Pack Light: 5 Things I Wish I Had In My Hospital Bag (And 5 Things I Definitely Didn’t Need)

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Your birth plan

A good friend of mine who is also an experienced L&D nurse once told me that all nurses have an inside joke that the best thing for moms-to-be to do is leave their birth plan at home and forget about it because providers surely will. It was a joke but she did stress that labor and delivery can be unpredictable and often women get so committed to intentions like natural birth, breastfeeding or banning pacifiers from their newborn’s presence that they often make those first few days of motherhood more difficult than they have to be by having unrealistic expectations. Communicating with your doctor during prenatal care is key so that your non-negotiables are made clear, but be open-minded to the fact that birth can go in an entirely different direction than planned. As black women especially, it’s important that we communicate with our support people and medical team about anything we think might interfere with a safe and healthy delivery or what we need to feel comfortable and supported. However, if epidural is looking like an attractive option after a few contractions, remember a change here or there doesn’t have to mean a difficult or unpleasant delivery.

Toya Sharee is a sexual health expert who has a passion for helping young women build their self-esteem and make well-informed choices about their sexual health. She also advocates for women’s reproductive rights and blogs about everything #BlackGirlMagic and #BlackBoyJoy. Follow her on Twitter @TheTrueTSharee or visit her blog, Bullets and Blessings.

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