(SurvivalDaily.com) – The world outside is changing on a daily basis. Riots, random shootings, lockdowns, curfews — it’s like we’re living in a third-world country. You’ve been stockpiling food and money for years. You sigh with relief; the hideout-homestead is near completion and you just have to get there now. But you have a bigger, unthought of issue at hand: Your wife’s pregnant and due any day. This wasn’t something you prepared for.
For most a pregnancy is a welcome surprise. Of course, when prepping for a SHTF scenario, this idea seems to evade many of us until that’s the situation we find ourselves in. Let’s take a look at how pregnant couples can prepare.
Medical Care
This should be the most important issue you find yourself concerned with. As long as you are able, attend all of your prenatal visits. Complications during pregnancy are more common than they are during childbirth. The last issue you want to deal with is delivering a baby with an undiagnosed condition.
Bug Out or Bug In
Bugging out or bugging in really should be taken into consideration. Pregnancy can quickly bring on exhaustion and be rather draining during the first few weeks. After that point, no matter how physically fit a person is, there will be times they’ll feel uncomfortable, unable to move quickly, and have swollen feet. This’ll be a point when too much physical exertion can be extremely dangerous for both mother and baby. Bugging in so you are close to medical facilities may be the best choice, but if bugging out is the chosen option, medical help — even if it is a nurse, midwife, or doctor — within close proximity would be wise.
Pregnancy Supplies
Make sure stockpiles and bug-out gear contain the following necessities:
- Prenatal vitamins. Make sure you have enough on hand to get you through the pregnancy.
- Pregnancy clothes. Larger clothing of all types will be needed, possibly shoes as well.
- Extra calories and protein. If the expectant mother has morning sickness, she’ll need to replace those calories. Increase calorie intake by 300-500 calories in the second trimester and 500 calories in the third to help the baby grow healthy. Increase protein intake by consuming more meat.
Emergency Birth
It’s extremely important that you and your partner learn as much as you can about childbirth in case you need to do it on your own. Know the signs of labor, how stress affects the baby and mother and what to expect during labor. Keep in mind that our ancestors did this long before any medical science or modern equipment came along.
Emergency Labor Bag
On the off chance you have to deliver this baby on your own, this bag is the most important bug-out gear you need. Make sure it’s waterproof, a completely separate bag from your others, but with all your gear. You’ll need the following:
- First aid kit
- Large gauze pads
- Sharp scissors
- Cord clamp, or something sterilized to tie off umbilical cord
- Bulb syringe in case the baby’s airway needs to be gently cleared
- Trash bag/shower curtain to be placed under mother during childbirth
- Flashlight/headlamp in case birth occurs in the dark
- Blankets — receiving blankets for the baby, larger for mother
- Skull cap for the baby’s head
- Hot water bottle to ensure the baby stays warm
- Feminine pads for heavy cycles and many of them
- Bowl/trash bag for the placenta
- Squirt bottle/warm water to clean up mother after childbirth
- Ice pack to help soothe any sore spots mother may have
- Pain medication like Advil or Tylenol — but not to be given until placenta has been delivered and the womb has stopped bleeding
- Newborn diapers
As soon as you are able, get baby and mother to medical assistance for a full examination. If you find that you don’t have a way to sterilize your hands or other needed items, learn about the magical survival uses of Listerine.
~Copyright 2020, SurvivalDaily.com