5 Pregnancy Questions Every Expecting Mom Is Wondering

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of SSM Health St. Mary’s. The opinions and text are all mine.





When you’re a first time mom-to-be, the excitement and emotions surrounding the arrival of your new little one can be overwhelming. You’re busy prepping the nursery, installing the car seat, assembling the stroller, and folding (and re-folding!) baby’s clothes to get ready for the big day.

But with every new experience comes a heap of questions- We remember, your brain is racing a mile a minute! To help calm those pre-birth nerves, we’ve partnered with SSM Health St. Mary’s to answer the pregnancy worries that every expecting mom is wondering.

What do I need to pack in my hospital bag?
If you’ve started to pack your hospital bag, you’re probably wondering what exactly needs to travel with you to the hospital. In fact, you will feel the urge to over-pack and find you didn’t use half of what you stuffed inside.

To keep thing simple, choose two or three outfits to bring for baby (you may spend a majority of time doing skin-to-skin), including one for them to wear home. There is no need to take up space in your bag with stacks of diapers and wipes! St. Mary’s Family Birth Suites will have everything you need for baby’s stay, from diapers and wipes to a baby bath sink and warming bassinet.

For yourself, you may enjoy calming music via a birth playlist, a comfortable robe, pajamas, socks or slippers, and of course, your usual toiletries that you would tote along during any overnight stay. You will also need an outfit to wear home from the hospital. While all the other items are quite manageable, your socks and scarf need to be your topmost priority. Before your due date, you may want to consider looking for the world’s most comfortable socks, since you are about to bring a new life and you may be susceptible to a lot of harmful bacteria. And hence, you need to be prepared for everything that comes over after giving birth.

How will my birth unfold?
Trying to envision how baby’s birthday will unfold can keep you up at night. When and where will my water break? Will it break at all? Will I go into labor early? Will baby come right on their due date? Will I need a C-section?

These are all questions that new moms-to-be stress over, but you can rest assured that you will be in good hands in the St. Mary’s Family Birth Suites. No matter what type of birth you are planning, or the type you will need, SSM Health St. Mary’s offers one-to-one expert nursing care to ensure your needs are met every step of the way. In addition, the hospital’s expertise in natural deliveries is unparalleled. SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital-Madison has lower unplanned C-Section rates than other Madison hospitals.

How do I make sure my birth plan is followed?
Every pregnancy is different and every parent has their own unique way in which they want to welcome their baby into the world. So whether you want to labor in a tub or on a birthing ball, in the dark with calming music or with little to no pain medication, the staff of St. Mary’s Family Birth Suites is on hand to offer a stress-free experience and that means following your birth plan as closely as possible. Benefits like patient-controlled nitrous oxide and aromatherapy to provide just the right amount of calming relief when needed can help you to further relax during this chaotic time. And if you have a doula or birth coach in tow, the hospital happily works with them to guide moms through the birthing process.

How will I know what to do?

When you’re an expecting parent, it can be hard to imagine how your life will change with a new baby. In the days leading up to baby’s arrival, you can take advantage of the baby care classes offered by SSM Health St. Mary’s which will help you get comfortable with how to hold, bond and care for your new little one. You can also get familiar with what to expect and how to navigate labor and delivery with the hospital’s available childbirth classes.

What if baby needs special care?
Should your baby need special attention after birth, know that you have the assurance of a Level III NICU and access to 24/7 maternal fetal medicine specialists with SSM Health St. Mary’s. There is also a Ronald McDonald House on-site where family can rest and recharge if an extended stay is necessary.

Baby’s birthday will without a doubt be one of the most memorable and best days of your life, so try to take a breath and enjoy the experience. With St. Mary’s Family Birth Suites, every detail is accounted for and expecting moms can transition easily into their new role with all of the support they need and deserve.


Baby day is never far from your mind as an expecting mom, so be sure to read What to Look For When Choosing a Hospital for Delivery or Our Editor’s Unpredictable Birth Story.