Kaboutjie SA Mommy Blogs by Lynne Huysamen
Congratulations, you are having a baby! With excitement and anticipation come the nagging, worry, and fear of the changes and responsibilities that will soon arrive.
How ready are you for the physical, mental, and emotional demands of motherhood? For one, there will be exhausting nine months of hormonal and body changes that will wreak havoc on your system. There is also the reality of delivering a baby and spending many sleepless nights doing your motherly duties.
Don’t worry, though. As challenging as it may sound, motherhood can be an enjoyable experience especially when you come prepared. Planning and learning all the things you need to do before your baby arrives can be done, and you can make it fun too.
Live the Healthy Way
Health is everything. When you are living for two, that saying is taken to a whole new level. Whatever food and drink you take in will have corresponding benefits and consequences, not only for you but also for your baby.
That is why the need to lead a healthy lifestyle is even more imperative now that you are pregnant. Make sure you are eating right, consuming the needed vitamins and minerals that will aid in your baby’s development inside your womb. Pregnancy-friendly exercise routines, like walking, and plenty of sleep are also essential.
Of course, a healthy lifestyle also means avoiding alcohol, too much caffeine, cigarette smoke, and certain foods that are detrimental to your health. To make it more interesting, start a diary of your diet and daily routine to remind you every day. You can even rotate the food you will have each day to have variety.
Attend Childbirth Education
It may not sound like lots of fun initially, but attending childbirth education classes for first-time parents will give you the knowledge and insight you need to increase your chances of a healthy and happy pregnancy and birth.
Lessons may include hospital procedures and all the things you should expect once you are there, from the different stages of labor to pain-management skills and breathing techniques. Lamaze and Bradley method are just some of these classes. There are also online newsletters and birth clubs if you want to learn on your own.
Want to make it more fun and special? Enlist the support of your husband by inviting him to your classes. Doing it together turns them into a meaningful experience for both of you.
Start a Baby Journal
If you are nervous about giving birth and plunging into the responsibilities that motherhood entails, you can ease up the worry and anxiety by starting a baby journal. This is where you put all your experiences and observations, noting down the changes on your body and the way you have handled each stage of your pregnancy.
You can put all your desires and expectations in it as well, a birth plan that describes how you hope your labor and giving-birth experience turn out. You can even take photos of your growing womb and turn everything into a scrapbook or custom album, complete with captions and DIY decorations.
Stack Up on Books
Sometimes it can be tiring to just sit around and wait for the day you will give birth. This is especially true for stay-at-home moms and those who are in the later stage of their pregnancy.
Why not devote some of your time to reading books about babies? You will not only learn a lot and prepare yourself for the awaited day, but you will also keep monotony at bay.
Of course, there is no reason you should stick only to baby books. Read your favorite fiction too. Some mothers even read to their child, so collecting children’s stories and reading them to your little one in the womb is a great idea too.
Meet Up with Fellow Moms
While you can get plenty of information and advice from your doctor and childbirth education classes, it is still different to hear it from those who have been there and experienced the whole thing. Seek out your friends who already have children of their own, your mother, your sister, or even those who are also pregnant.
Women who experienced childbirth are often more than happy to share their insights and even offer tips on pregnancy and giving birth, including the best way to curb morning sickness and even the best kind of maternity clothes. Even better, sign up the help of your mother or best friends as you shop for maternity dresses and stack up on baby essentials like clothes, blankets, and diapers.
Take Quality Time with Your Partner
Once the news of a new arrival to the family comes out, it is easy to get lost in the bliss and excitement. First-time parents tend to pour all their time, energy, and effort into the pregnancy, and so they unintentionally forget to have time for each other.
Make it a point to spend quality time with your partner even if it means something as simple as doing grocery together or attending a Lamaze class. Remember that your partner is still a part of your life. Encourage them to help you out, and let them feel that they are a part of this journey. They will thank you for it.
Having a new addition to the family is an exciting news for everybody. Reveal the news to your family, and let them share the happiness with you. You can tell them over the phone, send them a message, or announce it on social media.
Just don’t be surprised if a baby shower is on the horizon. If it is, this is your chance to let your creative juices flow and lend a hand in the simple preparations. You can take part in brainstorming for baby shower decor ideas and help out in making them. It is guaranteed to please your artsy self.
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Practice Self-Love
You are carrying another human being inside your body, and you understandably want to give it all the care and love that a mother is capable of. While that is true, you should also remember that you are a human too.
Set aside something for yourself, whether it is indulging on your favorite hobby, a little present to pamper yourself, or letting your husband treat you like a queen. It is not selfish to take care of yourself.
Always Remember
Knowing you are going to welcome a little bundle of joy months down the road can be exhilarating but also overwhelming. The magnitude of realizing that you are carrying a growing life inside your body can be daunting, especially when the initial joy of finding out you are pregnant has toned down.
You are not alone. Remember, you can always call your doctor or midwife if you have questions and worries. And most importantly, you should not forget to relax and enjoy your journey to motherhood.
About The Author
Ammanda, yes that’s a double m on her name, is a spunky girl in her thirties trying to make it through her daily nine-to-five job as a nurse. She enjoys reading story books to children at her local hospital. On her free time, she’s a freelance writer trying to hone her skills to write the best stories and fulfill her dream of publishing a children’s book.
