Things To Make Your Birth Experience Even More Special...

On Instagram, I asked the question, "What's one item you brought with you or one thing you did to make that birth experience extra special?" I didn't expect the responses to make me cry the way they did. Everyone shared the sweetest ideas. Some of which I hope to take with me to my last and final delivery in just a few weeks.

I wanted to first share some of the things I've done with my past four deliveries that have been really special. These are some things I've loved having or knowing with each birth experience. And then at the bottom of this post I wanted to share some of your ideas as well / some I hope to take with me this time around.

As for my entire hospital packing list, I'll share that soon.

AT THE HOSPITAL BEFORE DELIVERY:

• I've prepped a birth playlist that I love playing in the room to set a calm and peaceful vibe. Don't forget a bluetooth speaker! I'm still working on modifying mine for this birth, but you can find what I've compiled so far, here.

• I love asking the hospital for a stability ball I can bounce on. It always has felt better to me to be moving a little bit then stuck in bed while laboring. I also love to walk around a bit and have liked a peanut ball for in between my legs when lying on my side. You can ask the hospital for these extra things and they should have them on hand.

• I prefer my IV to be in my forearm rather than my hand - much more comfortable. Remember to use your voice in the decisions you make at the hospital! Even things like epidurals can be titrated and given at different doses.

• Bring your own pillow and soft blanket! The blankets at the hospital are not as comfy.

• I have loved having a mirror during delivery to watch baby come out. This time, I'm going to ask my doctor if I can help reach down and pull baby out to help birth him when he's coming. But being able to see my babies coming has given me motivation during the pushing phase and also is just the most miraculous thing ever. I've loved that.

• I love asking the nurses to keep quiet during the pushing phase so it's only my husband and doctor talking softly. These moments have been deeply spiritual and powerful for me.

• I've never had a photographer in the room - just Bry and I. And so I love setting up a tripod and filming little things as I want. I like setting up the camera at the top of the bed to get a view looking down when baby comes. It's been so special to have that footage. This time I'm going to have both my phone and camera recording from two different angles.

• Have your plan but be open to change. Unexpected things may happen! Before going into delivery, visualize yourself having an open mindset the entire way through.

• If you ever feel overly anxious/nervous or unexpected things happen, remember to BREATHE. Breathwork has become such an integral part of my deliveries and it's something you can always have control of when other things seem out of your control. Focus in, and breathe.

• If there's any way to make yourself more comfortable, ask the nurses - extra blankets, pillows, chux, moving the bed positioning... just ask!

• If any of the providers say something that rubs you the wrong way or push you to make, a decision you don't agree with, USE YOUR VOICE!! You have been gifted extra intuition with your babies and it's important to understand you have choices. If there's a student nurse or student who wants to come in the room and you don't want them to, just politely let the nurse know your wishes. Again, use your voice!

• Remember nobody has the ability to take away your joy from this experience, except yourself.

• I love taking a moment before the pushing phase to look at Bry and connect with him and even say a little prayer.

• If you want baby on your chest right after you push them out, just let the nurses know. If you'd rather they quickly rub them off a little bit, that's also an option.

• I always tell the nurses I'd love the baby on my chest as soon as possible and also would love as much alone time in the room with baby after they arrive, to breastfeed and bond and have them on your skin. You'll hear this magical window of time called The Golden Hour and I soak up every second of it that I possibly can.

AT THE HOSPITAL AFTER DELIVERY:

• So much snuggling and so much skin to skin! My favorite ever.

• Remember you have so many resources for breastfeeding at the hospital if it's hard for baby to latch or you are experiencing any struggles. Lactation specialists are amazing and love to help!

• We always pack a massage gun in the hospital bag, and Bry always gifts me a massage while I lay on my stomach, that first or second night. It feels like heaven.

• Bry loves that skin-to-skin time just like I do. If your husband wants to have some time bonding, encourage him to take off that shirt and try some skin-to-skin. It's magic.

• If you don't want visitors, voice that to your family and friends beforehand! They should understand! And if they don't, it's not your problem. ;) If you'd rather Facetime people all at once, do that! If you want the visitors, let them know. If you want to have them come during certain hours only, do that! Again, communicate and use your voice to clarify exactly what you want. This is your special time.

• Depending on the hospital, sometimes they'll have, "Do not disturb" signs for the door. You're welcome to use that all you want. The nurses or techs may still give you quick visits for check-ups and to take vital signs, but if you can tell them to cluster their care whenever possible, I highly recommend that.

• I always take thank you cards and a little gift for my nurses and doctor or anyone involved in the delivery. You can even write the notes beforehand so they're ready to go and add their names in, after delivery.

• DoorDash a favorite meal to the hospital - I don't love hospital food and Bry and I always DoorDash a fun meal to us that first night.

• While everything is still fresh in your memory, take some time to write out their birth story over the next 24 hours. I bring my books that I have for each of my kids to the hospital and have the nurses put their hand and footprints in the opening pages for me, and then I write out their birth story details so I don't forget anything. A little note to my babies from myself that I hope they'll treasure forever. It's so fun to write about not only the birth, but what their name means to you, and how you first felt when meeting them, or features that stood out to you, etc. Just all the special little "first" moments.

• We like to have our kids come in one at a time to get introduced to baby, instead of all at once. It's really special to let them have that one on one time and a whole lot less chaotic. Then you can also film their individual reactions and get pictures with just them and baby. It has been one of my favorite things we've done.

• Bring your own snacks!

• Don't forget your camera and take lots of pictures and videos. They're the best to have!

• This time around, I bought a disposable camera for each of my kids and I'm going to let them take some of their own pictures at the hospital and throughout that first week of having baby home. I'm SO excited to see what they capture from their perspective.

• Don't forget a cute baby outfit you can change them into to snap some pictures and also something to go home in! I've learned with my smaller babies to buy premie sizes that seem to fit more snug for those pictures!

Again, I'll share my hospital packing list soon, but those are some of my favorite things we've done.

Some of your responses / things you've loved... these are direct quotes!

• "Polaroid camera! My most treasured memories were captured that way!"

• "Another fun idea is to let your older kids be in charge of the Polaroid and re-live that first meeting with new baby through their perspective!!"

• "Study how to cope with the pain of an unmedicated birth because it might unwillingly happen and having that knowledge to endure without an epidural will come in handy."

• "I like to bring their baby book with me! In the quiet, peaceful moments, I like to write down my hopes, dreams, or wishes that I have for them as they grow."

• "A giant bag of Brookside açaí chocolates best thing I brought last time, and bringing one this time around too!"

• "Having my husband be my doula. Telling him exactly what I wanted before, what I envisioned. It helped so much he was 100% in and it was so bonding to lean on him."

• "For those who are religious, say a prayer with your husband/partner as you begin active labor! It brought such a special feeling to the entire experience. Nothing like remembering there are angels and ancestors helping you bring your baby safely into the world."

• "Right after the birth we requested our first hour or so with the baby was just myself and my husband, no other family. It was very special."

• "With my last baby my doctor gently took my hands and guided them down as my baby was coming out and she helped me lift him out and onto my chest. There was something so beautiful and special about that feeling of bringing him out and onto me with my own hands and I would have never even thought to do that if she hadn't taken mv hands and guided me."

• "I brought thank you notes for my nurses so l could write them while I'm there! It was so nice to acknowledge them. Just wish I would have handed them to them instead of giving to the manager."

• "Your own socks and pillow! I don't know why but I could never get good rest, even for an hour with the hospital pillows. Even though the stay was short for all my kiddos, having those two things made a difference."

• "A photographer/videographer!! Having my births documented was priceless & and have them video when your kids meet baby too! Having someone else do this for you lets you be completely in the moment instead of worrying about taking the pictures and videos."

• "I had a mirror with my third baby and I loved watching my body work to deliver him!"

• "Speaker and a good playlist."

• "Bring a portable fan!"

• "Telling the staff you'd appreciate if they'd only have essential conversations in the room. Helps keep the spirit and vibe as you want it. Too many times have I heard nurses talking about their personal lives as I'm in the middle of a contraction or pushing and it just kills my focus."

• "Essential oil diffuser and my own comfy birthing gown! Both helped me feel way more comfy and relaxed."

• "We brought an iPhone tripod and with all the nurses consent, we filmed the delivery up by my head. We didn't want anybody else in the room so this was the perfect way to document the delivery and those first few moments without hiring a photographer. It nothing professional but it's special."

• "I haven't had my last yet, but I like to bring lots of snacks for me and my husband. That hospital food just doesn't quite cut it for me."

• "We have journals for our kids and we both write an entry at the hospital while we're anxiously waiting!"

• "Foot massager! It may seem excessive but it felt amazing, especially with how swollen my feet were by that point. We also brought a basket full of snacks and drinks for the hospital staff who helped us to choose from (which in return helps put everyone in a good mood for a more comfortable experience.)"

• "I brought a bunch of those battery tea light candles and put them around the room so we could have some less harsh lighting. Oh and a diffuser so the room would smell nice!"

• "Sound machine and sleep mask to be able to get any sleep."

• "Noise cancelling headphones and a playlist always!"

• "I always bring Christmas lights to hang somewhere in the room. I love it!"

• "Essential oil diffuser and my own comfy birthing gown! Both helped me feel way more comfy and relaxed."

• "I brought my journal and wrote while I labored. It was nice to document how I was feeling!"

I hope reading through this post makes any of you expectant mothers excited. And I hope you can pull some ideas from this list + also create your own memories and start your own traditions. It's the most special time and I am genuinely SO excited for any of you mamas ready to give birth. My birth experiences have been ones I could re-live over and over and I cannot wait to do it again in just a few weeks.

Let me know if you have any questions, and I'll also continue to add to this list as I think of more!

xx

Meg