mothers maintain energy in the early stages of giving birth. However, you should be careful to avoid foods that are fatty or are too hard to digest because a full stomach will create nausea and induce vomiting when you are about to give birth. Muscle spasms and rapid breathing make the body lose water quickly, so pregnant women need to drink enough fluids during pregnancy and if they go to the hospital to wait for delivery, every time they feel dehydrated, pregnant mothers should ask their relatives to get pregnant. drinking water.

10. Maintain a sitting and standing position

While you are about to give birth, you should try to maintain a sitting or standing position, because gravity will pull the fetus down, the baby's head will push the cervix to help the cervix to relax. In addition, you can squat or kneel to ease the pain in your abdomen, make you feel better, and give birth easier.

11. Prepare a name for your baby before the baby is born

First, you and your husband should exchange your favorite names, then look up the meaning of that name in the dictionary to understand it. You can also ask grandparents from both paternal and maternal sides, friends for further advice, but do not worry too much about these suggestions, because after all, the baby is your child and your husband, so your wife's preference is still. most important.

12. Learn how to restore health after giving birth

Being subjective about your postpartum health care can lead to serious health problems or postpartum depression . You will certainly be very busy taking care of baby new born, should spend some time in the last months of pregnancy to learn about life after birth , the diet after birth , as well as  how to restore health after birth . This will help you soon adjust to a new family life when there is a little angel.

13. Find someone to take care of your big baby

The last thing you need to prepare before giving birth is to find someone to help you care for other children if this is not your first time giving birth. Don't be afraid to ask for help from a relative, family or trusted friend. If you do decide to look for a babysitter or to hire a nanny, take a close look at your relatives and whether you can feel secure enough to hand over the child to the person you plan to hire.

Above all, what you need is a mentality of readiness and comfort. Do not be too pressured, stressed, pregnant mother!