The day you found out that you were pregnant was an exciting day. Your preparations for the baby should begin shortly thereafter. Many women spend much of their pregnancy planning the nursery, choosing a name, and making doctors appointments. In all of your many plans and preparations, don’t forget to make time for yourself. Make it your mission to prepare your mind, body, and soul for a fantastic pregnancy and positive birth experience. Take the time to fully revel in this moment. Here are some suggestions how:
Visit your local library or spend the afternoon at the bookstore
Pregnancy can be an anxious time. The more you know about what is occurring in your body, the less time you will spent worrying. There are many books and websites on pregnancy that can help you determine the type of birth you would like (e.g., home birth, water birth, active birth) and answer any and all of the questions that you may have.
Look into the services of a doula or midwife
There are phenomenal women (and men) who dedicate their lives to assisting during pregnancy and birth.
Providing kindness and comfort to a woman during her pregnancy and then her labor. This is an especially important job, because this friendly caretaker encourages and provides support to a woman during one of the most vulnerable times in her life. Your doula or midwife can provide you with explanations of medical procedures and interventions, emotional support, advice during pregnancy, help with preparation of a birth plan, exercise tips, and physical suggestions to make pregnancy and childbirth more comfortable.
Sign up early for a child birth education class
It’s important to plan which type of childbirth class you will attend, especially for first-time parents. Everyone benefits from preparation—especially preparation for delivery day. Ignorance about childbirth is what produces fear and anxiety. With all the knowledge available today about childbirth, there is no reason to face this day with fear. We encourage dads to go too.
Prenatal Yoga
Yoga is an excellent way to “train” for the marathon of labor and motherhood. Practicing yoga in pregnancy helps to strengthen and stretch muscles, release tension, and maintain good posture. Prenatal yoga also teaches you to relax on command and keep a positive outlook while clearing the mind of the stresses associated with pregnancy and motherhood. It’s also a great way to meet other expectant mothers!
Pamper & Prepare!
Your body will amaze you again and again over the next nine months. Just when you thought you had reached your limits, you will be surprised with something new. Take care of that body, it has served you well to date—and you want it to continue to do so after your pregnancy. Yes, it was designed for just this purpose. Still, do what you can to assist it. Eat well, take your vitamins, moisturize well and regularly (your skin will love you for it). Practice your Kegels. Take long walks. Treat yourself to a prenatal massage. Have a friend give you a facial. Pamper your body and you will reap the rewards long after your pregnancy.
Get Out and About
Meet other mothers & expectant mothers. You are now a ‘club’ member, with all of its privileges! Look up a local moms group or expectant mom’s night out. You will surprised how many of your questions will be answered right there. Call a friend and take your belly out for dinner and maybe some dancing. It’s important to maintain these relationships.
Keep a journal/memento box.
You’re going to experience so many firsts, but they don’t just start when baby is born. Write down milestones in your pregnancy. First scan, first kick, hearing a heartbeat. Finding out the sex—or deciding not to. You might not think it, but these little details can’t be trusted to memory. Some women say that they have never felt more beautiful than at this chapter in life. Indulge yourself and create a permanent keepsake like a body mold, or consider hiring a photographer. Looking back on these things will be a pleasure and your child will appreciate it years from now.
Your pregnancy and birth are to be celebrated. These nine months will be over before you know it. This is your moment. Enjoy!!