7 important things every pregnant woman should do before delivery
“This woman entered the hospital wearing a pair of jeans, and she had nothing to give birth with—no baby things, no form of assistance, and no personal supplies. I suspect her water had broken because she was wet down there,” said a senior midwife at the Bonny Health Centre, Abalamabie, Bonny, Rivers State, Mrs Sarah Apiafi.
“She simply gave us her ATM card and told us the PIN. She had never been to our facilities for antenatal care, because if she had, she would have known how well to prepare for her delivery,” she noted.
Childbirth is one of the most significant milestones in a woman’s life. For pregnant women in Nigeria, where access to quality maternal health care varies significantly depending on location, socioeconomic status, and education, proper preparation for delivery is not just essential, it can be lifesaving.
According to a 2021 study in the Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice, maternal mortality remains a major public health issue in Nigeria, accounting for nearly 20 per cent of global maternal deaths.
Experts argue that a considerable percentage of these deaths are preventable with better antenatal care and delivery preparedness.
“Preparation for childbirth is not just about packing a hospital bag,” says a consultant obstetrician based in the United States, Dr Adebola Ige.
“It includes physical readiness, emotional strength, financial planning, and access to skilled birth attendants,” she emphasised.
Here are seven ways a pregnant woman can prepare effectively for delivery in the Nigerian context:
Attend regular antenatal clinics
Antenatal care is the foundation of a safe delivery. In Nigeria, the Federal Ministry of Health recommends at least eight ANC visits for uncomplicated pregnancies.
“Regular ANC visits help us monitor the baby’s development, screen for conditions like pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes, and anaemia, and offer crucial immunisations like tetanus toxoid,” says Apiafi, the senior matron.
Moreover, these visits, she stressed, provide opportunities for health education on nutrition, birth planning, warning signs in pregnancy, and breastfeeding.
Community health extension workers in rural areas also provide outreach ANC services. However, according to The Lancet Global Health (2022), 35 per cent of Nigerian women still deliver without skilled birth attendants, highlighting a gap that needs urgent attention.
Create a birth plan
A birth plan is a documented summary of a pregnant woman’s preferences for labour and delivery, according to the medical journal Health Today.
This may include her choice of birthing facility, preferred birthing position, pain management options, and emergency contacts.
“We always advise our patients to discuss their birth plan with their midwife or doctor around the 28th week of pregnancy,” says a senior registrar at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Akwa Ibom, Dr Udeme Denis. “This helps reduce anxiety and ensures the healthcare team is aligned with the woman’s expectations.”
In Nigeria, where power outages and strike actions may affect hospital services, choosing a reliable and accessible facility is critical.
Women are encouraged to visit their prospective delivery centres beforehand to understand their protocols.
Organise finances and logistics
The cost of delivery in Nigeria varies widely. Government hospitals may charge as little as N10,000 for vaginal births, while private hospitals may charge between N50,000 and N1.5m, depending on complications.
Recently, a young man lost his wife and child due to his inability to provide N500,000 as a deposit to an unnamed private hospital in Lagos.
“We’ve seen emergencies where women had to delay caesarean sections because the family was unprepared financially,” says a nurse-midwife formerly at the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Mrs Zainab Muhammed.
Health insurance schemes like the National Health Insurance Authority now cover maternal care, but enrolment is still low among rural populations.
Setting aside emergency funds, arranging transport (especially in rural or flood-prone areas), and assigning a caregiver for other children are essential components of delivery preparation.
Pack a comprehensive delivery bag
While often considered basic, a well-packed hospital bag can make a big difference. Nigerian hospitals typically require women to bring their own birthing materials, unlike in many Western nations.
“Your hospital bag should be ready by week 36,” advises Matron Apiafi. “It should include items like sanitary pads, baby clothes, diapers, antiseptic, a wrapper, soap, and a birth mat.”
Don’t forget essential documents: antenatal records, identification cards, and cash (as many hospitals still operate cash-based services), she stressed.
“Not all clinics have the patience to start explaining what and what you need. Of course, we will save your life and that of the baby, but the emptiness you will feel after childbirth if you are not prepared can’t be explained. That is why we say every woman must start from the first trimester to fill up her delivery bag.
“It is better that you have excess material than not have enough,” she stressed.
Apiafi said some government facilities like PHCs and general hospitals may require specific items like cotton wool, gloves, and methylated spirit.
“Some even request you drop money for fuel in case there is an outage. It may sound out of place, but it is better you prepare. Always check with your facility’s maternity unit for a checklist,” she noted.
Prepare emotionally, mentally
Emotional readiness is often overlooked. Pregnancy and childbirth can bring about anxiety, depression, and fear, especially among first-time mothers.
“We conduct group therapy sessions as part of ANC classes,” says a senior psychologist based in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Usen Essien.
“Women need to talk about their fears, understand pain coping strategies, and learn about postpartum depression,” he said.
Understand the signs of labour
Recognising when labour begins can prevent home births or unplanned roadside deliveries, which are common occurrences in rural Nigeria.
“Signs of true labour include regular contractions, water breaking, and lower back pain,” says a retired midwife based in Calabar, Cross River State, Mrs Grace Ekanem. “Many women mistake false labour for the real thing, so it’s important to ask questions during ANC visits.”
Women in remote areas should consider moving closer to their delivery centres as their due date approaches. In some states, community-based maternal waiting homes are available.
Eat right, exercise
Nutritionist Emmanuel Udoh noted that, inasmuch as pregnancy cravings may make a woman want to eat a lot of unhealthy food combinations, maintaining a healthy diet during pregnancy is important.
“Avoid eating late-night meals; try to reduce fatty food intake and drink a lot of water. Then, always have lots of fresh fruits in the fridge you can munch on when those cravings come,” he added.
