No-Nonsense Pregnancy Facts for Expecting Mothers

When you first find out that you are pregnant, you are overwhelmed with feelings. They can run the gamut from excitement to fear, and anywhere in between. Thanks to those new overwhelming hormones, those feelings will also probably change from second to second. Don't worry; it's the same for everyone. Pregnancy creates an emotional roller coaster, so sit back and enjoy the ride. (And be happy that you just are experiencing them, not being the person they are sometimes unleashed on.) When embarking on this journey there are some things aren't always talked about that all women should know.

The first and most important thing is that each pregnancy is different. Now, I don't mean just from woman to woman, I also mean from pregnancy to pregnancy. If you are pregnant with your second child and are terrified because your first pregnancy was difficult, take heart! This one could be the complete opposite, and in all honesty will probably have some significant differences. And that is if it's not a complete 360 from your last pregnancy. For example, I have had 5 children and each one was unique even down to how close they were born to their due date. For example: my first child was born six weeks early, my second was on his due date, my third was three weeks early, my fourth was five days late, and my fifth I couldn't tell you because they kept switching his due date. I won't even get started on the difference of symptoms from pregnancy to pregnancy!

Another thing you will need to take in stride is the fact that once people know that you are pregnant you will be overwhelmed with advice on everything. You will hear everything from what cures morning sickness to the best way to manage your labor. My piece of advice - take everything with a grain of salt. There is no woman in the world that knows exactly what you are going through. Your age, health, culture, life experiences, family dynamics, your personality and mindset, as well other factors unique to your pregnancy will all combine to make your own experience. I am not saying that you should completely discount anything someone tells you . You may receive some great advice that will actually help you. Just don't let it the shear volume of it, as well as conflicting opinions overwhelm you. (This does not apply to your doctor or other medical practitioner, your doctor's "advice" is something different entirely. They have a medical degree and years of learning to back up any personal observation they make.)

Another thing you will find is that people will pop out of the wood-work to share their horror stories with you. Whether they have experienced it themselves or that it happened to a friend of a friend of a friend (in those cases it's probably only urban legend) they will glory in sharing every last heart rending detail. Don't listen! It's that simple. There is no reason for you to be worried or upset, so tell them you don't want to hear it. You can always say it in a nice way. Tell them that you are really emotional right now and just can't handle hearing upsetting stories. It's true, and anyone with half a heart will stop just so you don't feel bad. Those that don't stop, you can always tell them in a way that's not so nice, or walk away. The statistics for problems during delivery sometimes seem frightening, but they are only statistics. They are not a prediction for what will happen to you. Remember - you are unique.

As it gets closer to delivery time, there is one piece of advice I will share with you. (Now, I didn't say not to listen to my advice, just that from other people....) Have your delivery bag packed early and always with you. There is no telling when you will actually go in to labor, and in fact it usually happens at the most inopportune times when you are least prepared. Prepare early and save yourself any worries. It helps if you sit down and write a list of everything you might possible need over the course of two or so days. This might include; CDs, DVDs, or videos to distract yourself while in the early stages of labor or for your stay after the baby is born; comfortable clothes to come home in; a few pairs of socks to avoid wearing those uncomfortable hospital ones; snacks for Dad, since Mom is provided for; change of clothes for Dad, as well as warmer clothes in case Mom gets overheated and needs to turn up the air conditioner; a camera, for pictures either during or after delivery; a list of family names and phone numbers of people that need to be contacted about the new baby; as well as whatever else comes to mind. Many doctor's and books contain lists of things to add. This is just a partial list and contains some things I have put in that I haven't seen in other lists.

The delivery itself may be quick or slow. Many people will tell you that if this is your first child you will be in labor forever or the more children you have the faster your labor will be. Remember what I said about advice and horror stories? This falls in to the same category. Each delivery is unique to the pregnancy. Some women may deliver quickly and some not so quickly. It will also change from pregnancy to pregnancy, and I have found there is no guarantee that the more children you have the faster it goes. Each baby will arrive when it's time. It's that simple. The important thing to focus on is the end result- the birth of your new baby. Don't dwell on the time it takes or on how long you think it may take, only on the experience itself.

One thing to keep in mind is that a lot of the experience will be colored by your mind set during delivery. Do you what you can to be comfortable and to have the birth the way you would like. Remember, you can take control of as much of your experience as possible. That doesn't mean to take medical risks, but if there is something you want to do that will help you or make your experience better then take charge. As long as there is no medical objection there is no reason that you shouldn't be able to do it.

During delivery be prepared to lose any shred of modesty you may have possessed. While birth is a magical and emotional experience, it is also maybe the most real life will get. There will be graphic moments and many people involved, especially in a hospital setting. In most cases there will be nurses or other medical personnel that will need to check progression (code word for making you feel embarrassed), take blood, take your blood pressure, or seem to be there for the only purpose of bothering you. Just keep reminding yourself that they are doing their job and this is all working toward the end goal. Believe it or not, there will come a point that you actually want them to check just so they can tell you that it's getting close to time for you to push. Anything so you can finally welcome your newest addition.

After your baby is born you realize that your journey is just beginning. Your child will teach you far more than you can ever hope to teach them. It will be rough at times, as anything that really matters is, but the joys far outweigh the hard times.

Don't worry, now that your baby is finally here the unsolicited advice won't stop. You can still be told the best way to parent, as well as a thousand other things people think new parents should know. Use what you can and ignore the rest. Horror stories will start coming your way again, but just handle them the same way that you handled the ones during your pregnancy. Ultimately the best person to decide what is best for your family is you.