I have always been aware that people have their own opinions on topics, but never did I realize just how adamant others are at sharing said opinions until I found myself expecting.
As a first time mom-to-be, I can honestly say that I knew nothing about pregnancy, or labor and delivery, or parenting at the beginning of this journey. While the labor and delivery and parenting parts are still to come, listening to my body throughout this pregnancy has been key for me staying healthy and sane.
I feel very blessed that my pregnancy has been relatively easy compared to other experiences, and I absolutely don’t take this for granted! However, as harsh as this may sound, I have found that at times I’ve also needed to block out pregnancy advice that has come at me from all directions.
I do realize that so much of the advice is well-meaning and genuine and I certainly appreciate others caring for me and my baby, but receiving a variety of adamant opinions on the same topics can also cause confusion, headaches and even anxiety for any expectant mother trying to find her own way.
I have in no way had a perfect pregnancy, but I have certainly done the very best I can for both me and my baby boy. I’ve slept when feeling tired, I’ve eaten when I’m hungry, and I’ve exercised whenever I’ve felt up to it.
However, I’ve also had coffee, a.k.a. caffeine, every morning since that pesky aversion in the 1st and 2nd trimester passed. My eating has been healthy, but it certainly hasn’t been all organic and I’ve even had a cold deli sandwich or two when I’ve been starving and in a pinch. My fair share of ice cream has also been consumed.
Soda has been had more times than I care to admit, and I haven’t read all the What to Expect books ever published since frankly, the more I read about labor and delivery, specifically the recovery of the two, the more I wouldn’t mind staying pregnant for as long as possible!
Out of all the things I’ve learned over the past nine months though, listening to your own head and heart when it comes to the care and safety of yourself and your baby is some of the best advice I’ve been given – and ironically it’s come from my own experiences! I’ve always been a people pleaser, but as I begin my transition into motherhood, I am also learning that I do have my own maternal instincts as well.
There have of course been moments where I’m scared to death thinking about what’s to come out of fear of the unknown, but I am also proud of myself when I look back and see how much growth I’ve already made. As I transition from impending motherhood to a full-fledged mom, I plan to put into action the lesson I’ve learned about listening, receiving and being thankful for advice from those who’ve been in my place before. Ultimately though, I plan on trusting my own mommy heart when it comes to protecting, loving and caring for myself and my sweet baby boy.
