First off, I want to thank you for following along on this series. I have been really excited for this one. I am sure there are parts that I missed, or questions that have arisen. Please feel free to email me, or comment below. I love discussion.

To top of this series, I want to simplify it a bit. I want to list my FAVORITE foods for preparing for labor and delivery. Some of these may seem different from what you've been told during pregnancy. That's okay, we are trying to deliver a baby at this point, and some of the nutritional needs change slightly. 

​Probiotics are the "good" bacteria in and on our bodies. We have a symbiotic relationship with them. More and more research is pointing to the benefits and necessity of a healthy microcolony.

As it applies to labor and delivery, probiotics are extremely important, influencing not only the health and labor outcome of the mother, but the health of the infant into adulthood.

1. Aid in the digestion of food and the conversion and absorption of certain vitamins
2. Prevent infections that can cause premature rupture of membranes and early labor
3. Balance Group B Strep
4. Set the foundation for infant immunity

It seems to me that there is so much emphasis put on the progression of labor, that we fail to address the many other aspects to the process. ​​

The Amniotic sac and the fluid it contains is as crucial to the initiation of labor as it is a home for the growing infant. 

All of the processes leading up to delivery are important. A hiccup with any one and normal natural labor and delivery is affected.

That being said though, If the door cannot open, the baby cannot pass. If the cervix cannot soften and efface, then no amount of contracting will delivery your baby. ​