5 Important Things To Keep In Mind Before Giving Birth

Giving birth can be overwhelming, especially if it’s your first time. There are so many things people tell you to do or not to do. But the key thing to remember is that every birth and labor are different. I’m sharing 5 things to keep in mind before giving brith that might come in handy for you.

Having Anxiety Is Normal

Everyone has some type of anxiety about anything in life. Some people just might not have or know of the severity of it and thats okay. Having anxiety and anxious feelings before giving birth is a normal and a validated feeling. You’re about to have a tiny human come out of your body, naturally or through c-section. Each has their own pain and ways to deal with them. Just learn to talk yourself through everything that happens and rely on the medical staff to take care you the best they can during the circumstances.

You Don’t Have To Wait For Pain To Get Epidural

There’s so much talk and myth about epidural. Some are true and some are false. But when it comes to pain, you have to go with your own instinct and what you can and cannot handle. No one should judge you for getting it or not getting it. To each their own. Do your studies before if you feel the need for it, but many babies have been born fine with or without epidurals, so please keep that in mind.

You Will Most Likely Be Asked To Push

Now, this is the part I dreaded the most. I don’t know about anyone else but I had a crazy pushing story with my first born that I was just not prepared for. I had an unprofessional nurse who kept talking about her personal life while I was busy in labor, dying of pain and pushing. I felt like she didn’t know what she was doing. I wasn’t even close 10 cm and she asked me to push way too early.

By the time the crucial pushing part came, I was too exhausted to do anything, which almost led me to a c-section room. With my second born, my nurse was very professional and patient and waited until the right time. She gave me a heads-up warning that I will be pushing soon so to be prepared.

Crying Is Normal

I would thin not crying would be strange. Giving birth is not only painful but also a special moment of rollers coaster emotions rising up and down. With my first, I cried the most from pain because my epidural did not work AT ALL (hence the unprofessional nurse again). With my second born, I cried more for the moment because I wan’t going to have a second child and it was happening. Let your emotions ride. Cry if you need to. If you don’t want to, that’s okay too. Don’t feel like you can’t cry ad hold your emotions.

Newborns Will Eat Every 2-3 Hours Minimum

When they say prepare to feed your babies, take that SERIOUSLY. Newborns will eat pretty much all day and all night if you let them. They tell you 2-3 hours minimum but sometimes feeding on demand also works too. This is where the no sleep comes into picture as well. Go with what works for you and the baby. You’ll soon see a pattern that works. Every baby is different. One of my favorite bottles to use in case you need is Como Tomo bottles that come in 5oz or 8oz bottles.

When it comes to giving birth, you will realize that everything you had planned or expected might not work out that way, and it’s okay. Don’t be alarmed and just go with what the new plan leads you to. Things will work out for you. You can also check out new mom challenges