Hello there,

I am about 24 weeks pregnant with my first bundle of joy. My pregnancy has been very easy, some people have told me about their worst pregnancy experiences and I feel completely blessed to have had it this easy! I have everything ready for when the baby gets home. I was wondering if other mothers would share with me what to bring to the hospital for the delivery. And tips and advice for labour and delivery and the first few days at home would me greatly appreciated! I am worried about the labour and delivery because I have a very small vagina. That is the one thing I haven't looked up yet. Any description and information would be awesome.

Thanks all :)

Well I would bring some magazines/book your own pillow, a picture to focus on when you're having contractions (I had a pic of my grandfather for example) Something to wear when you get ready to go home, an outfit for the baby to come home in. toothbrush and toiletries if you like to use your own special things for that and not the hospital's. A robe in case you want to get up and walk around. That's all I can remember =) I really couldn't tell you what to expect for labor because everyone is different. With me I had an epidural and when I felt like the baby was coming I felt a lot of pressure on my butt EXACTLY the same feeling I get when I have to go #2 that's how I knew it was time to push... As far as having a small vagina the DR should be able to tell you if you can deliver or have a c-section. Either way it will be over before you know it and you will have your little prince/princess in your arms and forget about the pain!

I cannot help you much with the labor part, or delivery, I had a c-section. Some of the things I took that helped during my stay: my cell phone (it costs money to call out on hospital phones), oversized slippers for your swollen feet afterwards, a notebook and pen (this was so valuable to me because the nurses would always want to know how much the baby ate, how many diapers and what time all of that took place, and I could never remember.) I also ended up sending my hubby to the store my 2nd day in the hosp for snacks, the hospital only provided 3 meals a day, which I did not find to be very good. My sister also made candy bar wrappers with my new little ones pic on them so when visitors came, I had something to give to them. Good Luck with everything!

Everyone helped you with what to take... I, as a labor and delivery nurse, will help you understand the labor process.

Okay, first I want you to use your imagination, it's hard to describe in words without being in person. Think of your uterus and cervix as a lightbulb. The uterus is the glass part of the bulb and the cervix is the lower metal portion of the bulb.

As you labor, your cervix, the metal portion of the bulb, gets shorter and shorter, it also expands and gets wider and wider. It opens from .5 centimeters to 10 centimeters. This is so that the baby can come through the vaginal canal. The vagina stretches to fit the baby, then goes back to almost completely pre-pregnant stated.

Now, what is worrisome is not really the size of the vagina, as it is stretchable, but the size of the pelvic inlet. The pelvic bones. They are not stretchable, but they do widen quite a bit for delivery.

As the baby descends down the vaginal canal, the canal widens to allow passage for the baby. The head is the hardest part of delivery, it does feel as if you have to have a bowel movement. This is how I know it's time to call the doctor at work. When my patients say they have to "poop" I know birth is imminent.