Expectant moms all hope to have healthy, happy, babies that sleep well and thrive. Your labor and delivery or total birth experience will be a memory that stays with you for a lifetime. Often, not much thought is given to the moments leading up to the arrival of your new baby. 
Many moms just accept that they will follow the path that most do -- wait for labor, go to the hospital, have their baby, go home after 48 hours. This mental preparation is all some women need or want. They focus on how they will care for a new baby and not as much on the event of the baby's birth -- aside from determining what pain medication you may want or if you want to breastfeed right away.
More and more women are taking a proactive role in their care and their birth experience. Women are choosing birthing centers and more specialized care. Doulas are rising in popularity and offer emotional and physical support during and after birth. Birth plans are written to express the preferences and wishes of the mom so that they have the expereince they want -- not what is "standard practice."
What would create the best birth experience for you?
Would you have family attend the birth in the birthing suite? Would you have your baby at home in an intimate welcoming with your spouse and a midwife? Perhaps some little touches at a hospital could make all the difference, like music or a room that looks like home and not a hospital.
The people who surround you condtribute to your positive (or negative) expereince. When you are going through what could be the most anticipated, most intimate and beautiful experience of having a baby for the first time, you should be surrounded by people who genuinely care about you and the experience you are having. Doulas are very good at being your support and your advocate. Labor can be overwhelming and having a person who has experience, compassion and a genuine passion for positive birth experiences can really help you through labor and delivery and keep it positive.
In the end we want a healthy baby (and that is the end goal) but the event of birth can have a lasting impact on a mom emotionally. Being prepared and informed will help shape the experience to be a happy one. The support of family and friends to help you through the good and bad will make all the difference.
Here are some free tools to help you plan the best birth experience for you.
Free Printable Birth Plan
Free Printable Hospital Checklist
Discover Birth and Happiest Baby Classes
DONA International
CAPPA (Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association )
Wishing you a wonderful and positive birth experience!