Get Ready
Fall in Love
Keep Baby Close
Learn Your Baby
Nourish
Protect Breastfeeding

Nature has mom covered

When the magic day comes, Mother Nature will do most of the work for mom. There are simple tips that can help families get off to a great start.

Skin-to-Skin

Place baby on mom’s chest, skin-to-skin, after birth to:

  • Help mom bond with baby
  • Keep baby warm and calm
  • Help baby to learn to breastfeed (thanks to Mother Nature!)

Feed Baby on Cue

Watch for signs that baby wants to feed to:

  • Help baby feel settled and content
  • Make breastfeeding easier
  • Help mom’s body make breast milk quicker

Keep Baby in the Room

Keep baby in mom’s room at the hospital to:

  • Teach baby who mom is
  • Allow baby to feed when ready and more often
  • Help mom learn when baby needs to feed

Latch Baby Well

A nurse will help mom find a good latch so:

  • Mom makes plenty of milk for baby
  • Baby gets milk more easily
  • Breastfeeding is comfortable for mom and baby

Everyone on the Same Page

The We’re Prepared Checklist and mobile app helps families prepare for the hospital, build their care team, and communicate their wishes.

Everything you need to know is organized into color-coded sections. Everyone can learn more about each practice on the app and website.
You can also print a copy of the We’re Prepared Checklist to share with others.

Step-by-Step Education

Dive deeper into each section below to learn about what families can expect in the hospital.

Fall in Love

Being together in the first hour is a special way to feel your baby's love. Home is in your arms, skin-to-skin. Baby wants to be near you more than anything, and will stop crying and become calm when she is with you. It's a bond that will last forever.

Get Ready

You've waited a long time to see your little one. Soon you will meet each other for the first time! Once your labor begins, you can help shorten your labor and feel less pain by learning to relax.

Keep Baby Close

New love grows best when you spend time together. You and your champion have waited a long time to meet your baby. Enjoy this special time together, holding and loving your baby with as much skin-to-skin contact as possible. You'll never regret it!

Learn Your Baby

For your baby, home is in your arms. There, baby finds all he needs: food, love, warmth, comfort, and safety. In the early days, baby will teach you what he wants and when he needs it. And being in your loving arms will teach baby that he can depend on you.

Nourish

Breastfeeding is one of the most precious ways to enjoy being close to your baby. There's no greater feeling as a mom than knowing you are helping your baby grow and become healthy with your milk. It's a gift that lasts a lifetime!

Protect Breastfeeding

Your body is designed to make milk. Work with nature by avoiding things that get in the way, such as formula, bottles, nipples, and pacifiers. If your doctor thinks baby needs a little extra, use your own milk when you can and feed it to baby in a dropper or spoon.