Being a Mum: A Long Time To Begin With

Sep 1

It's only been 10 weeks into second pregnancy and my first baby wanted mum most of all. When I found the tell-tale double pink line on my pregnancy test, naturally I wanted to get her soon. Being a mum mother to be, I wasn't about to risk losing the baby even if it was already in the birth canal. Two weeks later, still no sign of the pregnancy mare!

being a mum |

Being a Mum: A Long Time To Begin With

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So what happened? Was my body simply too weak to carry the pregnancy? Or, did I have an allergic reaction to one of the chickenpox shots? I've researched pregnancy books and read hundreds of pregnancy books, but I still didn't know for sure what to do to help my little baby who now weighs about 3 pounds and is just a little bigger than my fist!

Being a mama myself, I felt extremely guilty as I thought that I wasn't a good enough mother. My husband and I both carry this guilt with us. We both feel guilty that we aren't spending more time with our toddlers and baby, that we don't play as much with them, that we don't spend as much time with them as we did before our babies. These thoughts made me extremely stressed and worried about my baby and I made sure that I kept myself busy as much as I could, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to relax as much as I should have.

My pregnancy was definitely hard, but I felt more supported by my family and friends when I was having some trouble (although being a bit sore about the lack of mums around! ), I also found some comfort in the fact that being a mum is quite rewarding. I got to see my baby first - walk, talk, laugh and play. As for me, I was able to help my husband and our two young girls learn how to cook food and get their own much involved in the early days of their pregnancy. I also got to learn more about pregnancy and nutrition so I could help support other moms who are going through this experience.

Here are some postpartum tips to help you get through your pregnancy and onto the path of being a mom. Firstly, let me tell you what being a mum means to you. To me, being a mum is about being there for you, your baby and your family through good and bad times. It means I'm there to feed, clothe and rock my babies when they're sick, even if it's at my own expense. It means I'm there to clean up when they mess up or throw down a couple of nappies, all while crying on them because I'm at work!

Here are some simple postpartum tips to help you. Firstly, don't be afraid of asking for help. Many women feel completely overwhelmed when they go into labor, especially if they've never experienced it before. Don't be afraid to ask for help from members of staff at the hospital or at your local Pregnancy Care Trust (PCT). There are also loads of agencies and organizations that offer support after pregnancy so you won't be alone in your transition into motherhood.

You may be a new mum and want to do something to mark your pregnancy and the arrival of your baby. There are loads of ways to do this such as getting yourself an award or trophy for the best mum in your class at school. If you don't want to spend money then there are plenty of cheap prizes you can purchase online or at your local supermarket for a family name badge. Some other ideas include doing something good for yourself such as taking part in a cross country race with the baby in the basket, knitting a baby book or craft, or even giving away something you've created at home or to friends and family as a gift, such as an arts and crafts creation or baby gift certificate. You can also join up with local groups in your area for pregnancy awareness or find out more about parenting groups and support groups in your area.

You may have already been invited to take part in something personal and memorable such as a pregnancy photo session or postpartum workshop. If so, why not go ahead and sign up? This type of event is great for sharing your views and experiences after the birth of your child and gives you the chance to talk about your pregnancy and how you managed to cope with the changes in your body as well as what you liked about being a mum and what you missed. If you're at all apprehensive about being a mum, it's worth taking the time to speak to someone who has been through it before. By doing this, not only will you gain useful advice but you'll also learn from their mistakes and the ups and downs of being a parent.