It is officially baby month for me! I am due on November 27th and just over 36 weeks along. These last nine months have flown by, and Danny and I can’t wait to finally meet our baby girl. However, something tells me she *might* be trying to hang out until December.

Since around 32 weeks, I’ve shifted my focus towards prepping my body (and mind) for labor and delivery. As a first-time mom, I am doing a few things to feel calm, confident, and ready for when the day comes. In this post, I’m sharing how I’ve been prepping for labor and delivery! I hope these labor prep tips help you if you’re also preparing to have a baby.

How I’ve Been Prepping for Labor and Delivery

Drinking Red Raspberry Leaf Tea

Red raspberry leaf tea tends to spark a bit of a debate over whether or not it truly helps your body for labor and delivery. My philosophy is that it doesn’t hurt to try, and I’ll do just about anything that might make labor go a little smoother!

If you’re not familiar with raspberry leaf tea, it’s believed to help strengthen the uterus and ease pregnancy symptoms. Some studies have shown that regularly drinking the tea can help shorten labor, reduce complications, and lower the need for interventions during birth.

If you’re thinking about trying red raspberry leaf tea, definitely check with your doctor or midwife about when to start. Many moms begin with one cup a day around 32- 34 weeks, increase to two cups a day by 34- 36 weeks, and then move up to three cups a day for the remainder of the pregnancy. Since it is considered a uterine tonic and can stimulate pelvic floor muscles (which may increase contractions), some providers recommend waiting until later in pregnancy.

Personally, I don’t mind the taste of the tea on its own (both iced and hot). If you’re not much of a tea person, there are lots of recipes out there to make it more palatable!

Eating Dates Every Day

Before pregnancy, I wasn’t someone who regularly ate dates. Like the tea, I don’t mind the flavor, but I do wish the texture were different! Still, some research has suggested that the consumption of dates during late pregnancy can positively affect the outcome of labor and delivery. Some of the favorable outcomes that have been found include shorter labor and reduced need for induction.

I’ve been eating 5- 6 dates on their own most days, but have also tried them in smoothies and with peanut butter for a snack. Recently, the viral “date snickers” have been making their rounds on Reels and TikTok, which look delicious and only require a couple of ingredients (dates, chocolate, peanut butter, and coconut oil). Definitely on my list to try!

Staying Active with Stretching, Yoga Ball Exercises, and Walking

Before pregnancy, I  was fairly active and usually mixed up my workouts with floor pilates, walking, running, hiking, yoga, and strength training. The first trimester hit me hard, and I was lucky to get in a daily walk or two. Once I started feeling better around 12 weeks, I returned to my typical two to three 20-minute walks a day. These days, even at 36 weeks pregnant, I try to aim for at least 10,000 steps a day.

Now that I’m in the third trimester, I’ve been focusing more on daily stretching and yoga ball exercises to stay comfortable and encourage optimal positioning. Some of my favorite stretches are cat-cows, child’s pose, hip rocks, and butterfly pose. With my yoga ball, I like doing hip circles, figure-eights, tils, squats, and gentle bouncing.

Overall, I’ve had minimal pain and discomfort during this pregnancy, which I credit largely to walking regularly. I haven’t had back pain, but lately I’ve started to experience a bit of sciatica down my left leg, depending on the baby’s position. I’ve also reached the point where it feels like everything pops when I get out of bed or off the couch. However, considering what pregnancy puts your body through, those feel like minor complaints! I’m hopeful everything will settle back to normal in the weeks after birth.

Taking Classes With my Husband

One of the ways that Danny and I have been preparing together for labor and delivery is by taking childbirth and parenting classes together. The hospital that we are delivering at offers free courses that we have been able to take together. We’ve signed up for the birthing, natural childbirth, breastfeeding, and newborn care classes.

As first-time parents, it’s been helpful to learn what to expect and how we can support each other through the remainder of pregnancy and in the fourth trimester. They have also been something to look forward to doing together and help us feel prepared for what is next.

We’ve taken about half of the classes in person, but for the last two (childbirth and natural childbirth), we decided to do them online from home. Once we finish, I plan to practice some of the labor positions with Danny, since I won’t have a doula. I think it’ll be a great way to make sure we both feel comfortable and prepared when the time comes.

Listening to Birth Podcasts

In addition to classes, I’ve been listening to birth podcasts during walks, drives, or while doing chores. Hearing other women’s stories has been surprisingly encouraging, and it’s helped me go into birth feeling more informed and empowered rather than fearful.

One podcast I’ve been loving lately is The Great Birth Rebellion. After listening to Episode 167: “Pushing Out Your Baby”, I felt so much more confident about the pushing phase of labor, which used to be the part I was most nervous about. Hearing real, positive birth stories has made a big difference in my mindset leading up to delivery.

Nesting and Getting Ready for Baby

Now that I’m nearing the end of pregnancy, nesting is in full swing! I’ve been sanitizing baby gear, washing baby clothes, and setting up our bedside nursery. No matter how much I check off the list, it always feels like there’s one more task to do.

I’ve also been prepping postpartum essentials, setting up our diaper caddy, and making sure everything we might need is within reach once we’re home from the hospital. Having our space feel clean and organized helps calm my mind and makes me feel more ready for those first few chaotic weeks.

Even though I know we’ll never feel completely prepared, nesting has been a really sweet way to channel all the excitement and anticipation into something productive.

How I’ve Been Prepping for Labor and Delivery

As I get closer to my due date, I’m realizing that no amount of preparation can fully predict or prepare me for how labor and delivery will go. However, doing these little things has helped me feel calmer and more confident heading into it. From drinking tea and walking daily to taking classes and nesting, it’s all been a way to connect with my body and get ready to meet our baby girl.

I know labor will have its own surprises, but I’m trusting that my body knows what to do and that everything will unfold as it’s meant to. For now, I’m soaking up these last few weeks of pregnancy, finishing the final touches on our home, and counting down the days until we finally get to hold her!

Thanks for reading! If you’re also prepping for labor and delivery, I hope this post was helpful to give you some labor prep ideas. As always, you can find me on Instagram @maddie_deer here. You can also follow me on my Facebook page to be alerted to any new posts here. If you have any questions or tips on prepping for labor and delivery, I would love to hear from you in the comments or my DMs! 🙂