JUST BEFORE THE BIRTH
YOUR TO-DO LIST
■ Finalise your birth plan, which lets your doctor or midwife know how you’d ideally like to manage your labour and birth. It covers topics such as pain management and possible emergency intervention (such as a c-section). Bear in mind, however, that a birth plan isn’t written in stone. “A birth plan is never rigid and can change, as labour is extremely dynamic,” says Johannesburg-based gynaecologist Dr Kiran Kalian.
■ If you’ll be giving birth at home, do the final things to make sure the environment is warm, suitably lit (with dim lights if you prefer), quiet, private and supported. Your midwife will do a home visit to help you with the setup as well as give you a list of what to get ready.
■ If you’ll be giving birth in a hospital, make sure your bag is packed and ready to go.
■ Practise the relaxation, visualisation and breathing techniques you’ll be using in labour.
6 SIGNS THAT LABOUR IS ABOUT TO BEGIN
Your body starts preparing for the birth of your baby weeks before the Big Day. Here are a few signs that you don’t have long to go.
■ “The baby’s dropped!” People may start saying this as you start carrying noticeably lower - your baby is starting to move lower in your pelvis. “This may be accompanied by some sharp shooting
