Any advice for someone about to go into labor?

I'm 39 weeks, 3 days pregnant and I'm looking for serious answers from women who have already given birth. Do you have any advice for women who still have to have their babies? Anything you learned from your experience that you wish you knew ahead of time? Serious answers only, please. I know that it's going to hurt, etc.Any advice for someone about to go into labor?
Make sure you have everything packed and ready to go. Always be sure to keep an open line of communication with those who will be going with you to the hospital. My husband and I planned that if I went into labor around rush hour traffic (we live in Atlanta, traffic is awful) and my husband couldn't make it in time, my inlaws would drive me to the hospital and my hubby would meet us there. Pack a ball or sock or something to sqeeze. My labor didn't hurt too bad until they broke my water at the hospital. Bring funny movies and such to lighten the mood. But the best advice I can give is read up on newborn care like bathing and dressing the umbilical cord stump and all before the baby arrives. I was so busy reading about pregnancy that I didn't read about newborns. When we brought my daughter home, we were scrambling through books to find out what to do! One more thing, we were lucky and had a Dr's appointment the day I went into labor. I thought it was braxton hicks, but they hooked me up to the machine and said ';go to the hospital';. We got there around 4:30 on Friday, missing rush hour by 30 mins.Any advice for someone about to go into labor?
Most of all just relax and have a nicwe good person with you to help!! I have 4 kids and each was different but I also had an sob as a husband that made it very rough!! Good Luck and just relax and let things flow!!
Remember how strong you have been in hard times!You will make it,I know its scary but Its just another bump in the road and once its over you get the best most beautiful gift for all you endure!!Also, buy lifesavers they help while you cant eat or drink anything.
I had my daughter 3 months ago..... i was at 3 cm for 3 weeks so i had a good advantage..... i also got the epidural when the baby was just about out ... so pretty much for no reason.. some good advice would be use the tub...... it relaxing so you get your mind off the pain...... do alot of squats .... the breathing tech. works for some but not all.





GOOD LUCK!!!


:0)
stay at home as long as you can if you water doesn't beak and you aren't to far from the hospital it was the best thing I did with my first I walked through my labor sat in the tub and slept in my own bed until it was rapid close together contractions I got there and gave birth within 20 minutes. With my second my water broke so i spent the night in the hospital and it was not a easy or comfortable it seemed longer and harder.
Things I learned by going through labor 3 times: your water breaking does Not feel like you're pee-ing on yourself, it actually has a rather gross slimy feeling and once your water breaks it will continue to trickle every time you have a contraction for a while. A comfortable pair of slippers (if your water has not broke) or a pair of crocs (if it has) is a must for all the walking they make you do to make sure its actual labor and to get things moving along. The nurse is never close by when your body says its time to push and your couch will have to go running down the hall to find them. Even when you are having a relatively painless labor that is progressing on its own the nurses will not let you get some sleep before its time to push, so if you think the time is near take a nap instead of running around your house trying to make everything perfect. And finally...it will take an entire travel size pack of diaper wipes to change the first poopy diaper and the nurses will not do it for you. And the second and third diapers aren't any better so take a full size tub of diaper wipes and a refill just to be safe. They provide diapers but not diaper wipes.
I don't know from experience, but my mom had 5 VERY quick labors. I asked her about the labors and she said that the reason hers were so quick is because she just completely relaxed during her contractions and let them do their job. If you tense up then your body has to work even harder and the labor will be longer. Hope this helps some!
Well, I wish I would have known the difference between false labor, early stages of labor and when it was neccessary to go into the hospital. This is only something that you would remember from experience. I went into the hospital having contractions and kept bragging about the fact that labor is a breeze, these don't even hurt. After sitting in the hospital half a day they sent me home and told me to come back when my contractions were closer. By the time I got home (they were alot worse). Next time I will know to wait it out a little longer so that when it becomes really intense I will be in the care of a doctor and not sitting at home again! lol
Just relax mostly and have a good breathing coach in there with you just concentrate through the contractions.Dont let little things distract you. Dont have alot of people in the room with you..thats what distracted me the most too many people in the room. Of course it will hurt but it will be all worth it at the end when you hold you baby for the first time. Good Luck