Your First Pregnancy
Newborn baby
Congratulations! Your first baby is a very exciting time in your life, but it’s also a time when you need to do a lot of preparation and make a lot of decisions! Here are some points to consider.
Prepare:
* Choose a doctor who will guide you through every step of the process, patiently answering questions. It is critical your doctor is capable and skilled, and will execute your desires. Ask friends and family for recommendations to find a good doctor. People will tell you when they’ve had a great experience, and also which doctors to stay away from. Narrow your choices, then check the doctor’s credentials with the American Medical Association and the state licensing board. Feel Doc out at the first visit and be sure that you are comfortable – if not, find somebody else.
* Prepare a cozy retreat for yourself and baby in your home. This can be a fully – equipped nursery room all baby’s own, or just a corner of your bedroom where a cradle and rocking chair are ready for action!
* Take good care of yourself. Rest, healthy foods, lots of water, fresh air and exercise are crucial. Help prevent stretch marks by massaging any areas you are concerned with, and keeping the area moisturized with cocoa butter or something similar. Studies show that chiropractic care can alleviate many of the “aches and pains” caused by carrying the baby and reduce labor and delivery time by 50%, so an appointment may be a thought. Finally, many mothers get a boost of energy in their last trimester – it is fine to keep busy, but don’t move furniture without help!
Breast feeding photo by targetwoman.com
Decide:
* Will you breastfeed? There are many positive reasons – the natural immunity, the bonding experience between you and baby, the thousands of dollars you will save by not buying formula! Studies show that breastfed babies grow up healthier, leaner, and with higher IQ’s than those fed formula. Of course, there are practical considerations as well. If someone else will be the primary caregiver for many hours at a time, you have to plan ahead by expressing your milk into bottles for baby’s consumption during your absence. This is not advised until after six weeks, as the differences confuse very young infants.
* What about circumcision? If your baby is a boy, this is something you need to research. Many families opt for the surgery as a matter of tradition, but the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends against routine circumcision, saying there is not enough benefit to outweigh the inherent risks involved. Others disagree!
* Do you have a sufficient support structure in place? Be prepared for the absolute worst. If a natural birth is not possible, you will be recovering from the surgery used to deliver your child. Will you have help at home, and with the baby, for those crucial few weeks? While the vast majority of births happen naturally, and things go quite well, you also need to be prepared for baby blues, and the more serious post-partum depression. Half of new mothers suffer from some depression after baby is born. It’s believed to be caused by hormonal imbalance, but it helps to discuss it beforehand as well. You will be overwhelmed with all the new responsibility, you will be exhausted from taking care of baby, you will feel completely unattractive, you will be stressed to the max—know these things ahead of time and try to take them in stride. If you have adequate help, it will make things much smoother for all of you through this period.
The Actual Birth:
You’re at due date and really anxious to see your baby. How can you naturally induce labor, but not hurt baby? Walking uses the natural forces of gravity, and the actual movement can help to position the baby in the correct birth position. Sex can actually stimulate labor, as your partner’s semen contains prostaglandins, which can stimulate contractions. Castor oil has been used for generations to stimulate contractions as well. Mix 1 to 4 ounces of castor oil with 6 ounces of orange juice, and down it quickly. This will cause your bowels to empty within about three hours, squeezing your uterus in the process and stimulate contractions. Get advice with this though. Always check with your doctor for his opinion.
How to Hold a NewBorn Baby
During your first visit, your doctor probably spoke to you about your “birth plan.” When you will be expecting your first baby, the prospect of delivering without any pain medication can be truly terrifying, and you may tell him you want as many drugs as possible, as early as possible! However, do your homework. Most pain medication slow down the process, and put you and baby in a bit of a fog, and most women actually opt for natural births with subsequent children.
