Our advices to help everyone to prepare Baby's arrival
It's now a reality: you're going to become a parent. With the images from your first ultrasound in hand, a whole new world opens up. You're discovering terms like amenorrhea, listeriosis, and perhaps even turbulette and liniment. Because it's not always easy to take your first steps serenely into this new world, here are a few tips to help you prepare for the 9 months of pregnancy.
Prepare yourself to new physiological changes
And, of course, there's a baby on the way. But before thinking about him, it's essential to understand what's going on in the pregnant woman's body, hormones and emotions. Childbirth preparation courses are an invaluable aid to understanding and accepting these changes. As well as preparing you for the big day, midwives will also talk to you about pregnancy and parenthood as a whole. If there are two of you embarking on the adventure of parenthood, attending these classes as a couple is essential. Firstly, to understand and anticipate these physical and emotional changes, and secondly, because your partner has an essential role to play in supporting the pregnant woman. In the face of these changes, it's important to remain benevolent and tolerant. All these changes are completely normal, and you just need to accept them.
Testimony of a midwife: why do 2-person courses? Be kind and tolerant with yourself.
Focus on the essentials
During the months of pregnancy, it's easy to feel overwhelmed and want to understand, know and anticipate everything. And yet, during this period, the best thing to do is to take a step back and focus on what's essential. What's essential is, of course, different for everyone. The idea is above all not to clutter your mind with secondary or even useless things. People around you, for example, will want to give you all kinds of advice, thinking they're doing you a favor. Try to filter! Listen with one ear to what everyone has to say, but trust your intuition and convictions above all else.
"To sort through the multitude of information we received, I chose to focus on the mom. I was convinced that if everything went well for her, everything else would naturally go well. I focused my attention on her, and let go of everything" - Nicolas, father for 10 months.
Extra tip:
there are plenty of apps to give you the peace of mind that comes with finding answers in seconds. From those that tell you what foods to avoid during pregnancy, to those that offer sample medical appointment schedules, to those that explain baby and child development step by step, to those that give you definitions... Take your pick!
Focus on good communication
This advice applies to all circumstances and situations in life, but especially during pregnancy. Good communication is essential during this period of upheaval, and on many different levels.
What is good communication ? Dare to ask questions !
Whether you're talking to your family, friends, healthcare professionals, or even online on dedicated forums/groups: ask your questions! No question is stupid, and it's better to get a clear answer quickly than to accumulate misunderstandings. No, it's not necessarily easy for everyone to locate the perineum; yes, it's legitimate to wonder about the return from childbirth and yes, you have every right not to understand the benefits of natural breastfeeding.
Being sincere is the good communication to get
Whether you're a couple or a single parent, it's important to be able to confide in each other during these few months, with complete transparency and honesty. Share your desires, your fears, don't be afraid to ask for help, to express your doubts. As a couple, don't be afraid of compliments, which will boost your partner's self-confidence. Who wouldn't feel empowered by a “I think you've got it under control, I'm very impressed with you”?
"On the day of the birth, during labor, the father of my twins constantly reminded me of my qualities and strengths. He continued to do so during my postpartum period, and his compliments did me a world of good. They helped me relax by convincing me that I was going to be a great mom." - Stéphanie, mother for 6 months.
But first of all : enjoy !
Last but not least: while the arrival of a baby is an upheaval, it's above all an incredible adventure. So stop worrying and reading articles full of generic advice: go shopping for your future child, choose decorations, furnish his future room, choose his birth outfit... in short, do what you like.
And beyond preparing for the baby's arrival, do things for yourself: go out, eat what pleases you, sleep for hours on end, take time for your relationship, read, have a massage...
“What helped us decompress and wait for our son's arrival was traveling. My wife was in good shape physically, so we allowed ourselves to go on getaways. It allowed us to get out of our bubble of preparation and get together to enjoy ourselves as a couple, before resuming our escapades later as a threesome.” - Maria, mother for 20 months.
