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Pregnancy is all about preparing for the big event – birth! And while for some it can be a rollercoaster ride, you might have seen at least a few expectant mums who are taking it slow and steady. Now have you ever wondered how they do it? If you look a little closer, it will become obvious to you that most of these women have already experienced childbirth at least once. It comes as no surprise that they probably know how to navigate through all the small and big moments of pregnancy without losing their minds. For this article, we bring you 5 valuable pointers from mothers from our MomJunction community that will help guide you for birth and beyond.
1. Be Self Informed Right From The Begining
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‘We start scrolling through the internet or read the books only after something has happened to our bodies. But when it comes to pregnancy, it is best to be prepared way ahead of time. If you are planning for pregnancy, there’s no harm in learning about it even before you are pregnant. And if you are already pregnant make sure to prepare a list of questions that you would like to ask your doctor at your first prenatal appointment. This way you will be clear and one step ahead of everything. Educating yourself will give you more options, such as if you would like to attend a birthing or Lamaze class to help you with labor and childbirth. Right from what to eat during pregnancy to pregnancy and postpartum changes and how to prepare for your maternity leave, you will find all the info you need on the internet. So make the most of it.’ – Keerthana
2. Don’t Be A Supermom
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‘You are already a supermom. You don’t have to be a martyr and take everything upon yourself to be the perfect mother. Get all the help from your doctor, nurses, friends, and family that you can get. If you are not sure how to do something, don’t hesitate to speak up or ask questions. If someone is offering to help you with the laundry or babysit your kids, take them up on that offer. You need all the rest you can get during postpartum. And advocate your needs and desires to your husband instead of having unrealistic expectations from him. Chances are he is going to be absolutely clueless on how to make you feel comfortable. So, a little guidance might help.’ – Radhika
3. Let Go Of The Idea Of A Perfect Birth
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‘Let go of having a perfect pregnancy or birth. Be open to all new experiences because you never know what kinds of curveball you will have to encounter during your pregnancy. You might end up having an unplanned C-section, epidural or episiotomy at the last minute even if you have done everything to have the perfect birth. Instead of focusing on getting everything right, focus on your health and your baby’s. Once you have your baby resting peacefully in your arms, it probably wouldn’t matter whether you have a scar on your tummy or your vajayjay.’ – Zama
4. Click Tons Of Photos And Videos
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‘You may not have realized it yet, but this is going to be one of the best moments of your life. Don’t make the mistake of thinking it won’t matter. Click shitloads of pictures of your baby bump. You can either hire a professional photographer or ask your husband to click pictures for you. Even if you are camera shy, you will regret not having enough pictures of this phase of your life.’ – Diya
5. For Some, Bonding Doesn’t Happen Right Away
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‘If you are hoping to fall in love with your baby the moment you lay eyes on him/her, you are paving way for disappointment. For me, it took some time to bond with my baby. I was expecting to click with her right away, but God had other plans. I had a traumatic birthing experience. My labor took 21 hours and postpartum recovery took longer than expected. So it took me a couple of weeks to bond with my baby.’ – Noori.
We have said it a thousand times, no two pregnancies are the same. Don’t beat yourself up if everything doesn’t go according to plan or how you expected it to be. Be open to all new experiences and take things one step at a time.
