Planning for baby's arrival

Your due date is getting closer - and the excitement and anxiety you are feeling about bringing your new baby home is growing every day. To be prepared ahead of time, you should tour the birthing facility and take childbirth education classes. This will give you information about what to expect on the big day, what to bring, and what to have ready for your new baby.

Action Steps And Things To Consider

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For Fun

Many methods have been used over the years to predict whether the baby will be a girl or a boy. You may encounter some of these "old wives tales" over the course of your pregnancy. Even though they don't have a scientific basis, they can be fun to consider!

  • Place your wedding band on a piece of string. Hold the string over your abdomen with the ring working like a pendulum. If it swings side to side it's a boy. If it swings in circles it's a girl.
  • If you carry high, it's a girl. If you carry low, it's a boy.
  • If the baby has a rapid heartbeat, it's a boy. If the heartbeat is slower, it's a girl.
  • If you prefer to rest on your left side while resting, it's a boy. If you prefer lying on your right side, it's a girl

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The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 2002 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

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Encouragement + An Assist = Success

Nine days past her due date, Sara Howe was awakened at 3:00AM when her water broke. Thrilled that the long wait was finally over, Sara and her husband David packed up and headed to PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center. By 5:00AM they were comfortably settled into one of PeaceHealth Southwest’s Labor Delivery Recovery and Postpartum rooms, ready for action. But four hours later, Sara contractions had still not progressed so her midwife started her on Pitocin. Soon the contractions kicked in and Sara was well on her way.

At around eight o’clock the next morning, it was time for Sara to start pushing. So she pushed. And she pushed, and she pushed, and she pushed. "The first few hours of pushing went by without me realizing the time," remarked Sara. "But around the fourth hour I started to wonder if I was still making progress. That is when the encouragement of my midwife, husband and the PeaceHealth Southwest nursing staff kept me going. It was like I had my own cheering section."

Unfortunately, even with all the support and encouragement, Sara’s labor was not progressing because her baby’s head was tilted in the birth canal. Neither Sara or her midwife wanted her to have a Cesarean section after all that work, so her midwife suggested an assisted delivery. Read more >

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