For those of you who don't know my history, I have been pregnant three times. I have no children in my house (as of this posting) however. Things are going well with Alexander, but that doesn't replace this fact. My first two pregnancies were both non-viable pregnancies. The first was when I was just past 21 years of age, we found out we were pregnant on April 8th (HPT), confirmed on the 10th (BT), and on April 17th I was told to prepare myself for emergency surgery for internal bleeding caused by an ectopic pregnancy. A surgery that left me with only half the opportunity to get pregnant.
Then last February, we experienced a miscarriage. We had learned about two weeks before it happened that our baby had stopped growing several weeks beforehand. Instead of electing to do the D&C surgery, I was hoping to avoid the hospital again and to let my mind prepare itself for yet another failed pregnancy, I waited it out. In the end, after complications, I still ended up in the hospital having to have the surgery. These two experiences made my husband and I very pessimistic and even wary of Alexander. We waited nearly 4 months before even telling our parents. Yes, there were some people who knew, but not the parents. We didn't buy anything for Alex until about a month ago. And are still slow at purchasing things. We have decided to skip any prenatal baby shower and are opting for a meet-n-greet kind. This is in part for selfish reasons (if something did happen we'd have to go through and get rid of everything ourselves), but also to get Alex to meet as much of his family before Christmas as possible. So, needless to say, preparing myself for the now very-real probability that I will have to play mother, care-giver, and raise Alex to be the best child as possible, has now crashed full bore into me. Preparing for motherhood can be very exciting and at the same time nerve-wrecking. While some people say that being a mother is an innate skill, others think that it involves practice and a lot of learning experiences.
Being a mother entails the physical and psychological stages of preparation. While your body is old enough to carry a child, you must also consider your emotional state when you speak of your preparedness to bare a child.
To help you in this crucial stage in your life, here are the considerations that you must take for a healthy birth and adjustment to motherhood.
Think positive. (Something we didn't and haven't been the best at...) A mother’s mood can greatly affect your child’s mental state. Therefore, always think happy thoughts and you are sure to bear a happy child. Imagine that you are one with your child. Just picture this, whatever nutrition and junk you take in your body, your baby absorbs. It is the same with the emotions that you go through, the kind of music that you listen to and the environment that you place yourself in.
Seek refuge in your partner and baby-proof your marriage. (Husband has been my lifeline for many years and the two failed pregnancies have done nothing but make us stronger individually and together) Mothering a child does not necessarily mean giving up your responsibilities as a wife. Child bearing can be very stressful at times, and having someone to be there for you during this period in time is a must. And what better solution that to have your husband (the father of your child) right by your side as you go through the ups and downs of pregnancy. So never take for granted your relationship with your spouse. Your child needs him as much as you do.
Eat a healthy diet. Child development begins as soon as the baby is conceived inside the mother’s womb. As mentioned early, your child is likely to absorb whatever vitamins and minerals you consume. Therefore eating healthy is a must for healthy fetal development.
Take care of your body, especially your feet. Carrying another human being inside of you can be very heavy and a little tough on the body, most especially your feet. That is why you shouldn’t overlook what your body is trying to tell you. Consult with a physician if you experience any pains for relief and advice and of course, always wear comfortable shoes since you are carrying two. (Thus far I have already worn out a pair of Nike Shox, as they've been my most comfy shoes. I don't even tie them, as they have just enough room to let my feet swell a bit--
Be ready for the so-called “nesting urge.” With a baby next in line, you and your husband are going to have to do an overhaul of your lifestyle. This means child-proofing your home and planning and designing a room for your baby girl or boy. Use this nesting urge to bond with your husband.
Cut down on stress. This is truly a must for any pregnant woman. Try to avoid unnecessary stresses. Again, your child is inclined to absorb whatever it is you are going through (good and bad). In the unfortunate case that you are going through a phase of depression, you should seek help immediately for you and your child’s overall state of health.
With these easy to remember forward-thinking tips, you can surely prepare yourself for the downs and joys of motherhood months before your baby arrives. Remember to just keep psyching yourself that you can do it! Motherhood is a lifetime job that never ends
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