The decision to have a child is not one to be taken lightly. Between finances, personal lives and schedules, careers and family support, there are many factors to consider before deciding to conceive. Fortunately, I didn’t have to worry about any of this prior to getting pregnant with my first born. He was what you call an “oops” baby. At the time, my husband and I were terrified. We had no idea how to be parents. We both worked high stress jobs and had very limited family support locally. Our terror soon turned to joy for the next 7 months. It wasn’t long before the terror returned, when Aidan was born unexpectedly 2 months premature.
We swore up and down that we were one and done, perfectly content with having just one child. Then I got baby fever, but I was torn. I never got to experience those first mommy moments with Aidan. I was put under anesthesia during my c section and didn’t get to hear his first cries.I didn’t even meet him or hold him until the day after he was born. My entire birth experience was incredibly traumatic, and I wasn’t sure that I wanted to go through with it again. Having a preemie was a roller coaster, to say the least. When all was said and done, Aidan turned out to be a perfectly healthy little boy. But, still, I didn’t feel complete. I wanted my mommy moment with my baby. My husband and I spent a lot of time debating and finally came up with the decision. We were going to try for baby number 2. Sooner than later, I was holding that positive pregnancy test. I followed some pretty simple, yet strict, guidelines for dealing with pregnancy fears, which were inevitable.
5 Tips For Dealing With Pregnancy Fears
- Stay Away From Google: Google has proven to be my biggest ally and my biggest enemy, all in one. While there is a wealth of information online, my personal experience with Googling has always made my anxiety levels higher than they should be. Instead,
- Listen To Your Doctors: You pay your doctors a lot of money, so use them wisely! Gather facts, express your concerns and listen to what they have to say. If you feel as though your doctor is not giving you the time of day, it might be time to change doctors. My doctors, all 7 of them, validated my fears and talked me through each of them. They spent the time answering my questions and told me that I needed to trust them and rely on their expertise. At the end of each appointment, my doctors made me feel at ease and lessened my fears and concerns and I never walked away with more questions than I went in with.
- Keep Yourself Educated: Staying educated does not mean Google by any means. In my experience, only the worst possible outcomes are splattered all over Google. I like to find unbiased opinions and resources. I began reading medical journals and scholarly articles published about my blood clotting disorder. I joined a group for moms who suffered from preeclampsia who were pregnant with baby number 2 or more. I asked my doctors questions and remained ahead of the game, always knowing what was happening with my body at any given moment.
- Supportive People: There is no doubt that I would not have been able to get through my last pregnancy without the support of my husband and close friends. They all knew that I was basically a walking basket case. My best friend even stayed overnight many nights, especially towards the end. At the time, my husband worked night shift and she did not want me to be alone, especially with a 3 year old. My best advice, surround yourself with people who truly care about you and have your best interest in mind. They will share the burden and help to lessen your load!
- Breathe: This bit of advice sounds like the easiest, but it is by far one of the hardest things to do, especially during a high risk pregnancy. Each time I went to a doctors appointment, I anticipated bad news. I would walk in to the exam room and the first thing my MFM doctor would say was “breathe”. It was as if they could see it on my face immediately. And they could, I’m sure. Everyone could! I had to remind myself to take deep breaths throughout my entire pregnancy. Sure, you aren’t going to forget to breathe. But you might forget to slow down and really breathe. Take it all in, a nice calming breath can and will do incredible things for your well being.
I am not going to hide the truth. My second pregnancy was a scary one, only because I know how bad of an outcome I could potentially be facing. But I remained positive, I tried not to Google every crazy sounding term mentioned by my MFM specialist, and I got through it! If I can get through it, anyone can get through it. If you think that it might be time for you to add to your growing family, begin planning now. With your plan, include Astroglide TTC™. You have enough to worry about when it comes to adding a new child, make conception be the least of your worries. It is specially formulated for couples who are trying to conceive and supports fertility with adjusted pH levels, compatible osmolality and a consistency similar to your body’s cervical mucus. One less thing to worry about is always a great way to start any plan for conception!
Astroglide TTC™ sponsored this blog post. The opinions and text are all mine
““
