Pregnancy Facts All Pregnant Mothers Should Know!

Every pregnancy is different. It is important to begin talking about having children before actually becoming pregnant. Many things need settling before bringing a child into this world, even before bringing a child into the uterus. It includes decisions made on both the behalf of the mother and the father.

Questions about discipline, type of religion/lack of religion, disciplinary actions, daycare or stay-at-home-mom or stay-at-home-dad, will both parents want to take family leave to spend the first couple of months with the child before returning to work, and the decision to breastfed or formula feed are only but a few of the multitude of answers required to make the transition go as smoothly as possible. Splitting housework and baby care require splitting among the parents so it does not fall strictly on one parent leaving that parent feeling used and eventually resentful.

It is important for the child's father to be at every doctor's appointment versus slipping out leaving the entire pregnancy with the woman. This is a new century. Men no longer sit outside puffing on cigars while the wife takes over all the duties of child labor. It is important for the father to play an active role in the labor and delivery portion of the childbirth. It is even more important that the father realize that all sexual relations will stop until the mother heals from childbirth whether enduring natural vaginal birth or cesarean section. Parenting today is nothing like the parenting of a generation or two ago. Women have lives beyond child rearing. It is time for the fathers to step up to the plate.

As far as the pregnancy goes, every mother should know that nausea and the constant need to urinate are natural parts of the first trimester. It does ease off a bit in the second trimester but often returns in the latter stages of the third trimester.

Regular maternity checkups with blood tests, prenatal vitamins, folic acid tablets, and the occasional iron supplements to combat anemia are often a part of the daily routine throughout the pregnancy. It is important to decide early if Lamaze classes will be part of the child birth procedure, if so, the father needs to participate in each class in order to provide the wife with the best possible coaching to bring the child into the world.

Additionally, it is important to explain to the obstetrician the entire family history so he or she is not caught off guard should a family child defect appear. Early diagnosis and preventative care can help alleviate any problems to that affect. Conditions such as spinal bifida are repairable in vitro if caught soon enough without endangering the baby or the mother's life. It is also important to start a healthy lifestyle long before considering becoming pregnant. A healthy lifestyle increases the chances of having a healthy baby. Until then, it is important to use birth control and a backup method of contraception such as a condom.

If possible and/or available, it will help first-time parents if they take parenting classes offered together so that both parents can adequately care for their child. If parents decide to take the route of nursing versus formula feeding, it is important to contact someone in the area such as the La Leche League in order to obtain assistance in nursing your baby. It is even more important to watch one's diet since many foods and even medications cross over into the breast milk.

Toward the end of the third trimester, the baby will begin to settle into the birth canal. This means the baby will begin to turn head down and feel as if it is sitting on one's bladder, once again causing the early stages of the constant need to urinate to return in full force.

First-time mothers generally have a longer delivery time but it is still important to go to the hospital or birthing center as soon as contractions are at least 5 minutes apart, more if the center is further away from one's home. If the mother's water breaks before that time, it is important to go to the birthing center or hospital earlier. Make sure to bring a suitcase with all the necessities. Pack this case approximately one month prior to delivery date in case of an early or premature birth.

Throughout the pregnancy remember to exercise and take special care of your body, which includes no heavy lifting and any other instructions by one's doctor and/or midwife.

Upon arrival at home with your new bundle of joy, take time to enjoy being parents. The dishes can wait as can most anything else. Love your new baby, talk to him/her, rock the baby frequently, and get to know each other as a family. This baby will be with you for a long time to come. Babies do not remain babies for long so enjoy the time when they are small as much as possible because one day you will turn around and that infant newborn will be a teenager and then before you realize it the child will be heading off to college.

If possible, toss all your change into a jar then take it to your local bank to begin your child's college fund. Nickel, dimes, pennies, and quarters do not seem like much but over the course of 18 to 19 years, it adds up. If your child receives money for holidays, add at least one-third to two-thirds of their birthday or holiday money into their college account fund. College is expensive today and the cost will continue to rise as each year passes.