Not only is it exciting to count down to the birth of your new baby, it can also be comforting. Planning a little each month to welcome your baby home keeps you organized and eases your mind. Follow our month-by-month guide and you’ll be more than ready when your bundle of joy arrives.

Month 1

• Find a prenatal health care provider by asking for referrals from friends or your general practitioner.

• Schedule your first prenatal appointment.

• Take prenatal vitamins or supplements, if recommended by your provider.

Month 2

• Become familiar with your (or your partner’s) insurance policy so you know what’s covered.

• Make an appointment with the dentist, as gum disease can increase your risk of premature birth.

Month 3

• Make a plan for how you’ll share your big news with family and friends; if you work, you’ll also need to prepare to tell your boss.

• Shop for some new clothes. Your pants will be hard to zip up soon, and you may want to look for a few starter items to tide you over until you’re bigger.

• Make a budget and start saving for gear for your new baby.

Month 4

• Start to think about day care. Will it be full time, in-home, or might you decide to hire a nanny? Weigh the pros and cons of each.

Month 5

• Start planning your maternity leave from work.

• Think about ordering baby furniture. It can take many weeks or even a few months for certain items to arrive.

• Treat yourself to a prenatal massage! You deserve the rest and relaxation.

Month 6

• Decide (roughly) when your last day of work will be and what kind of coverage you’ll need when you’re gone.

• Consider whether you’ll need a breast pump and then ask around for recommendations.

• Pre-register at the hospital where you’re planning to give birth to your new baby.

• Make a delivery plan and decide who you want in the room with you (and who can wait outside).

• Sign up for childbirth, infant care, and breastfeeding classes

Month 7

• If you have someone who wants to throw you a baby shower or other new baby celebration, pick a date and share names and addresses with her.

• Update your 401K plan and your will.

• Schedule a tour of the hospital or birth center.

Month 8

• Write up a birth plan and buy birth announcements (or design your announcements online).

• Pack your hospital bag and have it ready to go by the front door.

• Install your new baby’s car seat.

Month 9

• Pick up a few newborn diapers (but not too many -- new babies grow quickly!) and any layette or baby care items you're missing.

• Figure out how you’ll get to the hospital. Will your partner drive you or will you take a cab?

• Get a pedicure or do something else to help you relax during the last weeks!

• Checked everything off? Then congratulations! Now you can rest easy knowing that you did everything you could to prepare for your new baby.

There’s definitely a lot of stigma associated with water births, and because of that, it’s not something I’d initially planned to do. However, I liked the idea of a more natural childbirth, and reading testimonies from other women really made me feel like it was something I wanted to experience. It was through these birth stories that I began to consider a water birth. I’m someone who loves a good hot bath, which seemed like a much more appealing place to give birth than a hospital bed. So my husband and I found a great birthing center run by midwives, who were very supportive of our plan.

When the big day finally came, I was taken to one of the center’s birthing suites. Instead of a traditional hospital room, these suites have big, comfy beds and a massive private bathroom with a really deep tub. They still have all the medical equipment a hospital has -- it’s just tucked away in the closets and drawers, giving the room a homey feel. I also liked the fact that if anything had gone wrong, there was a hospital right across the street, so I felt very safe.

By the time we got to the room, all I wanted to do was get into that tub. My contractions were coming in intense waves, with very little break in between -- once I got in the water, it was almost relaxing. The water is kept at exactly 98.6 degrees, and you’re almost completely submerged. Don’t get me wrong: When those contractions hit, I could still feel a sharp pain -- but all that pressure I was feeling outside the tub all but evaporated. Even better, in between contractions, I could literally just float and rest up for the next push while the midwives made sure everything was okay with me and baby.

After the final push, the midwife put my daughter Paloma right on my chest and placed a warm wash cloth over her back. Unlike most babies, Paloma let out one cry then quieted down, because she was still wet and warm. It was so comforting in the tub that I don’t even think she realized she was out of the womb!

Once we were out of the tub, I was immediately wrapped in a soft robe -- complete with heating packs to make the transition out of the water less jarring -- and tucked into bed. The midwives were able to do all of the normal examinations of both me and the baby right there, then turned off the lights to let my husband, Paloma, and I get some much-needed sleep. We had an on-call button if we needed something, but otherwise, our new family was left alone to bond. 

I’d never try to talk someone into a water birth, but for me, childbirth is something I’ll go through just once or twice in my life, and I wanted to be fully present. A water birth was an ideal way to do so without all the pain of natural labor.

Photo by Alex Hockett on Unsplash

At 38 ½ weeks pregnant, I thought I was as emotionally ready as I would be at 40 weeks. I woke up at 12:30 a.m. feeling … wet. After going to the bathroom, I couldn’t tell if my water broke or not, or if my squished bladder was merely not cooperating again. My husband and I spent 20 minutes rereading our books and searching online “how to tell if your water broke.” The most telling advice I discovered from last-minute online searching: Lay down for 15 to 20 minutes, and if you get up and are leaking a lot (more than a trickle), it’s probably time.

It was good advice, as it turned out my water had broke, which means an immediate visit to labor and delivery to prevent infection to the baby. After a 20-second, in-shock-that-this-was-it panic attack, I ate a bagel, and off we went to the hospital. New mom tip: If possible, eat something before going to the hospital, since once you’re there, the rule is no food allowed.

On the way to the hospital, my contractions started, and over the course of the 17 minute drive, they increased in pain while decreasing in intervals. Once we reached labor and delivery, my contractions had greatly intensified, and no amount of breathing techniques seemed to ease my pain and discomfort. What kept me going was knowing our bundle of joy would enter our world very soon.

I was 2 cm dilated when we first got to the hospital, so I decided to get an epidural to help me through the physical pains of labor. It helped tremendously. I was able to rest and relax, since I knew the next 18 years would be far from restful.

After being examined at 8:30 a.m., my doctor said I would still be a while. But less than an hour later, I was feeling more intense pain and pressure. After receiving additional pain meds, the pressure just intensified. We informed a doctor who examined me again, and couldn’t believe I was 10 cm dilated. I knew to trust my instincts and was right.

At 10:05 a.m., I started to push. It turned into an out-of-body experience. Every possible ounce of energy that my body had stored was used to push, and just when I couldn’t push anymore, my doctor said to push harder. I was told to take a deep breath, and push for 10 seconds at a time. After pushing for what seemed like an eternity, my doctor announced that “this next part is called the ‘ring of fire.’” Note to doctor: Don’t tell a woman in labor she should anticipate feeling a ring of fire. The most surreal part of the experience was the doctor telling me to reach down and touch the top of my baby’s head, which was part extremely bizarre, part extremely fascinating.

Once the head made it through, my baby seemed to swim right out into the world. In total, I pushed for 27 minutes -- a relatively easy delivery -- and the most amazing love of my life was born. She was 6 pounds 9 ounces of perfection. As I held my new child in my arms skin to skin, I could not have ever dreamed up a better feeling.

Photo by Lucy Wolski on Unsplash

A popping sensation woke me up, and as soon as I stood up, there was no denying that my water had broken. Once I cleaned up the mess, I reached for my natural childbirth course notes. My husband and I took a twelve-week class to get ready for childbirth, and the course helped prepare us for what would come -- emotionally, mentally, and physically.

Even though I was a first-time new mom, I felt a deep sense of calm. I felt like I had the knowledge and tools to succeed at my goal of a natural childbirth. I peacefully labored at home for a few hours. I even did the dishes before we left! But the contractions -- and pain -- got worse on the drive to the hospital. Taking slow, deep breaths and repeating a positive mantra helped a lot.

My hospital room had a big tub. Although I was initially hesitant to get into the water, it helped relieve the pain of the natural birth experience so much. My husband also firmly rubbed my lower back, which helped alleviate the tightening sensations. In between contractions, I thought about my body’s progress; I visualized my cervix opening and the baby moving down. I was in the tub for a few hours, and by 3:00 p.m., my midwife wanted me to get out so she could check my progress.

It’s really true -- you will suddenly feel an undeniable urge to push when you’re ready. I pushed for three hours, which isn’t a long time, but it’s certainly getting up there! My energy was waning, and my midwife decided an episiotomy (a surgical incision on the outside of the vagina) would help the baby get out. I’m so glad we took childbirth classes because it helped us make an educated decision. I got the episiotomy, and my baby -- who I discovered was a boy! -- was born two pushes later.

Henry was born a little after 7:30 p.m. He was alert, and his breathing and color were great. Although I was exhausted by the grueling physical process of labor, I was able to really live in the moment. It was incredible, and I will never forget those first few minutes of Henry’s life.

Having a natural birth was a very empowering experience. A woman’s body is truly amazing. It’s undeniable that natural childbirth hurts…but I wouldn’t change a thing, and I plan to do it again for our next baby!

Photo by Ava Sol on Unsplash