bake a birthday cake during childbirth

This is a crazy one, but hear me out: If you are in the position to start labor at home and expect it to take a bit, you will want something to distract you during those potentially long hours of early labor. With my first, I spent those earliest labor hours making a birthday cake to celebrate my baby's arrival (taking breaks for contractions, of course). I then brought the cake to the hospital and was able to eat the most delicious slice as my first post-labor meal, and share it with the nurses and hospital staff as an additional thank you. With my second, I was induced and never managed this, but it was an excellent distraction with my first.