Honestly, waiting for little to come is one of the most intense things of my life. Between the anxiety, the excitement, the shopping, the preparing, the talking, and the relaxing, it's actually filled with a whole lot of waiting and longing! It seems like everywhere there is someone cradling their newborn, or their young child, and while I'm thrilled it sort of sucks! I am really excited for little to be here, and it just makes me so impatient when I think about getting to cuddle them and kiss their little face. But at the same time, pregnancy is not terrible, and I'm enjoying it (at least the most someone can enjoy something that makes them pee a little when they cough sometimes, bloat like a sponge, and find it all but impossible to find a comfy sleeping arrangement!)
Anyway, I definitely think there are some Must-Do's when you're pregnant, such as getting maternity photos, of course. Aside from the beautiful huge bump photos, a huge trend is to take progress photos typically every week. (We're doing it every other week until the 3rd trimester.) Some more good photos to capture would be photos of the good times you had with your partner when you were pregnant. (Or with a good friend if you are going to be a single parent!) This is a great way to track all the good times you had leading up to the birth of your child. It's also a great keepsake for those rough patches when you need a good reminder as to what everyone is there for.
Another good idea, in my circumstances especially, is to have your animals get a routine vet check. It is important they are up to date on shots and the likes to ensure that A) they aren't bringing anything into contact with you or your newborn, such as ringworm, and B) your pets are well cared for prior to baby arriving, so you don't (or most likely won't) have any complications that will interrupt the already chaotic period of your new life.
When you are pregnant, one of the most exciting things to do is shop for baby gear. Seriously, start looking as early as you want girl. (Even if you're not pregnant yet, and it's just a dream so far! We won't judge you girly, we were there once, too!) Added tip: shopping is a great time to get together with your friends, too! You're going to want to get in a lot of time with these guys, because you know you're going to be busy after baby comes! Of course, they'll be by your side to help, but your attention (and potentially sanity) will be anywhere but with them (100% at least, I'm sure!) Sometimes being pregnant can make it tiring or difficult to go out and do much, so don't feel bad about just asking them to come over for a movie night one night, while you send your partner off for an evening with his/her pals (or keep them in too, it's whatever you want!) Either way just make sure you let your friends know how important they are to you, because your good-friend persona might be out the window for a while in the near future while you manage your life as a new mom.
Eat what you want, and then eat some more. Seriously, unless the doctor has given you restrictions, you eat whatever you want. (Well, keep in the back of your mind that there needs to be healthy in there, too.) But, if you want to eat something totally ridiculous, or maybe just a totally insanely large portion of food, you just go right ahead, lady. No body is stopping you - and so they shouldn't! Seriously, I ate almost a whole cake from the local grocer in under a day - leaving only 2 pieces for dessert to share with my boyfriend. Of course, take your vitamins, and get healthy food, too. Your health is important to the babies, after all. But honestly, how often do you get a really good excuse to eat like a trucker, or maybe even worse? Yeah, that's right. Go for it!
Start a pregnancy journal, if that's your type of thing. It's not mine so instead, we're starting a pregnancy scrapbook. For me, as much as I love writing, I have a hard time staying motivated to write in it every day (or even every week!) So, instead, we are taking plenty of pictures of everything, and printing them out to put in an album, where we will probably include short blurbs about our experiences and what this journey was like for myself, and for T and I as a couple.
Finally, my last piece of advice is to attend a parenting class, or a lamaze class, or get a midwife or a doula, or something. Get some pregnancy support. Being a new mom (particularly on your first go) is a huge thing, and no matter what I don't think we ever fully feel prepared. Attending a class or having someone who you can communicate with on a regular basis is a huge stress reliever for your mind, plus, it can really have some added benefits! Not only will you learn new things, and meet with other soon-to-be parents, but you will also bond with your partner and your baby. Plus, it's a great way to pass the time and make the whole experience feel a lot more real!
Until the next time, friends!
Julie Maye
No comments:
Post a Comment