Becoming A Mom: 8 Tips To Know
If you’re a mom-to-be, there’s one thing you should know: it’s perfectly fine not to have everything figured out. This is because motherhood is different for every mother— will it be blissful, overwhelming, or somewhere in between?
Motherhood is something that you have to figure out as you go, but if you’re a mom-to-be and you need to hold someone’s hand, don’t worry — we’ve got you. Below, we’ve put together a couple of tips for moms-to-be:
During Pregnancy
1. Prepare Your Birth Plan
As a mom-to-be, you have to be prepared at any time — even more so when you’re close to your due date. What procedures do you want the doctor to do? Who do you want to be in the room with you — your partner, your parents, or no one at all? It’s going to be very overwhelming, which is precisely why you need to prepare a birth plan.
A birth plan describes everything you want to happen during your baby’s birth. Do you want an epidural? Do you want to wear comfy clothes? What music do you want to be playing when you push your baby out into the world? (“Push it” by Salt-N-Peppa, maybe?). With a birth plan, you can be sure that things go as smoothly as possible.
2. Shop For Your Baby
You won’t have the time to go window-shopping for your baby once they’re born. If possible, buy baby clothes, cribs, bottles, and more before the birth. That way, you can make sure you’ve got everything you need (and more) to care for your newborn baby. Need a nappy? Don’t worry — you’ve got plenty.
Remember, time will go by incredibly fast and your baby won’t be a baby for too long. It would be a good idea to buy things for the toddler stage, too.
And while you’re shopping, why don’t you spoil yourself with a new pair of shoes (or two)? You’re going to need new shoes to stop your feet from swelling up!
3. Learn About Childbirth and Childcare
If you’ve never given birth, it’s a good idea to sign up for a childbirth class. Believe us when we say that you’ll be more confident to deliver your baby into the world. Infant care professionals will tell you exactly what to expect, and although it can be scary to know what will happen, it’s way better than not knowing a thing.
It’s also a chance to educate yourself on how to care for your first child. You’ll learn how to properly breastfeed your baby, burp your baby, prepare to train your baby with start-up baby kits, and the like.
4. Don’t Be Embarrassed to Learn About Prenatal Depression
You might’ve heard about postpartum depression, but have you heard about prenatal depression? It is not rare for expectant women to experience depression during pregnancy — they feel angry, guilty, or lose interest in things. The problem with this is it can increase the chances of preterm labor.
With that said, don’t be embarrassed to ask for help from a mental health professional. There’s nothing wrong with feeling down when you’re pregnant, but you have to learn how to overcome these emotions, too.
Postpartum
1. Do What Feels Right For You
Other moms will tell you what you should and shouldn’t do, but don’t listen to them. Do what feels right for you and your newborn baby. Remember that as a new mother, you now have a superpower — intuition. If something tells you that what you’re doing isn’t quite right, trust your unique gift.
No one knows your baby better than you, and what works for them may not work for you. You don’t need other people’s unsolicited advice.
2. Connect With New Moms
You don’t need to go through the struggles of first-time motherhood alone. Connect with other new moms who understand what it’s like to not know what to do. They will be the best support system out there. You’ll be in a safe space where you’re free to share your fears, as well as find comfort in mothers who feel the same way.
By finding your tribe, you’ll be able to see that it’s fine for first-time motherhood to be scary — that you don’t need to put on a happy face all the time.
3. Take Your Time Getting Your Body Back
When your doctor tells you that you can work out again, you don’t need to go back to your pre-pregnancy gym routine. Remember, your body isn’t the same anymore. You had a baby, so you need to take baby steps when it comes to exercise, as well.
Start with post-pregnancy exercises that get your heart rate up but that aren’t too demanding. Remember that it took your body 9 long months to get to that stage, so don’t expect it to bounce back after one workout.
What’s important is that you slowly get back into your workout routine. Whether that’s a full-body HIIT workout or a brisk walk around the block, do what works for you, and at your own time.
4. Sleep When You Can
A not-so-fun fact is that, on average, new moms get less than five hours of sleep every day. However, the National Sleep Foundation also says that adults at least seven hours of sleep.
The good news is that during the baby stage, your newborn will always be snoozing. This will allow you to schedule your nap time around theirs to catch up on your Z’s.
Don’t be afraid to accept help from friends and family. Allow your in-laws to clean your house even if they don’t clean it the way you wanted. Allow yourself to say “yes” to their assistance so you can get some much-needed sleep — there’s nothing wrong with that.
The Bottom Line
Becoming a mom can be a challenging time, but it can also be the best time of your life — after all, you’ve given birth to a baby whom you absolutely love! If you ever feel overwhelmed, remember to breathe, take a step back, and keep the tips mentioned above in mind. You’ve got this.
By: Katie Pierce