At the hospital

Wear comfortable clothes. You can wear a hospital gown. However, wearing your own clothes might help you feel more relaxed and comfortable. As labor progresses, you'll be working hard. Wear something that is loose and lightweight. If you get chilly, add a sweater or blanket.

Make yourself at home. Make the labor room your own. Arrange the chairs so you can be close to your partner. Open or shut the curtains. Turn the lights up or own. Play your favorite music. Turn the television on or off. Unpack your labor bag. When you decide to get into bed, raise or lower it into a comfortable position. Arrange the pillows and ask for more if you need them.

Share your birth plan. If you have a birth plan, share it with your nurse. Talk about your coping style and the comfort measures you'd like to try. Explain how they can help support you. Ask them to put a copy of your birth plan in your chart if one isn't already there.

Ask for what you want and need. The nurses and staff want to help you. Ask them for suggestions when you feel "stuck." They can recommend positions and comfort measures. When you'd like to be alone with your partner, tell the staff and your visitors. It is important that you feel you can share your concerns with your nurse. Ask to speak to the charge nurse if you are having trouble working with your nurse. 

Monitoring. You may be asked to lie in bed for a while in order to monitor your baby's heart rate and your contractions. If you are not being monitored or if the monitoring is done, you may sit in a rocking chair, walk or try another activity.

Move. Movement and changing positions can help speed your labor. It may also help your baby get into a better position for birth. Moving can help your body stay as comfortable as possible. Being tense and lying in the same position for a long time can slow labor and make it more painful. Spend part of your labor in a rocking chair or on a birthing ball.