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“One night, my 3-year-old asked me if she could sleep in my bed. I told her no. She said, “That’s not fair! Why does Daddy get to sleep in your bed?” READ MORE
First Years (0-2)
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From the moment a pink line appeared in the third dipstick window until now, seven months into my first pregnancy, a sane woman I have not been. Disclaimers aside, I believe my commentary on baby day preparedness is shockingly level headed and may help guide you through the rough seas of pregnancy to the foreign shores of parenthood. Even the most astute top 10 list will fail to prepare you for parenting perfection, but when God hands us a screaming, crying, diaper-wetting miracle of our very own, the least we can do is give it our best shot. Hit the books. It goes without saying that the Internet is a wonderful 24-7 resource, but when preparing your mind for the eventuality of parenthood, you may derive solace from the physical presence of pulp wood pages. Irvine Regional Hospital’s Education Coordinator Jana McCarthy is a licensed vocational nurse, certified childbirth educator and lactation specialist. If her credentials don’t impress you, consider the amazing fact that she has given birth to eight children! McCarthy’s suggested reading list includes, “The Thinking Woman’s Guide to a Better Birth” by Henci Goer; “Pregnancy, Childbirth and the Newborn” by Penny Simkin; and “The Happiest Baby on the Block” by Dr. Harvey Karp. I’d also throw in “Belly Laughs: The Naked Truth About Pregnancy and Childbirth” by Jenny McCarthy. When you’re sick from morning to night, suffering from the crying jags, and going to the bathroom 150 times a day, it helps to know that a former Playmate of the Year had it worse off than you. Eat your Wheaties. As tempting as it may be to take advantage of your position as a pleasingly plump pregnant woman, it is not a good idea to subsist on a diet of candy bars and macaroni and cheese. In addition to taking the obligatory prenatal vitamins and supplements, do the right thing for you and your baby by eating plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and protein. McCarthy suggests following Dr. Tom Brewer’s diet for moms found at www.blueribbonbaby.org. Take a hike. Research proves the more active you are during pregnancy the better you’ll cope with delivery and the faster you’ll regain your pre-pregnancy figure. In addition to walking and/or swimming five to seven times a week, consider taking a prenatal yoga class. Go shopping. There’s nothing like a little retail therapy to kick those third trimester blues, but when your hormones are raging, your checkbook may pay a hefty price. Head for the hills. Plan a week or a weekend away with your spouse spent relaxing, romancing, and talking about anything but baby. As tempting as it may be to take tensions out on the one you love, remember, the best gift you can give your child is a loving home. Enroll in class. A former straight-A student, I naturally cling to the hope that knowledge is power when it comes to all this baby business. My husband is less convinced of the effectiveness of classroom education, but we both plan to enroll in our hospital’s roster of childbirth, lactation and parenting classes. I know that women have managed to have healthy babies for centuries without the benefit of a blackboard or a VCR, but I’m not taking any chances. Make a plan. Again, the student in me believes that proper planning helps make even the most nerve-wracking situations bearable, and the control freak in me refuses to leave my child-birthing experience to chance. For these reasons, I am taking nurse McCarthy’s advice and preparing a comprehensive birthing plan. “Writing a care plan lets your healthcare providers know what your philosophies are about childbirth and what they can do to take care of you. Be assertive about communicating your wishes to your doctor,” she says. Lock the cupboards. Your mind, body and spirit may be in good shape for baby day, but what about your house? While it will be months before your baby is out and about, it’s never too early to child proof your home. Visit www.booboobusters.com for tips on how to make your home hospitable for your little one. Set boundaries. There are those in your acquaintance who will take the African proverb, “It takes a village to raise a child,” quite literally. As well meaning as in-laws, friends and family members may be, the time they spend with you and your baby should be on your own terms. Consider setting your own visiting hours. Say your prayers. When you’ve done everything within your power to prepare for this life-changing event, invoke the help of a higher authority. Research indicates that visualizing your ideal labor and delivery helps create a self-fulfilling prophecy. Positive thinking, meditation and prayer will help you transcend the trying moments and prepare your heart for the miracle to come.m S. Danyelle Knight recently moved back to Orange County from Northern California. This is her first, First Years column. |
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