Daily Short Blog #15
As my due date was getting closer, the excitement of finally meeting our baby girl was mixed with a few nervous thoughts about labor and delivery.
What would labor feel like?
Would I be able to handle the pain?
Would I be able to deliver naturally?
Would everything go according to plan?
Like many first-time mothers, I had plenty of questions.
So, in preparation for labor and delivery, I started researching different methods that might help me feel more comfortable during labor and, as much as possible, support the type of birth I was hoping for. My obstetrician also recommended a few things for me to try.
I know that every pregnancy and every labor experience is different, and not everything works the same way for everyone. Some of the things I did were simply part of staying active and comfortable, while others were practices I tried after discussing them with my doctor.
I’m sharing my experience here in the hope that it may be helpful to other moms who are also getting ready to meet their little ones.
At the time I wrote this, I was 38 weeks and 3 days pregnant, so I was definitely in the final countdown!
Here are some of the things I was doing:
1. Walking
Walking is one of the simplest ways to stay active during pregnancy.
My goal was to walk for around 15 to 30 minutes twice a day during weekdays, usually during my work breaks. Since I had a full-time desk job, these walks also gave me a chance to stretch my legs and take a break from sitting for long periods.
During the weekends, my husband and I sometimes spent around three to four hours at the mall or park. We would shop for our baby’s remaining essentials while naturally getting plenty of walking in.
I actually enjoyed these walks because they didn’t feel like a formal workout.
We were simply spending time together while getting ready for the arrival of our little one.
2. Drinking More Water
Staying hydrated was another priority for me.
Living in the Middle East, especially with the hot weather in the UAE, meant that I had to be more conscious about my fluid intake.
During pregnancy, adequate hydration is important for overall health and can help support normal circulation and other body functions. I tried to drink water regularly throughout the day rather than waiting until I felt thirsty.
I personally aimed for roughly 8 to 12 glasses a day, sometimes more depending on the weather and how active I was.
Keeping a water bottle nearby made this much easier.
3. Using a Birthing Ball
A birthing ball is essentially an exercise ball designed to be used during pregnancy and labor.
As part of my preparation, I spent some time sitting on mine and doing gentle movements such as:
- Circular hip rotations
- Gentle rocking
- Side-to-side movements
- Light bouncing
I found it comfortable, especially when sitting for long periods became difficult.
I had also read that certain positions and movements using a birthing ball may help with comfort and mobility during late pregnancy.
However, I want to point out that there is no guarantee that a birthing ball will induce labor or soften the cervix. For me, it was simply another way to stay mobile and comfortable.
And honestly, it was fun too! 😊
4. Squatting
Squats were another exercise I incorporated into my routine.
Squats can help maintain strength in the legs, hips, and pelvic muscles, which are all important during pregnancy.
I had heard that squatting could help encourage the baby into a favorable position for birth, but I didn’t want to assume that it would automatically trigger labor.
So, I treated squats as a form of exercise rather than a guaranteed labor-inducing technique.
I simply performed them gently and stopped whenever I felt uncomfortable.
5. Drinking Raspberry Leaf Tea
My obstetrician recommended raspberry leaf tea, which I drank as part of my preparation for birth.
Red raspberry leaf tea has traditionally been used during pregnancy and is often promoted as a way to prepare the uterus for labor. However, evidence supporting its effectiveness for shortening labor or preventing complications is limited.
For me, one unexpected benefit was that I felt it helped with my digestion.
Before drinking it, I sometimes had difficulty passing stool and would sometimes go every other day. While drinking the tea, I noticed that my bowel movements became more regular and softer.
Whether that was directly related to the tea or simply a coincidence, I can’t say for certain.
Still, it became part of my daily routine during those final weeks.
6. Drinking Pineapple Juice
I had also heard the popular idea that pineapple juice could help soften the cervix or induce labor.
But honestly, there isn’t strong scientific evidence that drinking pineapple juice can induce labor.
Still, I thought, Why not enjoy some pineapple juice anyway? 😊
As long as it was part of a normal, balanced diet and didn’t cause me any problems, I was happy to enjoy it.
Sometimes pregnancy preparation also means enjoying the little things!
7. Eating Dates
Dates were another thing my obstetrician recommended.
Before pregnancy, I had never heard about eating dates as part of labor preparation.
Some studies have investigated whether eating dates during the final weeks of pregnancy may be associated with cervical ripening, shorter labor, or reduced need for labor-inducing medication. The evidence is promising but still limited, so it shouldn’t be considered a guarantee.
I was happy to include them as part of my diet and enjoyed having something naturally sweet as a snack.
8. Having a Membrane Sweep
During my 38-week check-up, my obstetrician performed a membrane sweep.
A membrane sweep, also called a membrane stripping, involves a healthcare professional gently separating the membranes around the amniotic sac from the lower part of the uterus during a cervical examination.
I wasn’t entirely sure how effective it would be in my case, but I was willing to try it after discussing it with my OB.
A couple of days later, I noticed that I seemed to have lost part—or perhaps all—of my mucus plug.
The mucus plug is a thick, jelly-like substance that develops in the cervix during pregnancy and helps protect the uterus.
Seeing it was another reminder that our baby’s arrival was getting closer and closer.
9. Climbing the Stairs
And yes, I was also climbing stairs!
I’d heard that walking up and down stairs could encourage the baby to move lower into the pelvis because of the position of the body and the movement involved.
However, there is no guarantee that stair climbing will start labor.
For me, it was simply another way to stay active during the final weeks.
I had been doing it regularly for almost two weeks, and sometimes I jokingly wondered:
“Why didn’t I start doing this earlier?” 😂
But I reminded myself that I was already 38 weeks pregnant.
Better late than never, right?
The Takeaway
At this point, I still wasn’t sure whether all of these things would actually help me have the labor experience I was hoping for.
Walking, squatting, using a birthing ball, staying hydrated, eating dates, drinking raspberry leaf tea, and climbing stairs were all things I tried as part of my preparation.
Some were simply ways to stay active and comfortable, while others were based on advice from my obstetrician or things I had researched.
But one thing I knew for sure:
None of these methods could guarantee a natural or uncomplicated delivery.
Babies have their own timelines, and sometimes labor needs to be induced or a cesarean delivery becomes the safest option for the mother or baby.
So while I was hoping to deliver naturally and avoid labor-inducing medication when possible, I also wanted to remain flexible.
The most important thing was a safe delivery and a healthy baby.
“A mother’s strength is greater than she knows, and her heart knows the way even when she feels afraid.”
“She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.”
— Proverbs 31:25
Final Thoughts
Preparing for labor made me realize that so much of pregnancy is about learning to let go of control.
You can walk.
You can exercise.
You can drink your water.
You can prepare your hospital bag.
You can attend your appointments.
You can read every pregnancy article you can find.
But eventually, your baby will decide when it’s time to make an entrance.
And perhaps that’s one of the most beautiful lessons of becoming a mother.
I wanted everything to go according to plan, but I was slowly learning that motherhood doesn’t come with a perfect script.
Sometimes, you prepare as much as you can and then simply trust the process.
At 38 weeks and 3 days, I was nervous, excited, uncomfortable, impatient, and completely in love with someone I hadn’t even met yet.
Every walk, every little kick, every appointment, and every preparation brought me one step closer.
The waiting was almost over.
Soon, the little baby I had been carrying for nine months would finally be in my arms.
And whatever happened during labor, I just prayed that when that day came, I would have the strength to face it with courage, faith, and a calm heart.
Because the goal was never to have the “perfect” birth.
The goal was to safely meet the little girl we had been waiting for. ❤️
My First Pregnancy Journey
Our Simple Baby-Bee Shower At Rashidiya Park Dubai
Himalaya Evecare Capsule: My Fertility and Product Review
My First Pregnancy Journey: Feeling My Baby Move And Kick
Should I Be Scared With Labor and Delivery?
Reasons Why You Have To Do A Baby Shower
Get Motivated When Feeling Lazy With These Tips
My First Time As An Absentee Voter
My First Pregnancy Journey: My First Birthday as a Pregnant Mom
Originally Published: May 26, 2022
Updated: August 2026
Dude, I feel so sorry for him.