These days, hospital stays for routine deliveries are fairly short. You will most likely be in the hospital for about 24 to 48 hours following a vaginal delivery. This may seem like a very short time (especially compared to the week that your grandmother may have spent at the hospital when she had her baby), but there are several things you can do to make the most of your brief stay. Here are some questions you might have:

Where will I have the baby?

By your last month of pregnancy you should know where you plan to deliver the baby. Of course, the decision will likely be affected by whether or not your healthcare provider anticipates a complicated delivery. Your options may include a hospital, a birthing centre or your home.

Know your options.

If you're planning to have a caesarean delivery or if your healthcare provider anticipates any complications, you'll likely have your baby in a hospital, where medical equipment and staff are readily available. Many hospitals now offer options like these: Conventional labour and delivery rooms that use a surgical suite for the actual delivery or birthing centres, which use more homelike rooms for labour and delivery or for labour, delivery, and postpartum care.

Who will be in the delivery area?

Some healthcare providers will allow you to have people in the delivery room besides dad or another labour coach. If you wish to have any other close friends or relatives witness the delivery, make sure to clear it with your healthcare provider ahead of time.

Who will cut the umbilical cord?

If interested, dads are welcome to share in the delivery experience this way. Discuss it ahead of time with your spouse and your healthcare provider.

All about breast-feeding.

It's much easier to establish a successful breast-feeding routine if you begin early in your baby's life, so consider ahead of time whether you plan to breast-feed or bottle-feed your baby. Because breast milk is the best food for optimal growth, Health Canada recommends exclusive breast-feeding for the first 6 months of life for healthy full-term infants. Hospitals also encourage moms to breast-feed their babies. To make this easier, try to have your baby with you all the time. The more you can nurse your baby on demand early on, the better start you'll have in the breast-feeding experience.

If you decide to use infant formula, you can feel confident that an iron-fortified infant formula is your next best choice and is a complete source of nutrition for your baby.

Before you leave the hospital.

Hospital stays might be shorter today than before, but medical staff will make sure that your condition is stable and that your baby is progressing as expected before you go home. If you are breast-feeding, it's a good idea to meet with the lactation consultant and discuss how to reach her once you're at home.

For more information on this topic, check our Q&A Section. If you don't find the information you're looking for, please feel free to Ask a Dietitian.