Читать книгу Ultimate, Pregnancy, Birth and Parenting Guide - Lilian Paramor - Страница 7

CHAPTER 1

Are you ready for pregnancy?

Increasingly women and their partners are realising that preparing for conception, pregnancy and parenthood is the very best form of preventative health and wellbeing.

THE PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL BASICS

In a nutshell, you shouldn’t take any chances when it comes to what you can control – after all, you’re growing a whole new life! For the best possible outcome, there are three basics to think of:

1.You need a healthy body

For the best pregnancy you ideally need to invest time and effort to attain glowing health before you conceive. A healthy, active lifestyle before, during and after pregnancy will make your whole experience better and easier. Nutrition is truly fundamental to wellbeing. It’s simply not good enough to continually compromise on what and how you eat in pregnancy, as you are now growing a baby. Your pregnancy wellbeing is also directly related to your diet. In addition, understanding the cause of niggles and discomforts and the best, natural ways to relieve them, will make your pregnancy so much easier.

2.You need a healthy mind

While you might find it easy to conceive, be mindful of your reasons for wanting a child and the responsibility awaiting you. Pregnancy is a special window of opportunity to develop your emotional resources, and the impact will be felt for generations to come. Optimism and consideration of people and the planet are just as important.

3.You need a healthy relationship

Babies don’t save marriages and life partnerships, yet it is amazing how often couples in an ailing relationship pin their hopes for family happiness on having a child. Yes, children can bring out the best in you but having a child will seldom heal a deep rift permanently. Before you embark on the road to parenthood, be honest with yourself – are any problems you and your partner are experiencing deep and longstanding, is there mutual respect, do you enjoy a wide variety of similar interests and friendships, and do you support each other in your personal ambitions?

IS AGE A FACTOR TO CONSIDER?

There are advantages and disadvantages to all possible ages and circumstances to consider when planning for a baby. It is a very personal decision but one worth investing time and energy in making. Here are some pointers to bear in mind:

•Emotionally one is more mature and able to deal more easily with the ups and downs of parenting at a slightly older age, though one is more young-at-heart and optimistic when younger.

•Patience, resolve and tenacity are virtues that are required for parenting and may be lacking in younger parents, though they may have the important ability to be playful.

•Financial concerns are often substantially less when older – it’s not that having a child has to cost so much, but rather the extra strain money worries bring to families. However, wealth does not guarantee a happy home.

•Older parents may have become so used to their independence that being on 24-hour call might be quite challenging, while younger parents might take this in their stride because they are often more flexible.

•While older parents have the benefit of having had a taste of the big, wide world, younger parents will still be able to enjoy this “selfish” phase when their children have flown the nest.

ARE YOU READY FOR BABY NUMBER TWO?

Deciding when to introduce a new baby to the family is a very personal decision, but here are three things you should take into consideration:

1.Age gaps

There’s no “correct” age gap between children – there are advantages and disadvantages to both small and large gaps. A large gap will mean that all the hard work that comes with having a small baby will start all over again, but it can be easier on Mom. A gap of less than two years brings with it a phase of intense work and you’ll need plenty of support, but then you get all the “baby stuff” over and done with fairly quickly.

2.Individual circumstances

Of course, you’ll need to assess whether you can afford another child and the time away from work. Also, if your firstborn has health or behaviour problems, the strain of having children close in age could be greater.

3. Practical issues

It’s generally easier to raise two children, as they’ll quite soon entertain each other, giving you some free time. Children also learn about sharing, conflict resolution and the need to respect others when they have siblings. There’s almost always a little jealousy from the older child when a new baby arrives, but a bit of patience will help you through this phase. Remember, don’t put pressure on your older child to be “big” – he’s still your baby, too.

THE TOP FIVE NO-NOS IN PREGNANCY

As you prepare for pregnancy, bear in mind these top five things to avoid in pregnancy to help ensure your baby is as healthy as possible. In fact, start even before you plan on falling pregnant, as those early weeks of pregnancy are the most important for development.

1.Alcohol, smoking and recreational drug use: A baby’s body can’t process these substances in the same way an adult’s can. Rather be safe than sorry and avoid these completely. These substances affect your baby’s growth and health, and may put him at risk of addictions later in life.

2.Dietary cautions: Avoid any foods your immediate family is allergic to, products that contain raw egg, fish-based sushi (veggie sushi is fine), undercooked meat and soft, aged cheeses. Some toxins can cross the placenta to your baby and a diet high in allergenic foods can trigger allergy symptoms in your baby after birth.

3.Certain medications: Ask your pharmacist or doctor before you take any medication you are unsure about, as many have not been tested for safety in pregnancy.

4.Certain beauty treatments: Things like nail polish, hair dye and body lotions could contain chemicals that are best avoided in pregnancy, especially in the first trimester. Do not use sunbeds at all as these may cause Baby to overheat.

5.Undue stress: During pregnancy, put your feet up, relax and think about your developing baby. Take time to enjoy the small things in life. Your birth will be easier and Baby will be more settled and relaxed after birth.