Your birth, with a little more “I’ve got this.”

Reach out if you notice cramps, low backache, menstrual-like cramping, bloody show or loss of your mucus plug, more intense Braxton Hicks, nausea, diarrhea, an upset stomach, or contractions. You may not need in-person support yet; an update helps Emily understand where you are and be ready to leave.

If you are coping well, drink water, eat something nourishing, take a warm bath or shower, and try to rest. Even a little sleep can help you save energy for later labor.

Emily typically joins when contractions are strong and you feel you need hands-on help. A common pattern is contractions about 5-7 minutes apart, lasting around a minute, and very strong, but your emotional state matters more than a number. If you feel you need support sooner, say so. Travel may take up to two hours.

GBS is a naturally occurring bacterium that many healthy people carry. It is not an STI, and being colonized does not mean you are sick. A swab is commonly offered around 35-37 weeks; ask your provider whether you can collect the swab yourself.

If you are GBS-positive, your care team may recommend IV antibiotics during labor to reduce the chance of newborn infection. Ask whether an IV can be saline-locked between doses, and how the plan works with movement, a shower, tub, or home birth.

Gestational diabetes is high blood sugar that develops during pregnancy, often in the second or third trimester. Screening may involve a one-hour glucose challenge and, if needed, a longer fasting tolerance test.

An NST uses two abdominal monitors: one tracks baby's heart rate and one tracks contractions. It is non-invasive and often takes about 20-40 minutes. It may be recommended for concerns such as decreased movement, going past your due date, high blood pressure or preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, multiples, growth concerns, placental concerns, or a previous complication.

You may be asked to press a button when you feel movement. Ask what the test is looking for and what the next step would be if the result is not reassuring.

Induction uses medication or procedures to start labor. Reasons may include a postdates pregnancy, high blood pressure, diabetes, placental complications, growth concerns, infection, low fluid, age-related considerations, or an elective plan. The method depends on your cervix, gestational age, health, and why induction is being suggested.

Possible considerations include stronger contractions, fetal heart-rate changes, unsuccessful induction, infection, increased intervention, cesarean birth, and rare uterine rupture. Induction is usually not recommended in situations such as placenta previa, some baby positions, certain uterine surgeries, cord prolapse, or an active genital herpes outbreak. Your specific situation matters more than a generic list.

Bishop score: your provider may score cervical position, consistency, effacement, dilation, and baby's station. A higher score generally means the cervix is more ready; a lower score may mean cervical ripening is needed. Ask what your score means for your options.

TOLAC means trying labor after a previous cesarean; if the birth is vaginal, it is called a VBAC. Whether it is an option depends on your prior incision, medical history, current pregnancy, provider, hospital resources, and individual circumstances.

• Ask how often your provider and birth location support VBAC.
• Review your previous cesarean records and uterine incision.
• Ask about induction, augmentation, monitoring, movement, and emergency plans.
• Prepare for more than one possible outcome; a cesarean is not a failure.
• Continuous labor support, position changes, and a supportive team may help you feel more prepared.

Try not to insert anything into the vagina until you have spoken with your provider. If you are unsure, uneasy, or baby is moving less, contact your care team or go in for testing. They can use a simple fluid test or microscope test to determine whether membranes ruptured.

Duration: time from the beginning of one contraction until it ends. Frequency: time from the beginning of one contraction to the beginning of the next. Track for 10-20 minutes when the pattern changes rather than staring at the timer continuously.

Fear or feeling unsafe can activate a fight-or-flight response. Tension in the jaw, shoulders, fists, legs, and pelvic floor can make sensations feel harder, which can create more fear. This is not a failure; it is a cue that you may need more safety, information, quiet, support, or a new coping tool.

If it is an emergency, your team may need to act quickly to keep you and baby safe. If it is not an emergency, it is reasonable to ask questions and take the time available to you.

• Informed consent: explanations of procedures, medications, benefits, risks, and alternatives.
• Privacy and dignity: respectful communication, permission before touch or exams, and care for your modesty.
• Refusal: the ability to decline a treatment or procedure after receiving information, when you are able to make that decision.
• Support: a support person, partner, family member, or doula according to the policies of your birth location.
• Compassionate care: your concerns and preferences deserve to be heard and addressed respectfully.

The first hour, or ideally the first two hours, is a time for recovery, bonding, and learning one another. When parent and baby are stable, uninterrupted skin-to-skin can support temperature, heart and lung function, blood sugar regulation, bonding, early feeding, and less crying.

• Ask whether routine checks can happen while baby is skin-to-skin.
• Discuss delaying weighing, measuring, bathing, and non-urgent interruptions.
• If you cannot hold baby immediately, your partner or another support person may be able to offer skin-to-skin.
• Even if the first moments are medically complicated, skin-to-skin can begin as soon as it is safe.

Delayed cord clamping allows more placental blood to transfer to baby before the cord is clamped. Potential benefits discussed in the handbook include improved iron stores, blood volume, oxygenation, immune support, cardiovascular transition, and respiration. Ask your care team what timing is recommended for your circumstances and who will cut the cord.

Hormones shift rapidly as your body adjusts to no longer being pregnant and milk production begins. You may notice heavier bleeding, breast tenderness, hot or cold flashes, mood swings, crying, overwhelm, feeding challenges, a fussy baby, and pressure from family or appointments. Keep visitors limited, rest, drink water, ask for feeding support, and let someone else protect your recovery.

Baby blues can include tears, overwhelm, fogginess, and anxiety and often improve within a few weeks. Mood disorders may look like anger, rage, not bonding, food changes, hopelessness, worsening symptoms, or frightening intrusive thoughts. You do not have to wait until it feels “bad enough.” Tell your provider, doula, support person, or mental-health professional what is happening.

On-demand feeding means responding when baby shows hunger, even if it feels early. Every baby is different; patterns matter more than a rigid schedule.

Many babies become fussy, feed constantly, wake when put down, and seem “starving” on the second night. This can be a normal response as birth hormones wear off and baby wakes up to the new environment. It does not automatically mean something is wrong or that baby is not getting enough.

1. Expect it so it feels less mysterious.
2. Re-create the womb with dim light, swaddling, and steady sound.
3. Use lots of skin-to-skin and trade baby-holding with your partner so everyone can rest.
4. Limit visitors and protect sleep.
5. Ask for feeding support if you are worried.

Milk production responds to milk removal. Your supply is initially hormone-driven, then becomes more responsive to demand over the first several weeks. As supply regulates, breasts may feel softer, leaking may decrease, and pumping output may change. Softer breasts or a lower pump amount do not automatically mean your supply is disappearing.

Colostrum is the early milk: nutrient-rich, full of antibodies, supportive of the developing gut, and naturally helpful for passing meconium.

Engorgement often peaks around days 3-5, though it can happen later. Frequent on-demand feeding or pumping, warm compresses before feeding, and cool compresses afterward may help. Watch for localized redness, swelling, pain, fever, or flu-like symptoms and contact your provider if you are concerned.

When choosing a bottle, consider a wide neck, flexible silicone nipple, slow flow for a breastfed baby, easy cleaning, pump compatibility, and durability. Follow your baby's cues and use a slower, paced approach rather than encouraging a baby to finish a bottle quickly.

These are not rules. Follow your baby's cues and ask your provider or IBCLC for individualized guidance.

Label and date milk, use the oldest first, thaw in the refrigerator or warm water, never microwave, and use or discard leftover milk within two hours.

Storage guidance can vary by source, temperature, and your baby's medical needs. When in doubt, ask your lactation consultant or care team.