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A Happy Pregnancy
Getting a Jump Start on a Pleasant Parenthood
By Teri Brown
(Penguin, 2005). She believes women often have a hard time achieving contentment during pregnancy because of the hectic lives we often lead.
"Women are very busy in their lives and when they get pregnant, it's just one more thing on their to-do lists," says Lawler. "If it's a first pregnancy, then there's so much to do to get ready: Prepare the nursery, find a pediatrician, perform all appropriate prenatal care, go to childbirth classes, etc."
Beyond that, Lawler says pregnancy is often just uncomfortable, and at times, one may just want to get through it and may wait impatiently for the delivery date. "It's certainly natural to be impatient to meet your new baby, but all of these things can create a less-than-contented pregnancy," says Lawler. "Plus, not knowing what labor and delivery are really like causes a lot of tension. Friends and family tell you all sorts of scary things like how many hours their labor went on, how many stitches they had to have, how painful the C-section was. Or else they're pooh-poohing your very real concerns and telling you it will be a piece of cake – and you know better!"
"Being able to relax and feel calm during pregnancy is a great way to practice being able to relax and feel calm when your baby comes," says Lawler. Lawler suggests one way to achieve a contented pregnancy is to notice the changes that are going on in your body and then appreciate them. Be aware of how full your breasts are, how your belly button pops out and how your walk changes to accommodate for the baby.
"It also means living in the present," says Lawler. "It means enjoying your big belly instead of focusing on how great it's going to be when your baby comes and you can fit back into non-pregnancy clothes. It means accepting that you're going to need more rest and you're not going to get as much done in your life and being fine with that – knowing that you're in the middle of a really important job!"
It also means preparing yourself in a healthy, positive way for parenting your baby so that you feel you have the ability to nurture and parent. Lawler believes this will help you not panic about whether you are really ready for parenthood, but to trust that you are.
"Get as much information as you need to feel informed but not overwhelmed," says Lawler. "I'm an information hog, so I wanted to know everything there was to know about pregnancy and labor and delivery. One of my friends was very different. She listened to her obstetrician, asked a few questions and then didn't want to hear anything from other people because it would just freak her out. So seek out just the right amount of information for you and feel free to say "no" when people want to share more."
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