You’ve made it past the first 28 weeks and only have a few weeks left before the baby is born. Take a few deep breaths, connect with your baby, and prepare for your new life as a parent. Ditch the mile long to do lists and prioritize the most important things during your last trimester.
[title size=”2″]1) Create a Birth Plan[/title]
Your support team is there to honor the type of birth you wish to have. However, if they are unaware of your birth plan, how can they help you achieve your ideal birth? Or worse, if you are not certain about the type of birth you wish to have, you may fall victim to the agendas of others. Become clear in your vision, write it down, and maintain communication with all parties of your birth team. Important considerations for the birth plan include:
Labor and Delivery:
- People in the room
- Birth Environment
- Pain Management
- Birthing Positions
- Vaginal Exams
- Time Limits on Pushing (if any)
- Monitoring (intermittent, continuous, etc)
- Preferences if complications occur
After Birth:
- Skin to Skin contact
- Vaccinations (Hepatitis B, Vitamin K)
- Breast Feeding vs. Formula supplementation
- Instructions about baby leaving room
- Instructions regarding cord clamping
- Placenta encapsulation
- Circumcision
[title size=”2″]2) Pack your Birth Bag[/title]
Pack the bag with your birth partner so he/she knows what is in the bag and where the items are located. Here are some essentials for the birth bag:
- Birth Plan
- Clothes for Baby (including take home outfit)
- Disposable nappies
- A change of clothes for yourself (take home outfit and extra undies!)
- Socks
- IPOD or CD player to play music
- Camera (with extra batteries or charger)
- Food snacks and drinks
- A Water Sprayer
- Lip Balm
- Massage Oil
- Items to help with Pain Relief (i.e. Essential Oils, (Warm) cloth Nappies and bucket for water, Homeopathic remedies, Lacrosse Ball, Calcium Foods)
- Bendable Straws
- Cell phone and charger
- Nursing Bras
[title size=”2″]3) Put the car seat in the car properly[/title]
Make sure that the baby’s car seat has been properly installed and has passed a safety inspection. Health care professionals will not allow you to bring home your little one unless all the safety recommendations have been met. Here is a website where you can find locations of Child Car Seat Inspection stations throughout Georgia. http://www.safercar.gov/cpsApp/cps/index.htm
[title size=”2″]4) Ensure that your hips are in proper alignment[/title]
With all the hormonal and gravitational changes that take place during the last trimester, it is so important to make sure that your hips are in proper alignment (so the baby has the optimal amount of room for proper growth and development). Research shows that chiropractic adjustments during pregnancy reduce intra-uterine constraint, labor times, and the chance for a potential cesarean section. In addition, these adjustments allow you to have a more straightforward delivery with less pain and trauma.
If you have any questions about your third trimester of pregnancy, or would like to make a chiropractic appointment, call Corrective Chiropractic at 404-355-5499.
