Like many women, I wanted to learn everything I could about what the pregnancy process would be like. I read books, watched videos, and tried just about everything I could to be prepared.
Ultimately, I learned that there is no way to prepare yourself completely. Every woman, baby, and pregnancy have their complications and difficulties, but that doesn’t mean you can’t do your best. You should know a few things, even if you have to adapt them to your situation.
1. The Importance of Birthing Classes
The rising popularity of procedures like epidurals and cesarean sections, and online instructional videos, have led to a decline in birthing class attendance. However, in-person classes still have a lot of merits. Learning at-home exercises to prepare for labor may be extremely beneficial, but taking a class offers opportunities you can’t get at home.
For one, having an instructor in front of you allows you to ask any questions you might have. Endlessly searching for answers online will often leave you more confused than when you started, and you never know how accurate the information is. Avoid misinformation by only talking to an expert.
Birthing classes also give your birthing education a social aspect. Your partner can feel like he or she’s a part of the learning process. It’s also the best way to meet other expectant mothers, which I’ll detail the importance of next.
2. Mom Friends Are Underrated
Nobody will empathize with you better than other pregnant women. Even a well-meaning spouse can leave you frustrated at times. You might be at different stages of pregnancy, and you may have different complications, but you’re all in the same boat. Talk to them about your anxieties, your paranoia, and your daily difficulties. You might be surprised at how therapeutic this can be.
3. Dealing With Other People Can Be the Most Difficult Part
As soon as you announce your pregnancy to the world, you’ll find out that many people you know are apparently pregnancy experts. They’ll give you unwanted advice, tell you what foods you should eat, how you should behave, and sometimes even how you should give birth. This might be more nauseating than morning sickness.
It’s essential to listen to your doctor over anyone else. Some women in your life will automatically assume that your pregnancy is exactly like theirs, but trust me, it isn’t. Your doctor is not only an expert, but they’re impartial and logical.
Try not to get upset with those who overstep their boundaries. Chances are, they love you and are just excited. They might make comments on your body or give you useless information, but their hearts are in the right place. Even if they aren’t, it might be best to assume so for your sanity’s sake.
4. Having a Plan for Emergencies is Essential
You never know if or when major complications could occur, so have a plan to get to the hospital or deal with an issue at home until an ambulance can come. I learned from my research that maternal cardiac arrest is a growing issue in the United States. Heart issues can occur from a larger quantity of blood being in the body than usual.
CPR & Pregnancy is a noteworthy issue, as there is a common misconception that CPR and defibrillation can be damaging to a pregnant woman. This isn’t true, and in the case of maternal cardiac arrest, two lives can be saved by CPR on a pregnant woman. Make sure you and your partner know how to handle this issue.
5. The Truth About Morning Sickness
The morning sickness stereotype is that each morning, you’ll become nauseous and vomit, typically during your first trimester. While this is often the case, I learned that this isn’t consistently true.
Morning sickness doesn’t happen to all women. 70 to 80 percent of pregnant women experience nausea, but not all of those women vomit. It also doesn’t just happen in the morning or during the first trimester. Morning sickness can rear its ugly head when you least expect it. Some women also expect future pregnancies to be roughly the same, but there can be very little consistency in the sickness between two babies.
6. Pregnancy Redefines Your Relationship With Your Body
Watching your body grow and change is both a blessing and a curse. At first, I hated what I was seeing. My growing butt, stomach, and thighs were at odds with society’s preconceived notions of beauty. It’s shocking but inevitable.
Over time, I grew not only to accept these changes but to love them. Something extraordinary was happening inside me. I was creating a life. Growing these extra curves was only a side effect of that. Once my anxieties began to fade, I realized that nobody saw these things as flaws but me, which helped me move past insecurities.
Having a supportive partner is tremendously helpful in this regard. You may be delighted to see these changes through the eyes of someone who loves you and thinks you’re as beautiful as ever.
