Birth Day: Key Decisions To Make Before You Go Into Labor

Attention, all y’all who are pregnant for the first time! Your due date is rapidly approaching, and it’s time to decide—about everything. Now, I know you want the day to be magical. You don’t want to plan everything down to the last detail. But believe me, it’s not a good idea to wing it. Do everyone a favor and make these key decisions before you go into labor.

We’re not talking about your official birth plan, with all those details about pain management and breastfeeding. These are the options you might not have considered, or thought you could figure out spur-of-the-moment. Not a great idea. Y’all will be focusing on breathing, so don’t count on any clear thinking in the delivery room.

When To Turn off the Camera

Video of your child’s birth can be a treasure. It can also be unwelcome if it turns out to be less photogenic than you were expecting. Make sure you set some boundaries about where the camera can go, and remember you have the right to change your mind at any time. Establish a safe word or hand signal so there’s no confusion.

What To Do With the Cord and Placenta

If y’all buried that brochure about cord blood banking under a pile of burp cloths, dig it out and read it. When it’s time to cut the cord, you can’t hem, haw, or say, “Explain stem cells to me again.” The same goes for the placenta. There’s no end to the things you can do with it—including planting it or preserving it.

What To Name the Baby

OK, I’m prepared to have some of y’all disagree with me, but hear me out. I know you might want to wait and see “what the baby looks like” before you choose a name. Let me save you some time: the baby will look wrinkled, ancient, and crabby. If that’s how you’re choosing the name, at best, you’ll end up with Yoda, and at worst, Nosferatu. At least narrow down some name finalists before the baby arrives.

Whether To Circumcise

If you have a boy, your doctor will ask you about circumcision. The correct answer is not a blank look. Y’all can make your choice based on ethical, religious, or cultural reasoning, but stalling for time with “Um…” isn’t going to fool anyone. It might not seem like a key decision to make before you go into labor, but let us assure you that it will be a pretty big deal to your newborn son.

When You Want To Leave

You might have the option to stay at the hospital for two days after you give birth, where you can catch up on sleep and get help with the baby. Or you might rather get out of there and go back home, where you can bond more privately. If you prefer a 12-hour discharge, let the staff know early.

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