If you’re preparing for your first baby, you may be wondering what you’re actually supposed to do to prepare for birth. Should you take a childbirth class? Write a birth plan? Practice breathing techniques? Pack your hospital bag? Learn about epidurals? Prepare your partner? Figure out newborn care? The answer is yes—but you don't have to do everything at once. Preparing for your first birth isn't about creating a perfect plan or predicting exactly how labor will unfold. It's
