Take it from Jennifer Ashley at Pretty Little Details ... Keep the Labour Gown in your Hospital Bag.

A lot of the other stuff, you can omit from the checklist.  But a gown to birth in AND to wear afterwards for nursing at the hospital...those are essential!  

   Check out prettylittledetails.com for pointers on why or why not to bring your whole list to the hospital for labour and delivery.  We can't forget about those couple of days postpartum, too.  Think about being in the hospital, having visitors, and having a newborn...

Don't forget the Mom-to-Be on Mother's Day!  

Leave the baby gear to the baby shower and treat her to something special for herself...a Labor Gown from Pretty Pushers!  There's a special discount code at this link:  http://parentinginprogress.net/mdfashion/9/

Note to women preparing for birth:

The Unisex hospital gown has no opening for the fetal monitor so they will be pulling up your gown an awful lot :(  The pretty Pushers labor gown, however, provides easy access for the fetal monitor so you can keep your skirt on during labor :)  Get comfortable.  Get mobile.  It's your choice!

Induced, but Unmedicated

Birth story:
I was induced at 39w1d due to a history of precipitous labor, large baby and pph.
I really did not want to be induced, but it was necessary and medically responsible.
I got quite a few side eyes from the nurses when I walked in and proudly read off my birth plan: an induction without pain management. I knew how intense the contractions would be with an induction, as I was induced with Kyliana. Despite their initial judgements and probably laughing to themselves, they were incredibly supportive in my decision.
The pitocin began...