If you are pregnant then you have probably been thinking that your due date is going to be here before you know it. At times, it feels like pregnancy lasts forever and then at other times it seems to speed right past you!

You are probably feeling a myriad of different emotions about your upcoming labor and delivery; happy, sad, scared, and nervous just to name a few. If this is your first child you are unsure of what to expect and even if it’s not your first child, then you are probably well aware that no two births are the same and that this one will be different than your previous labor and delivery experience(s).

There are many things to think about before the big day though, so today I am beginning a new series in which we talk about the various different issues involved in the upcoming labor, delivery, and hospital experience as well as how to plan for those experiences for women who are currently experiencing unplanned pregnancies. Some of these topics I may have covered individually in the past, but we will cover them again in this series as you prepare for D(elivery) Day.

As you begin to think of your upcoming labor and delivery, you will begin to think about how you want your hospital experience to play out. By taking the time to think on these issues now and making decisions about them now, it will create less stress and anxiety later and will help the experience go more smoothly.

A few of the issues to think about and that we will discuss in this series are:

• Choosing a labor support person/coach



• Writing a birth plan



• Who should be in the labor and delivery room



• Visitors during your hospital stay



• Packing for the hospital



• Leaving the hospital

And a few more so stay tuned!