What are your tips for a healthy pregnancy?

Get in the best health you can before or as soon as you get pregnant — mental health, physical health, relationships, spiritual health, financial health, etc. Some specific things you can do are regular mediation (I like the free app Insight Timer), regular exercise (walking and yoga are great), and nourish your body with healthy foods (eat more veggies than meat, foods should be as close to natural as possible, limit processed foods).
‍Dr. Nicole Calloway Rankins, OB/GYN

‍Take great care of yourself. Learn to utter that simple two-letter word "no". For this nine months, put your psychological, physical, emotional and spiritual needs first! Creating that "me time" is essential for creating a safe space to connect with your baby and yourself in your new role as a parent to this baby, whether it's your first or not. Take a short walk. Take a dance class. Meditate. Pray. Draw. Spend time with loved ones. Create and find the time to do whatever helps you to feel centered and like your best self. Don't forget to add caring for yourself among your long list of daily duties.
Thamarah Crevecoeur, Certified Nurse Midwife

How do I make a birth plan that actually works?

Making a birth plan is largely about understanding what will influence your birth, like how your provider and hospital approach birth. It’s also important to understand that birth is an unpredictable process. You can’t plan your birth and your provider can’t plan your birth (no matter what they might tell you). You can of course have birth preferences, or wishes! Understanding the unpredictability of birth and remaining flexible during your birth are key to being satisfied with your experience.
‍Dr. Nicole Calloway Rankins, OB/GYN

‍To make a birth plan that will work for you, it is important to know what you want. Learn about the labor and delivery care model wherever you are delivering your baby. Take a childbirth education class. Learn about the different labor pain medication options. Talk to your provider about your expectations and your desires and ask your provider to please document that in the medical chart. Take a tour of the Labor and Delivery Unit. Plan to have a support team, whether family and friends or a trained professional. If you can, hire a doula.
‍Thamarah Crevecoeur, Certified Nurse Midwife

In labor, how will I know if I should have interventions?

While you might not know right away, it is your medical professional's job to know when you should have interventions. What you can - and should - know is why an intervention is being proposed, what it's benefits would be to you and your baby, what the risks of the intervention would be, what would happen if you did not have the intervention at all, and what would happen if you waited and readdressed things in an hour or two. Providers aren’t always good about explaining these things so don’t be afraid to ask. At NO TIME should an intervention happen without your consent. What you also can - and should - do is educate yourself before labor about possible interventions by taking a comprehensive childbirth education class.
‍Dr. Nicole Calloway Rankins, OB/GYN

‍The key to knowing whether an intervention is right for you and your baby is to ask questions. Why is this intervention being recommended? Is this necessary? Are there side effects for me or the baby? Are there any alternative options? What could happen if I decline? How is this intervention going to be performed? What and how should I expect to feel after if it is performed? If there is not an emergency situation, please feel free to always ask for some time to think about the intervention and discuss it with your support team.
Thamarah Crevecoeur, Certified Nurse Midwife

How can my partner support me in labor?

Every person is different in how they'd like their partner to support them. Some people want vocal encouragement and touch. Some people don’t want to be touched at all. Your partner needs to be flexible and realize your wants and needs from them may change.
‍Dr. Nicole Calloway Rankins, OB/GYN

‍Be truly present for the whole process of childbearing: prenatal appointments, learning about the pregnancy journey, taking a childbirth education class together, etc. Discuss your expectations and birth plans with your partner so that you can be on the same page. In labor, I always encourage partners to use one at least of these support tools: hand holding, words of encouragement, massage, and support with position changes.
‍Thamarah Crevecoeur, Certified Nurse Midwife