Q: The birth of your baby is often one of the most joyful and life-changing experiences of your life. The prospect of childbirth can scare many women and may cause some uncertainty. Thinking about and composing a flexible birth plan can help you and your health care providers develop your natural childbirth in the hospital. Your plan should be about one page and include:  Preferences for the birth such as place and positions you’d like to use Your fears and expectations, which you can discuss with your healthcare provider Feelings about pain relief, including if and what type of pain relief you will accept Expectations on fetal monitoring, including what type of fetal monitoring is and isn’t acceptable to you Opinion on episiotomy, including if you will accept it and under what conditions Hydration techniques such as IV, sips of water, or ice chips Clothes you want to wear Media such as music or videos you want to watch as a distraction People you want present Ideally, you want your birth to progress naturally without any problems, but there are sometimes unexpected situations that may require medical intervention to safely deliver your baby and protect your health. Make sure to include your plans for complications. You might want to include:  Special wishes if you need a cesarean section Wishes if your baby is breech Feelings about forceps or vacuum-assisted delivery Position on accepting an IV if you are dehydrated or antibiotic IVs if the doctor discovers infection in your amniotic fluid Most healthcare providers will try to support a woman who wants to have a natural birth, even in a hospital; however, some may have concerns about certain aspects of your birth plan or be unable to accommodate the natural birth in a hospital. Talk to your doctor and any other healthcare providers such as doulas and midwives about your plan, which can help you formulate a more realistic plan or make alternative plans if necessary.  Share your birth plan with your healthcare providers and express your desire to have a natural birth in a hospital if possible. Discuss any concerns you may have. Ask for suggestions on your plan and discuss your options so that everyone involved has a clear and realistic idea for your natural birth in the hospital. Find a healthy balance of keeping your plan and respecting your doctor or healthcare provider’s expertise. Consider using a midwife or doula during delivery. Studies have shown that constant support from a trained and experienced woman can make for a easier and more natural delivery. Your doctor may be able to suggest a registered nurse, midwife, or doula with whom she works. If you’ve discussed or chosen a healthcare professional based on their support for your natural delivery, ask them at which hospitals they allowed to attend deliveries. This ensures that your providers can attend the birth and navigate interactions with other hospital staff while accommodating your wishes as much as possible.  Ask your doctor to suggest hospitals that offer birth centers or a natural setting and in which your doctor and any other healthcare providers are allowed to practice. Visit different facilities to see what resources they offer.  Look for tubs or jacuzzi tubs and birthing balls. Ask whether women are allowed to walk around during labor and what their policy is on being allowed to eat while in labor. Make notes on each so that you can remember while making your final decision on where to deliver. Let the hospital know about the birth plan you’ve written and see how they can accommodate you. Ask the staff at each facility questions about their resources and policies. For instance, you may be interested in doing a water birth, but this may not be allowed or accommodated at your delivery hospital. Make sure you ask the staff about water birth or any other methods you may be interested in. Once you’ve had a chance to tour a few different hospitals, make a final decision on where you’d like to deliver your baby. Consult your notes from the tours, your feelings, and any advice your doctor may have given you. Some of the factors you may want to consider are:  The atmosphere. Did it make you feel relaxed, warm, and comfortable? The option to return home shortly after the birth The staff. Are there obstetricians, nurse-midwives, doulas, or direct-entry midwives available? The hospital’s construction. Is there a birth center and are the rooms set up to be as comfortable as your home? The resources. Are facilities available if you decide you want pain medication or there is an emergency? You may want to change your birth plan after you’ve chosen a hospital and as you get closer to delivery. This can help ensure that you take advantage of any resources your hospital offers and may prevent unexpected surprises.  Attend any prenatal or childbirth education programs your hospital offers.  Consider using bathtubs or trying natural birth methods such as Bradley, Lamaze, water delivery (if allowed), or the Alexander Technique.
A: Write a birth plan. Include contingencies for complications to make your wishes clear. Consult with your healthcare providers to discuss your plans. Tour potential hospitals to choose where you want to give birth. Decide on your birth facility. Revise your birth plan if you want to make changes.

Q: The amount and frequency of your dog’s feedings will depend on the age and size of your dog. Talk to your veterinarian if you are unsure about how much you should be feeding your dog. In general, adult dogs only need to be fed once per day and the amount they need is based on their weight. You can usually find weight charts on dog food packages that indicate how much food your dog needs each day. Keep in mind that dogs under the age of one will need to be fed more frequently. Puppies from 8-12 weeks old need to be fed four times per day. They also require special puppy food. Check with your veterinarian to be sure that you are giving your dog the right type and amount of food every day. Dogs need plenty of fresh clean water to drink every day. Your dog may need more water if he has been exercising or if the weather is hot. Make sure to provide a bowl of water that your dog can access easily. Refill it if the water gets low, and change the water daily. It’s nice to indulge your dog with a treat now and then to show that you care about him/her. Treats can be used to reward good behavior as well. Reward your dog with a treat every day, such as a homemade dog biscuit or a store-bought rawhide bone.
A:
Understand your dog’s dietary requirements. Make sure your dog always has access to fresh clean water. Give treats for good behavior.