Family:
Talk to your S/O about privacy before it gets out of hand. Keep your families close, but not so close that you forget you’re pregnant for you and your S/O. If you lose the intimacy in your pregnancy other things will be lost as well. It will be extremely hard to get it back. It’s important to let others know you are the parent and only you two have a say in the child’s well being. If you have another child it’s important not to change the schedule of what they are used to, especially if they are a toddler or pre-schooler. When your child is born, don’t drop off your child to your inlaw’s or family just to get rest, it’s your child. No one said it’s going to be easy, just deal with it.
Body:
Remember this is YOUR pregnancy. Your S/O has no clue what you’re going through and as much as you tell them how you feel chances are they wont understand it. Many people are quick to give advice on what you NEED to do as a pregnant woman. Only you know what is good for you. If you feel like something is too extreme, don’t do it. When I say extreme it means medical procedures, teas, lotions or anything you feel that you just don’t need.
It’s important that you stay hydrated, that’s a given. Also eat the right foods and follow weight recommendations that your doctor gives you. Anyone else who is not your doctor shouldn’t input in your pregnancy.
Don’t let anyone talk you out of how you will feed your child when he or she is born. If you decide to breast feed, DON’T let anyone convince you not to because it hurts (which is doesn’t, its just a tad uncomfy,) because they wont be able to take them when you’re not around, or because its nasty… People have their own opinion, sometimes they don’t make sense. If you decide to formula feed, don’t listen to anyone either. It’s your choice, its your body. People always need to put their input in, but forget that it’s your body, even when the baby comes out it still depends on you for your body heat, your heartbeat and more.
Self:
Don’t let anyone make you feel like a bad mother because of what you do. I am not “your average mother.” I’ll list the reasons below
1) I will let my son play with dirt, sand, get dirty when he plays… How will he learn about nature?
2) I just started to have a set bedtime for my son, before this week if he wanted to go to sleep at 9:30-10:00 PM, I let him.
3) I just enforced the book before bed rule. Sometimes being a busy parent, I forget. I’ve enforced it, and he falls alseep to books now.
4) I let him pick what he wants to eat most the time. As long as he gets the right foods, and portions throughout the day, what’s the problem?
5) If he wants to be held, yep I hold him. I don’t believe in the cry it out method at all…
Those are the things I can think of off the top of my head. I’m not perfect, and oh yes I’ve been judged and harshly.
I thought I was a bad mom for almost 3 years, but now I’m thinking… I know whats best for my child, and no one else does. To each their own.
Advice:
My advice to all mom’s and mom’s to be is to simply…Do what you feel is right. Everyone is different. People will judge even if you think you’re perfect. If you go by what others think you’re going to lose the most important person in this thing called parenting, and it’s you. Don’t lose yourself because of what others say. Being a parent is a great step for you and your s/o, but your pregnancy and beyond is all you. Your baby will know if you’re depressed, or frustrated and that can lead to big complications.
Ladies, gain control of your pregnancy, and yes it’s all about you.
Gibmee 