Understanding the Birthing Process
- Stages of labour: Understanding early labour, active labour, and delivery helps you know what to expect and manage anxiety as the day nears.
- Delivery options: Research choices such as natural birth, water birth, or caesarean section, and discuss your preferences with your healthcare provider ahead of time.
- Get informed: Attending a birthing class or speaking to experienced mothers can offer practical insights and help separate myths from facts.
Signs That Labour Is Near
- Common signs: Mucus plug discharge, lower back pain, diarrhoea, and regular contractions that grow closer together.
- Braxton Hicks contractions: These "practice contractions" may intensify in the final weeks — learning to distinguish them from true labour can help you know when it's time.
- When to contact your healthcare provider immediately: Bleeding, your water breaking, or reduced baby movement.
Preparing for Your Due Date
- Create a birth plan: Decide who to call, which hospital to go to, and the fastest route — a practice drive can help if possible.
- Coordinate with your healthcare provider: Agree in advance on when to head to the hospital based on contraction timing or other indicators.
- Assign roles: Let your partner or a close family member know their responsibilities on the day, so everyone's prepared.
- Stay flexible: Not everything may go to plan — staying calm and adaptable is key to a smoother experience.
What to Pack in Your Hospital Bag
- Essentials: IC and hospital registration documents, cash for emergencies, mobile phone and charger.
- Comfort items: Toiletries, comfortable loose clothing, entertainment such as music or a book.
- For baby: Newborn clothes, swaddle blanket, diapers for the first day.
Nutrition in the Final Weeks Before Birth
- Calcium and Vitamin D: Remain critical in the third trimester to support your baby's rapidly hardening bones and skeletal development.
- Iron: Helps maintain your energy levels and supports your increased blood volume as you prepare for delivery — reducing the risk of fatigue during labour.
- Probiotics: Support gut health and may help strengthen maternal immunity heading into birth, benefiting both mother and baby.
A fortified maternal milk like Nestlé MOM — containing folic acid, calcium, iron, probiotics, and DHA — offers a convenient way to meet your nutritional needs in these final important weeks.
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