If you’ve decided to birth in a hospital or a birth centre, take a tour to become familiar with the space and to help you decide what you will or won’t need to pack in your hospital bag. Being familiar with the space and knowing what labour props they have helps to eliminate fear of the unknown when it’s time to go to hospital and helps you to clearly visualise your birth.

Stay at home as long as safely possible, ideally with support from your midwife or doula. Transferring to hospital too early can slow down or stall your labour.

YOUR ARRIVAL

• When should I come in?
• What’s the phone number I call to let you know that I am in labour?
• Where should we park?
• Where should we check- in and what documents do I need to have with me?
• After I check- in, what are the next steps?
• Who do I give a copy of my birth wishes to?

YOUR ROOM

• Can I see a room that is similar to the one I will labour and birth in?
• Are the lights dimmable? Are there lamps? Can I bring LED candles?
• Can I use diffuse essential oils in my electronic diffuser?
• Is there a bath or a birthing pool that I can use?
• What labour props do you have? For eg. birth balls, peanut balls, padded floor or yoga mats, bean bags, birth stool or squatting bar.
• Do you have bluetooth speakers? If not, can I bring my own?
• Do you have WIFI and can I use it? (If not, check your network is accessible in the labour ward/ birth centre).
• Can I take photos/ videos?

YOUR POSTPARTUM

• I’d like to get my placenta encapsulated. Can I take my placenta home? If so, can you store it in your fridge?
• Do you have a lactation consultant on staff to help me learn to breastfeed? When is she available and how often?
• Is there a microwave that I can use to heat up home- cooked meals? And a fridge where I can store food?
• How long will I stay in hospital after birth?
• Once I’m discharged, what postnatal support is available?

YOUR VISITORS

• What’s your Visitor Policy?
• Can my partner stay overnight? If so, will they sleep in a cot, couch, recliner, etc? Is there an extra cost?

This is your birth, your body and your baby. It’s your birthright to ask for what you want during labour, birth and the postnatal period. Becoming an empowered mama starts from the moment you conceive. Practise asking for what you want now during pregnancy so it becomes second nature during labour, birth and beyond.

Are you a tired, pregnant mama? Get your free 20 minute Guided Deep Relaxation (Yoga Nidra) to take you from exhausted to energised. Fill in your details HERE and I’ll send it to your inbox for you to download.

I’d love to hear your comments and questions in the COMMENTS below.