As I've stated before, ABMS has a stash of things we just can't wait to post. The category "thrifty nest" is relatively new, and I thought it deserved a little bit of an explanation. thrifty nest is about parenting, anything to do with children, and ways to save money without feeling your children are missing out. Now I can't believe the husband and I are down to our last 20 (even less now) days of pregnancy, but I felt that this was a logical place to start with our stash of helpful tricks, craftiness, and just parenting in general. Now, understand, this is my husbands and my first child, we do have loads of younger brothers (7 between the two of us) and cousins up the wah-zoo, but in no way do we consider ourselves experts. At any rate, this first (okay, okay fourth but pretend it's the first) post in thrifty nest is about preparing your self to become parents...
Deciding to grow your family is a major decision. It is a bigger decision than getting married. The responsibility of raising a child is not for everyone. However, if you have decided to do this, take all the necessary steps to prepare yourself.
Read books on pregnancy and consult your doctors. Researching on the medical side of pregnancy will guide you throughout the nine months and beyond. If you are a first time mother, talk to your own mother, sisters and friends who are already mothers. You can learn a lot from their experience. Each pregnancy, however, is different so don’t think just because it happened to your sister, it will also happen to you.
Review your immunizations. Your doctor will tell you what is important and what you need. You have to do this early enough because some immunizations are not safe while you are pregnant. For some shots, you should not conceive until 3 months after so that your womb will be a safer dwelling place for you baby. Getting pregnant early will put your baby at risk for malformations.
Do a thorough family medical history and genetic testing. Knowing the conditions you may have inherited and your child may inherit will give your doctor a better guide on what medications you may need. It will also prepare you for what conditions your child may have.
Change your diet and lifestyle. The best you can do before getting pregnant is to live like you are already pregnant. Stop smoking, lessen your alcohol, start eating healthy and reduce stress factors. If you have to change jobs, then start looking for a new one that does not give you too much physical and emotional pressure. Prepare your body and mind to start nurturing another body inside. When you are pregnant, your baby will drain you of nutrients. It is you who may end up with malnutrition if you do not take care of yourself. Start soon and do not wait until you are pregnant. There are also many clinics that offer detoxification treatments that are non-invasive and safe.
Take vitamins and supplements. Even with a healthy diet and lifestyle, you will still need those extra vitamins to boost your immune system. Starting right will lessen your chances of getting tired during pregnancy.
Have an exercise regimen and take time to meditate. Keep your body moving to stay fit before, during and after your pregnancy. While you take care of your body, take care of your mind too. Your body can only do so much. How you think and feel will affect your pregnancy. Your child will also feel if you are under stress in life and this could greatly affect her development in your womb. The emotional bond between mother and child is very strong and starts in the womb. Write a pregnancy journal which your child can read when she is a grown up. It will help her find her roots and understand her own self more.
Preparing for pregnancy is not just a physical preparation. And it is not just the pregnancy you have to prepare for, but for the life after you give birth. If you see that raising a child is giving up on certain aspirations and a burden, then you are not ready. However, if you have a positive outlook and really want to grow your family, then prepare yourself for a life of immeasurable joy.
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