Making the most of your labour and birth

Pack your hospital bag for your hospital stay from the eighth month onwards, in case your baby decides to arrive earlier than expected! 

For baby: 

5 or 6 bodysuits (for sizing, choose between newborn and/or 0–1 month depending on your baby's estimated size — some bigger babies can go straight into 0–1 month!) Opt for wrap-over styles to make dressing your baby easier, 

5 or 6 warm sleepsuits, 

2 or 3 wool vests, 

Slippers and socks,

1 or 2 hats, 

A hooded towel, 

A sleeping bag, 

A thermometer, 

A few bibs and muslin cloths.

PLEASE NOTE: Read carefully the list provided by your maternity unit, as it may vary depending on the hospital (some units provide nappies). 

For you: 

Toiletry bag, 

Towels, 

Administrative documents (medical file, health insurance card, family record book, health booklet…),

A cotton nightgown (maternity wards tend to be quite warm),

Booties, 

Nursing bras and suitable clothing if you plan to breastfeed,

A breast pad (We prefer washable ones as they are less irritating)

A mineral water mist spray (handy during labour and for cleaning your nipples),

A nipple cream,

A camera (to capture these precious first moments with your baby),

Your phone, something to read (you'll need to keep yourself occupied during baby's naps),

A skin-to-skin band (handy for tucking baby in and keeping them close without having to hold them), 

A night light (much more pleasant than the fluorescent lighting on the ward when tending to baby during the night),

A nursing pillow (your body will be very sore, and even if you're not breastfeeding it's useful for finding a comfortable sleeping position), 

A good pillow with a nice pillowcase if that matters to you,

A small supply of snacks (to restore your energy after this demanding experience and for the days ahead).

Think of the raspberry leaf herbal tea. It helps to tone the uterus and improve the effectiveness of contractions. It allows a significant shortening of the second stage of labour (by 9.59 minutes) and a lower rate of forceps deliveries. You can start drinking our herbal tea from the third trimester.
Dates are traditionally used by women. They may be effective, but you need to eat quite a few — 5 to 6 dates per day from 37 weeks. Do bear in mind, however, that dates are very high in sugar.
The belief that pineapple, green papaya or spices can help trigger labour is not supported by scientific evidence. 

There are several things that can be done to encourage onset of labour naturally:
Emptying the bladder with a catheter: so as not to create an obstacle that would prevent the baby's head from pressing on the cervix.
Changing position: this can help mobilise the pelvis and encourage the baby to engage.
Acupuncture: to allow the cervix to relax and dilate quickly after rebalancing energy.
Witch's thread massage: which allows the cervix to relax and dilation to resume. This involves massaging specific points on the cervix: the four cardinal points and the point at 11 o'clock.
Reducing pain and stress: managing pain and anxiety is important, as these factors can make things worse.
Haptonomy sessions generally offer to learn a few acupuncture points that a partner can stimulate to relieve pain during labour. Various positions for coping with contractions can also be practised. Finally, you train to contract the right muscles for an effective push on the day of birth.

Eating and drinking during labour may not necessarily be recommended, yet for low-risk pregnancies, studies show it is safe and may even be beneficial. Giving birth requires as much energy as running a marathon! You therefore need energy and carbohydrates.
Opt for nourishing, easily digestible foods in small portions. Think fruit, nuts, dates, snacks, and so on. Bone broth is nourishing, remineralising, easy to digest, and helps you stay hydrated!
Staying hydrated is always beneficial: drinking clear fluids speeds up gastric emptying and reduces gastric acidity, improves comfort, limits the stress caused by fluid restriction, and does not increase the risk of vomiting. Drink small sips frequently.