Whether you’re expecting your first baby or you’ve had many children, pregnancy can be a bit of a turbulent experience. It can be beautiful and enriching, for sure. But each journey comes with its challenges, unexpected hiccups, and nuances. Some of these might give you a bit of a knock to your confidence.
There’s no doubt that you deserve to be celebrated as you go through your pregnancy with your head held high. As a result, it’s well worth adopting some actions that help to boost your comfort, well-being, and — ultimately — your confidence. Let’s explore a few of the things that might make a difference.
Communication. It’s one of the most important skills in life and this extends to your pregnancy. When you don’t feel able to confidently communicate, it can really affect your pregnancy experience. You might feel isolated or not get the support you need. So, you need to commit to finding ways to get your voice heard.
The professionals you interact with during your pregnancy are a vital support network. This could include ob-gyn doctors, a midwife, and perhaps a doula. Being able to confidently communicate with these people helps ensure you and your unborn child navigate any difficulties effectively.
You can gain confidence by aiming for a trusting and open dialog with your professionals. Choose professionals with reliable skills, so you know you can speak up when you have concerns and get assistance.
However, you should also honor your own wishes. You have a right to take ownership of your journey to motherhood. Don’t feel railroaded into decisions surrounding your pregnancy and the birth. Be clear when expressing what you want. If professionals have medical concerns related to this, aim to have collaborative discussions to find solutions, rather than being dictated to.
Your friends and relatives are invaluable day-to-day supporters. Yet, this doesn’t mean your relationships with them at this time can’t also be challenging.
Start by setting expectations from the earliest point. Perhaps talk face-to-face with your closest loved ones to let them know you’re pregnant. This gives you a chance to talk about the role you hope they’ll play in your pregnancy. It’s also essential to communicate boundaries here. Put your comfort and that of your baby first. If you need time alone, say so. If someone’s overstepping the mark with their opinions or behavior, patiently but firmly request they step back.
When you’re ready for other friends and relatives to know, you can take a creative approach to making a pregnancy announcement. This is a convenient way to inform multiple people at once. This doesn’t have to be complex, simply customize graphic design templates that best suit your personality. Be sure to include some basic key information, such as your due date or the baby’s name if you’ve chosen one. Even incorporating a photo of your baby bump can be a great personalized way to share your joy with a lot of people, without having to dedicate a lot of your time and energy to the process.
There are so many expectations and pressures in today’s world, including for expectant mothers. It can feel as though you have to put work and other duties first. Excessive stress is not only unhealthy for you and your baby, but it also tends to spoil what should otherwise be a time of joy. By instead taking time to regularly look after your self-care, you can gain the confidence to put yourself and your child first.
Wherever possible, aim to adopt a mindful approach to self-care into your routine. This is about being aware of your needs in the present moment and incorporating self-care actions that best serve these. This doesn’t have to be complicated. Check in with yourself regularly throughout the day. If you’re tired, take a nap or adjust your sleep schedule to get enough rest each night. If you’re frustrated, perhaps do a relaxing hobby, such as coloring.
It often helps to cultivate an awareness of your holistic needs throughout your pregnancy. Focus on the various areas of self-care that your body, mind, and baby may need.
Obviously, pregnancy is a time of some serious changes. Many of these will be wonderful, but some can also be quite daunting. Taking control of how you react to these changes can give you greater confidence as you embrace experience on the road to motherhood.
Pregnancy can put quite a lot of strain on your body and mind. As a result, you may need to navigate the impact this has on your health. Often, taking a little control and gaining confidence here requires you to be proactive about adapting to these.
For instance, gastrointestinal ailments can be common in pregnancy. Symptoms of GERD can be treated with some lifestyle adjustments, such as eating smaller meals and sleeping with your head slightly inclined. Though you’re unlikely to be able to do much about the additional pressure on your stomach from your growing baby, wearing loose-fitting clothing may help, too.
As with any health-related change, it’s vital to get advice from your ob-gyn before independently adjusting your lifestyle. They’ll be able to give you guidance that empowers you to make informed choices.
Different expectant mothers have different responses to the physical changes their bodies go through during pregnancy. Some women find the experience of their bump and the glow that comes with it to be a beautiful part of their natural development. Others may find themselves dissatisfied or frustrated with their new shape. There’s no right or wrong reaction to have. After all, everyone’s relationship to their pregnancy is deeply personal. In either case, making adjustments that help you gain a positive outlook is a key to confidence.
This may involve finding clothing that helps you to feel at your best. You might want to get items that accentuate your baby bump, such as form-fitted maternity dresses. If you’re uncertain of your new shape, perhaps lean into clothes that boost comfort while also emphasizing your
personal sense of style. For instance, boyfriend jeans paired with a tucked sweater. The key is to make mindful adjustments that are body-positive and focus on what you love about yourself.
Being able to navigate your pregnancy with confidence can make your journey feel so much more positive. Keep communicating clearly with key people in your life while also putting your self-care and wellness needs first. Remember that everybody has their individual perspectives on pregnancy. Look for the actions that are meaningful and positive to you and embrace these. Make the next nine months a journey you can cherish.
Birth is not going to go exactly as you had imagined, planned, or expected. That’s why it’s so important to learn how to be your own best advocate in the delivery room.
Charlie Fletcher
Author