Tips for First Time Moms

Ah the joys of pregnancy. What woman doesn't remember that little thrill of excitement when they first find out that they are expecting? After the initial rush of joy wears off, it hits you, you're pregnant! You are responsible for a new life, a living being growing inside YOU! Then the anxiety sets in, the worry, the curiosity, and the confusion. You think, what am I supposed to do, what should I eat, what should I avoid? How do I insure that this little person is the healthiest, happiest person on the planet? For the first time mom, this is probably the scariest part of the pregnancy, thinking they don't have enough information.

First time mothers experience a lot of anxiety. Not only the excitement at the anticipation of the new birth, but also fear and doubt. All mothers worry that they don't have what it takes to get through the pregnancy or that they will do something wrong, especially first time moms. Expecting mothers get a lot of advice, and I mean A LOT of advice from friends, family members, and health care practitioners and even from the media on what to do and what not to do when pregnant. Most first time moms, even the ones that have done their research are unprepared for what to expect during pregnancy. Their bodies and emotions change as their pregnancy progresses and having never experienced this before can lead to some pretty stressful situations for a first time mom.

The first trimester of pregnancy is the most important to fetal growth and development. This is when the fetus forms, the brain and other organs grow and develop. It is also probably the most confusing time for first time moms. The mother experiences extreme physical changes as well as hormonal changes which can confuse and even scare first time moms. The thing to remember is that most of these changes are perfectly normal.

Prenatal care is of the utmost importance during the first trimester. It may seem like an inconvenience to go through the medical regime of checkups, exams, and barrage of tests and other medical procedures that go along with pregnancy, but these procedures are designed to give your new baby the best outlook and future good health. Find out what kinds of exams and tests will be performed during your pregnancy. Knowing what kind of tests are being run to insure yours and your babies health while pregnant can help alleviate fear of disease and disorders that all new moms worry about even without cause. Pelvic exams can seem invasive during pregnancy, but they are necessary for the overall health of your pregnancy so expect to have at least one or two during the first trimester.

Other basic prenatal care includes eating right and getting plenty of rest. Your health care provider can give you a dietary assessment to help you with planning healthy meals and make sure you are eating right according to your health needs as well as your prenatal needs. Prenatal vitamins are an important part of your daily routine while pregnant. Some women balk at taking these (usually because they are gigantic and don't taste very good) but even if you are eating according to your dietary plan, you may not be getting all the nutrients necessary to maintain good prenatal health. Your doctor may also prescribe iron pills or other dietary supplements in addition to your regular diet plan.

Stay active. It's been proven that active women have much lower statistics of birth defects and pregnancy and birth related problems. Most ordinary exercises are just as safe to do when pregnant as when not pregnant. A sudden extreme decrease in physical activity can also contribute to depression, so if you are already a fairly physically active person, slack off slowly when you find activities more difficult or physically demanding as your pregnancy progresses. Some activities should be limited or eliminated such as excessive biking, horseback riding or strenuous walking. Make sure to discuss your daily exercise routine with your health care provider for advice.

One of the best pieces of advice given to any pregnant woman is to talk. TALK TALK TALK. Many new moms are wary of asking too many questions for fear they may seem unprepared or uninformed (i.e. really stupid) to their health care provider. Always remember that no matter how trivial your concerns may seem they are important to you which makes them important to your health care giver. Relieve your anxiety by talking about any concerns you have with your health care provider. They are there to help you. Your health care provider can give you information on any topic concerning your pregnancy and most are glad to do so. Nothing makes an old doctor smile like a new mom asking if it's ok to eat chocolate or take a bath while you're pregnant. No matter how silly it may seem, ask. This not only opens communication between you and your doctor, it also makes you feel better and can put to rest any concerns you have. After all your health care provider is going to be a major interacting component during your pregnancy. Having a friendly open relationship with them goes a long way towards making your pregnancy and delivery stress free.

Talking to your partner is also a really good idea. Most new moms have new dads to accompany them through the life changing experience of pregnancy. New dads are just as likely to get a little freaked out when mom starts having really weird cravings, throwing up, crying for what seems no reason or your nipples start leaking as a new mom is. Talking to your partner and getting them as involved as possible helps relieve the stress in relationships that can come from being pregnant. Let them know what is going on with your body and your emotions. If women were ever a mystery to men, women during pregnancy are an enigma most men experiencing for the first time will feel like they will never figure out.

If possible, have your partner accompany you to checkups so they can see for themselves what is happening and discuss any concerns they have with your health care provider. Having an involved partner creates an atmosphere of intimacy like no other when pregnant. Talking to your partner during your pregnancy can help both of you feel more secure and alleviate anxiety about the impending birth. It's also nice to know that dad will be understanding at 2 am when your wide awake because you can't quit peeing or throwing up or are so anxious about your pregnancy that you cant sleep and your surfing the internet looking for baby name suggestions and diapering advice.

Is there such a thing as too much information? Well, that depends. In this day and age of modern technology, information on any topic is at the tips of our fingers. While new moms want to be as informed as possible, they are often bombarded with the latest pregnancy trends, research and advice to the point that is seems they will never learn enough about being pregnant. Don't worry so much about child rearing advice. Don't let the internet scare you. There is a lot of good information out there, but be prudent about which information you take to heart. There are tons of books, magazines, internet sites and other media dedicated to the pregnant market.

Always remember that your health care provider is the best source of information concerning your pregnancy. If you have anxieties about your pregnancy, reading about rare genetic disorders is not going to make you feel better if you don't know whether or not to be worried about it. Before the internet and public libraries, most new moms got their "tales of terror" from family members relating episodes from their families distant past. Every pregnancy is different. Just because great aunt May had 10 kids back in the day when they were still using Castor oil and boiling hot towels doesn't make her an expert on YOUR pregnancy.

You can never start shopping too early. The big day comes sooner than you might think. Start shopping for baby items, furniture and accessories as early as possible. This will give you time to space out your spending, set up the nursery or baby's living area, and give you time to change your mind on themes if you want to decorate. While you can't find out what sex the baby will be until a little later on in your pregnancy, all babies will need certain things like a crib, baby bath tub, safety seat, bottles and diapers.

Start with the simple items that are unisex and build your inventory throughout your pregnancy. This way you won't have the added financial burden of spending a huge amount of money right before your delivery. For larger purchases, take a little time to compare prices and quality of items. If you comparison shop early on it will eliminate stress by taking the pressure out of buying large ticket items and investing in things like diaper services. Smaller supplies are easily stocked or stored in a closet or bathroom cabinet. You can never have too many packs of baby wipes and other sanitary items for you and baby. Remember to buy items you will need after delivery as well. Sanitary napkins, breast pads and other hygiene items are nice to have on hand when you need them instead of making impromptu trips to the store when you realize your need them.

Breastfeeding. Try to make a choice to breastfeed or not and stick to it. The earlier you choose, the better, that way you can stock up on necessary supplies and check into the best buys for choices like breast pumps and bottles. If you choose to breastfeed, do not hesitate to go ahead and get information from your health care provider about breastfeeding and find out how to enroll in breastfeeding classes, lactating therapy and other informative classes concerning breast feeding techniques.

Birthing classes. If you decide to attend birthing classes, go ahead and register early for these. The earlier you start the better because you will get the full benefit of not only learning helpful birthing techniques but be able to associate with other new moms as well.

Prepare for the final countdown. First time moms are sometimes so overwhelmed with decision making its hard to focus on which ones are priorities. Birth is of course the eminent result of pregnancy. By the end of the first trimester, try to have your birth plan ready so that you can tweak it as necessary. Decide first where you will give birth. If you choose a hospital setting, set up an appointment to tour the facility and meet the staff sometime later in your pregnancy. Birth is an emotionally traumatizing event, knowing the people around you and having a sense of familiarity with the birthing facility, policies and what to expect will help eliminate stranger anxiety. Make a transportation plan and decide who will be responsible for getting you to the birthing facility and how you will get a hold of them when they are needed. If you decide to birth at home, make your emergency plan. Have someone designated to call an emergency vehicle or the hospital of your choice ahead of time in case of complications. Also make a list of people to call or to have present at the delivery so that everyone can plan as far ahead of time as possible to be there. It may seem like you have forever to get ready for your delivery but when the big day comes you want to be prepared far enough ahead to prevent any complications. Planning early in your pregnancy gives you one less thing to worry about later on.

Last but certainly not least, don't worry so much. Fear and anxiety of what to expect during your pregnancy can cast a dark cloud over what should be a joyful event. Remember, you are not alone. Women have been having babies for thousands of years, and every single one of them went through the biological and psychological changes that you are experiencing right now.