If you are pregnant with your first child, then you are going through a very new experience, one which excites you and scares you at the same time. Fear not, there are many ways you can learn about your situation, to make birthing and the ‘after-experience’ easy for both you and the baby. In this article we have touched on a few issues, pertaining to physical and psychological aspects of birth that you should be aware of.
Before deciding to have your child, you have to think about your present situation. If you haven’t done that yet, there’s no better time like the present. What about your finances? Can you feed another mouth with ease? Do both your partner and you work late into the night? Can one of you take a break to care for the baby? Is there anyone, a member of the family or a friend, who can offer support? Is your lifestyle conducive to the healthy upbringing of a child? If not, what are the changes you need to make? So many questions but they are worth answering early on because after the baby comes, you will be preoccupied with its care.
Take childbirth education classes. They will really help the new mums to learn the ropes. For more details, read our article on ‘Childbirth education’. Don’t shrug off well-meaning advice given by your own mother or a friend who has gone through the process. They will have helpful tips that can make a difference. It’s true that a mother’s instinct should be a guiding light in the care of her baby but it doesn’t hurt to get second hand experience.
Childbirth can be a cause for stress for any couple. It will release strong emotions and make you feel bewildered and exhausted at times. Many new mothers feel inadequate in their efforts to appease their newborn. Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is common in new mothers and its duration differs in different women. About 10% of mothers are diagnosed with postpartum depression. Preventive group therapy is known to deal effectively with this condition.
Studies show that the baby’s father can positively affect the whole birthing experience, unless he suffers from severe anxiety. A partner can calm the mother and offer the love and attention she craves at this time. He can also make himself useful in newborn care. For some couples, the birth of a first child can make or break a relationship. So, the father’s early involvement is very important in deciding the family bondage.
New mothers often struggle to get back into their ‘real’ shape, after giving birth. Although you see many stars in Hollywood achieving this without much effort, don’t expect the same the happen to you. Yes, you can lose the weight you gained (postpartum loss of sleep and breast feeding can do that to you) but there may be some fat that just won’t go off from your hip area. Keep exercising and continue the exercise regime you followed before getting pregnant but please don’t expect miracles. This will add to any ‘baby blues’ you may already be experiencing. Besides, a healthy baby and a healthy you are what’s most important.
