To "prep" for pregnancy you need to prepare your mind, body, and home for your new arrival....but how? What do you need? What will it be like? Where do I start? If you are anything like me...prior to anything AP, you hit the internet and spoke to family and friends. You registered at a popular baby store and followed their
Maintain a healthy, active and calm lifestyle
Some of the points outlined in Attached At The Heart promote healthy eating, exercise, meditation and a positive attitude for a successful pregnancy and delivery. Research has concluded that maintaining a healthy, active and calm lifestyle during your pregnancy leads to a better birth, and calmer and healthier baby. It's hard to remain positive in your third trimester...trust me...I know...but it is so important to your health and the health of your child. Staying positive and calm, eating right and exercising are highly recommended and supported by various health professionals. Not buying it yet?
Some of the points outlined in Attached At The Heart promote healthy eating, exercise, meditation and a positive attitude for a successful pregnancy and delivery. Research has concluded that maintaining a healthy, active and calm lifestyle during your pregnancy leads to a better birth, and calmer and healthier baby. It's hard to remain positive in your third trimester...trust me...I know...but it is so important to your health and the health of your child. Staying positive and calm, eating right and exercising are highly recommended and supported by various health professionals. Not buying it yet?
"...Our era has been called the age of anxiety. Anxiety causes an overproduction of the hormones adrenaline and cortisol, suppressing important biological functions in order to shift energy into muscle systems. Anxiety suppresses immune system function, but childbirth meditation brings adrenaline and cortisol levels down, restoring normal immune function for birth. Meditation strengthens the immune system with major hormones, melatonin and DHEA, to give a vital basis for life and to cope with the side effects of medical birth...."
Plan for your labor, know about delivery
Think about the type of experience you want early on. Decide whether you want a hospital birth or a Home Birth. If you choose to give birth at a hospital, familiarize yourself with the Mother Friendly Hospital Initiative and UNICEF's Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative. Consider whether you want a doctor or midwife. Check this out to help you in choosing a midwife if you should decide to have a midwife assist your labor and delivery.
Look into your local birthing centers and familiarize yourself with all of the options, ruling out each one...it's better to be informed and to know what choices you have and how you can take control of your labor and birth! Look into hypnobirthing or the 12 different ways to give birth. The most important "theme" or thread that is true of AP...don't just assume that the way your grandmother, mother, sister, cousin or friend birthed is the only way. Don't just assume that their is a standard or routine way to give birth. Each person is unique, their needs unique, so why wouldn't your birth be as well?
Take your local childbirth education class!! So many people do not go to this and it is a great way to familiarize yourself with labor delivery and baby care. It is also a great way to initiate conversation with your significant other or birth partner. Do not wait until your third trimester to consider these and don't wait for your doctor to initiate the conversation...some do and some do not! So many people balk or laugh at the idea of the "birth plan"and I understand their thinking...I sort of do...but it helped me stay on track and helped my husband and I remember what was most important. Now, being exposed to AP principles and so many amazing women....I know more about different techniques and plan to utilize more in the future.
Read about c-sections and what typically leads to them. Discuss these concerns with your doctor or birthing partner. Know the effects that pitocin has on your labor and the increased likelihood of a c-section.If you had a c-section with a previous pregnancy, research what you need to know about a VBAC. If it is something you want to try discuss this with your doctor right away.
Think about the type of experience you want early on. Decide whether you want a hospital birth or a Home Birth. If you choose to give birth at a hospital, familiarize yourself with the Mother Friendly Hospital Initiative and UNICEF's Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative. Consider whether you want a doctor or midwife. Check this out to help you in choosing a midwife if you should decide to have a midwife assist your labor and delivery.
Look into your local birthing centers and familiarize yourself with all of the options, ruling out each one...it's better to be informed and to know what choices you have and how you can take control of your labor and birth! Look into hypnobirthing or the 12 different ways to give birth. The most important "theme" or thread that is true of AP...don't just assume that the way your grandmother, mother, sister, cousin or friend birthed is the only way. Don't just assume that their is a standard or routine way to give birth. Each person is unique, their needs unique, so why wouldn't your birth be as well?
Take your local childbirth education class!! So many people do not go to this and it is a great way to familiarize yourself with labor delivery and baby care. It is also a great way to initiate conversation with your significant other or birth partner. Do not wait until your third trimester to consider these and don't wait for your doctor to initiate the conversation...some do and some do not! So many people balk or laugh at the idea of the "birth plan"and I understand their thinking...I sort of do...but it helped me stay on track and helped my husband and I remember what was most important. Now, being exposed to AP principles and so many amazing women....I know more about different techniques and plan to utilize more in the future.
Read about c-sections and what typically leads to them. Discuss these concerns with your doctor or birthing partner. Know the effects that pitocin has on your labor and the increased likelihood of a c-section.If you had a c-section with a previous pregnancy, research what you need to know about a VBAC. If it is something you want to try discuss this with your doctor right away.
Familiarize yourself with different labor positions (more on labor positions) and research how important an active labor is for your experience and delivery. Familiarize yourself with ways to check dilation without an internal. Know what labor pains are and what they do to help your delivery.
Accept that primal instincts take over in your labor and that is a good thing. Trust yourself. Know that you are able to do this and eliminate FEAR. Cross it off your list: I am afraid. Do not have anyone around you that is afraid or spreads fear:
"...during labor the part of the brain that produces all of these hormones is the primal part of the brain, the part of the brain that exists in all mammals. Because we are human, we spend a good portion of our time in the neo-cortex, which is the thinking part of the brain. The work of labor is about moving from the neo-cortex to the primal part of the brain. The reason why childbirth is often seen as such a struggle is because so many people don’t understand how to facilitate this action. The things that interfere with this action are induction, epidurals, lights, talking, sounds, lack of privacy and fear. When a woman is allowed to go into labor on her own, allowed to follow her own body’s natural rhythms, given the privacy and space to let labor unfold, not asked questions or be attached to any type of machine that makes a noise, and supported and nurtured in the process, the amount of pain is already reduced by a large amount and any pain that she experiences is taken care of by the important hormone cocktail..."Trust Yourself: Birth and the Purpose of Pain
Research any and all points that you are unsure of. I promise you, you will become empowered to take control and have an active part in your delivery prior to going into labor.
Exercise
Learn about breastfeeding
We will cover breastfeeding in length in a separate post...in the meantime, prepare for feeding by researching and reading about breastfeeding. MOST importantly, know the booby traps and connect yourself with your local La Leche League for support. Know that you can do it and do not get frustrated. You have online resources: Kelly Mom, The Leaky Boob and several Facebook pages to follow: Lakeshore Medical Breastfeeding Clinic, Best For Babes Foundation, and Black Breastfeeding 360. AAP's recommendations to find a breastfeeding-friendly doctor is another useful tool for you as you explore the start of this very important relationship.
Be ready for the most common booby trap- the push to supplement with formula too soon. Be sure to discuss this with your new pediatrician. This was something I was prepared for when Took was born. She lost a few ounces, which I new was normal, and was told that I should start to consider formula. NO!!
We will cover breastfeeding in length in a separate post...in the meantime, prepare for feeding by researching and reading about breastfeeding. MOST importantly, know the booby traps and connect yourself with your local La Leche League for support. Know that you can do it and do not get frustrated. You have online resources: Kelly Mom, The Leaky Boob and several Facebook pages to follow: Lakeshore Medical Breastfeeding Clinic, Best For Babes Foundation, and Black Breastfeeding 360. AAP's recommendations to find a breastfeeding-friendly doctor is another useful tool for you as you explore the start of this very important relationship.
Be ready for the most common booby trap- the push to supplement with formula too soon. Be sure to discuss this with your new pediatrician. This was something I was prepared for when Took was born. She lost a few ounces, which I new was normal, and was told that I should start to consider formula. NO!!
Want your socks knocked off? Check out this video of breastcrawl, the baby instinctually knows what to do and so do you!!!
Become familiar with the benefits of skin to skin
There are countless pieces of information and research about the importance and benefits of skin to skin contact for the mother, father and baby. This has been proven to regulate body temperature, digestion, heart rate and not to mention bonding. This is a wonderful thing that dads can do too!
There are countless pieces of information and research about the importance and benefits of skin to skin contact for the mother, father and baby. This has been proven to regulate body temperature, digestion, heart rate and not to mention bonding. This is a wonderful thing that dads can do too!
Be aware of other decisions that you will have to make
AAP's list of pre-natal decisions to make will be a valuable site to visit. Discuss the necessity ofcircumcision and be aware of the ongoing debate between medical necessity, religious belief or social misconception. This is another topic that should be discussed with your significant other and pediatrician prior to the birth of your child. ReviewThe American Academy of Pediatrics stance on circumcision.
Familiarize yourself with vaccines
This is another hot topic. Discuss your feelings and do your homework on whether you vaccinate or not. If you choose to vaccinate, familiarize yourself with the vaccination schedule and talk to your pediatrician about any concerns you have.
vaccinesFamiliarize yourself with vaccines
This is another hot topic. Discuss your feelings and do your homework on whether you vaccinate or not. If you choose to vaccinate, familiarize yourself with the vaccination schedule and talk to your pediatrician about any concerns you have.
Prepare your home for your little one
This is interesting because we prepared our home prior to practicing Attachment Parenting. In hindsight, we wouldn't have had to stress over her nursery, her crib or any bouncy seat. She spent the majority of her newborn days in our arms, nursing and in a carrier. She sleeps in our bed and occasionally in her crib, that will change one day. Prepare your home any way you are comfortable with, but know that things can change...that it's a good thing...that all your baby really needs is what you can physically provide them with, comfort, cuddles, kisses, milk and love. They don't need a ton of things and toys. They need you and they need to know that you can be there for them whenever they call on you...sometimes just because <3
It's a good time for reflection
This is a good time to reflect on your experiences growing up and the experiences of your significant other. It's also time to let go of any preconceived notions or any ideas that you thought you had. Let your heart lead you, let your instincts tell you what to do...ignore advice that does not "jive" with you and never feel like you "have to" do anything with your child. Familiarize yourself with the principles of Attachment Parenting and meditate on: "I AM DOING WHAT IS BEST FOR MY FAMILY" over and over and over. <3
If you are knowledgeable and comfortable, you will be confident and powerful!
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