Being pregnant can be very exciting, but it’s important to make sure that you do what you can to have the best pregnancy that you can. There are many women who make mistakes with their first pregnancy. Being informed about what you should and shouldn’t do during your pregnancy can better your chances of having a healthy, happy pregnancy. The following guide provides a few tips for first time mothers to use to have the best pregnancy possible.
Don’t Listen to Every Suggestion You Get
Once people find out that you’re pregnant, they will bombard you with information about the things that you should and shouldn’t do. It’s important to take that advice with a grain of salt because people often don’t remember the intricate details of their pregnancy many years later.
Some women share horror stories of their pregnancy with newly pregnant women because they think they are preparing them for the “what if’s” that could arise. Just because one person went through something terrible doesn’t mean you’re going to. You need to keep your stress to a minimum and not worrying constantly about things that could go wrong is essential. If you think something is wrong, go to your doctor, but don’t allow worry to run your life.
Read, Read, Read
As a first-time parent, there are many things that you won’t be prepared for no matter how much you’ve been around children throughout your life. Many people think that they are ready to handle motherhood simply because they babysat a lot as a teen or have numerous siblings. Having your own child is far different than taking care of someone else’s. You have to take care of every need of the baby and taking the time to do thorough research before the baby arrives is important.
It’s best to read books that walk you through what you can expect during the first few months of your baby’s life. You need to do research about the vaccines that your baby can get to determine if you feel that they’re right for your family. Do research about the foods that your baby should and shouldn’t eat when it’s time to start weaning them from the breast or bottle and start eating real foods. Properly informing yourself allows you to be confident in the decisions you make later on down the road.
Determine Who Will be Caring for Your Child
Many parents make the mistake of trying to find a day care provider for their child after their child is born and they only have a week or two before they have to go back to work. This requires you to make a decision in a very short period of time and often makes it difficult for you to properly vet the person that you’re going to hire to take care of your child. You may want to do a thorough background check on the caregiver. Be sure to tour the home or facility where the baby will be staying numerous times. Take the time to find out if the potential caregiver is first aid and CPR-certified to ensure that they can give your child emergency medical care if needed. Knowing that your baby is with a trustworthy person will give you peace of mind while you are at work and away from them.
Prepare for Sleepless Nights
Many first-time parents don’t realize that they aren’t going to get a good night’s sleep for a very long time after the baby is born. They often think that their baby is going to be different from other babies and will sleep through the night within a few weeks, but this is often not the case. It’s best to prepare for the inevitable sleepless nights before the baby arrives. While it’s nice to have a nursery for the baby to sleep in when they take naps throughout the day, having a bassinet or cosleeper next to the bed can make the rough nights a little bit easier, especially if you plan to breastfeed. Having the baby nearby allows you to give them care and attention right away, which can help to ease their anxiety so they can fall back to sleep easier.
Consult with Your Doctor Before Doing Certain Things
Many women don’t realize that there are some things they should and shouldn’t do while they are pregnant. Your pregnancy health is important because whatever you put in or on your body can go right to the baby so you want to be sure that the items are safe. Dying your hair with certain dyes, doing cleanses and certain beauty treatments should be avoided when you are pregnant. The doctor can let you know if a certain procedure is safe and if there are any alternatives you can try to achieve the same results.
Clear Your Mind from Time to Time
Pregnancy can be very stressful. There are so many things that have to be done before and after a baby arrives. It can be overwhelming and there are some women who start to experience psychological changes during and after giving birth. It’s important to talk to a psychiatrist before and after you have a baby so that you can make sure that you’re able to clear your mind from time to time in a healthy way. Talk to the doctor openly and honestly about the way that you’re feeling so you can get treatment if you go through postpartum depression. There are some women who feel sad and empty inside before and after having their baby and need treatment in order to be able to give the proper attention and love to their child. It is nothing to be ashamed of and getting help can greatly improve the overall wellbeing of the relationship between you and your child.
Having your first child is a roller coaster ride that is often referred to as the greatest joy a person ever has in their life. Enjoy it and remember that you are going to have a little of bundle of joy that depends on you for everything so take the time to make sure you do everything you can to provide them with the best life possible through thorough research and proper preparation.
