1. Keep Baby’s Room Ready

Make sure the baby’s room is clean, painted and furnished with a nice crib, baby monitors, changing tables and the essentials like diapers, lotion, wipes, clothes, formula etc.

2. Pack Your Belongings

The timing of the birth of your baby may take you by surprise. Pack a bag full of essentials in advance, including clothes and other accessories you will require for you stay at the hospital.

3. Speed Dial on Your Cell Phone

Remember to always have your cell phone on you at all times. Have a relative or friend on speed dial. If you live alone or away from family, make sure you save the numbers of two hospitals on speed dial. In case you can’t hail a cab, you can always call an ambulance.

4. Get Enough Sleep

One of the most important things to do before you head to the labor room is to get enough rest. Make sure you get at least eight hours of sleep regularly. I put sleep at the top of my list because you can never have enough of it.

5. Keep Your House Clean

Clean your house well in advance. You do not want to be scrambling to get the place tidy before you’re off to the hospital. And the last thing you want is to bring your baby home to a mess. It helps a great deal to get going on the cleaning early on. So put this down as a definite yes on your things to do before you head to the labor room.

6. Keep Having Fun

Don’t let your life and routine come to a complete halt in the days leading up to your baby’s birth. It is important to go out and have fun. Keep doing the things you love doing like shopping, hanging out with your girlfriends, etc. Once you have the baby, it will be a while before you can do the things you love again.

7. Don’t Miss Your Exercise

When I was pregnant I made sure I never missed my evening walks and afternoon swims at the club. I believe it to be one of the most important things to do before you head to the labor room. Being active definitely helps ease the process of child birth. Talk to your doctor about what activity suits you best.

8. Car Seat for Your Baby

It helps a great deal to have a nice car seat for your baby when you drive back home from the hospital, to ensure that your baby is safe and comfortable.

I believe child birth is beautiful and should not be feared. Just make sure you have done all the things on your list of things to do before you head to the labor room and it will smooth sailing from there on.

Top image source: 4.bp.blogspot.com