by Mary Bubbins

Created on: July 03, 2008

You've waited nine agonizing months for this moment to arrive. You have practically begged for the contractions to begin, wanting desperately to survive labor and hold your bundle of joy. You have planned and organized the trip to the hospital and then revised those plans. You're sure that when the first pang is felt, the rest will go as smooth as ice. Even your husband seems more reliable than he's ever been. But the moment arrives and reality sets in. It's not quite as romantic and peaceful as you have imagined. All of your planning has disappeared into thin air. You are in pain and you want it out - NOW!

During your preganancy you have read all the baby books, practiced all of the breathing techniques and are sure that you will have everything under control when that first contraction hits. But take it from a mother of three; you are never completely prepared. You will almost certainly forget something that you want or need while you are at the hospital, and you are not going to remember it the day of. Calm and cool fly out the window, especially if it's your first child. Chaos can set in rapidly and this is why you need to be as prepared as possible before your baby decides to make its entrance.

No matter how many people may laugh at you, if you want to start packing your bag the day you find out you're pregnant then do it. Follow that motherly instinct that kicks in almost immediately. I promise that over the course of the following nine months, you will think of something new to add to it. Your bag is your security blanket. It will hold everything that is near and dear to your heart, it will contain all that you need and all that your new blessing will need as well. To forget the most trivial of items, such as your favorite body lotion, can be devastating.

While you are in labor, you are going to want any and all items that will help keep you calm. Once you have delivered, you will want any and all items that will make you feel human again. And once your baby is in your arms, you will want to be sure that you have any and all items that will welcome them into your world, your way. The birth of your child is the most monumental time in your life and so it is vital to be prepared as far in advance as possible.

Many women think that they can rely on their husbands to remember the essentials. After all, it's their special time too, right? No offense guys, but when your wife speaks, how much do you really hear? And when it comes to remaining calm once the contractions begin, he will be more concerned with keeping himself safe from you then he will be with gathering the list of items you have preached to him about for nine months. In fact, after he calls the doctor, his next call may be to the priest, for he will be convinced by this time that he has the excorcist on his hands! So ladies, don't place your faith in anyone but yourself.

One other factor that needs to be considered is an early delivery. Babies run on their own schedule. They don't care about due dates. And there is always the possibility that you're due date is off by a couple of weeks. It is for these reasons that you must also be prepared as far in advance as you can be.

The birth of your child is the most important time in your life, one that you will never forget. From the packing of the bag to the final push, it's all about you and what you want. If you are prepared from the day the little stick turns blue, happiness will surely abound.

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