In my very early days of pregnancy (under 12 weeks) I sort some hindsight advice from a friend, what she wished she had been told when she was on the journey to becoming a first time mum.
I'm glad I asked her advice, and although simplistic it was probably the best that I could have received and I hope that by passing it on it will help another soon to be mum.
BONUS ADVICE
At the end of the day, you have to do what you feel is right for both of you and not let anyone else make you feel like shit for whatever you decide.
This was received from another friend, but like number 4 this advice is for when you pregnant & for after you've had your tiny human. Everybody has their own opinion on how things (in their eyes) should be done, and you're not going to agree with everybody or its just not going to work for you. So fly your own flag, be the best that you can, touch wood and hope it all works out okay. It's all any of us can really do.
What is the best pregnancy or parenting advice you have received?
I'm glad I asked her advice, and although simplistic it was probably the best that I could have received and I hope that by passing it on it will help another soon to be mum.
- Spend lots of quality alone time with your husband/partner, because for a while (quite a while) that may not be possible.
My husband & I spend a lot of time together anyway, if we're not working we are normally together. I don't know what you would call quality time and I don't want to put any measure of rule on it, since all relationships are different & sometimes females take things as gospel (ie. if I said quality time is having a couples bubble bath with a baboon, there is probably going to be some poor guy out there being told he has to do this because she read it somewhere) - Make people do stuff for you (cook, clean, etc) because you'll be doing it for someone else for the next 18 years or so (although it's more like 30 these days).
I didn't make people cook etc for me, however my husband did take over the cooking duties when I noticed my belly was getting a bit hot when at the stove, he is still doing the bulk of the cooking but I jump in every now & again when I'm able to.
One massively helpful thing in the early weeks while the in-laws were visiting was that my mother-in-law cleaned the kitchen, caught up all the washing that had piled up & took care of a few other little odd jobs around the house. Things just fell by the way side when hubby went back to work (he was only off for a week), so this was a massive helping hand. - Enjoy every minute of being a precious vessel.
I had a very easy pregnancy, no morning sickness or other bad side effects that come with creating a human, so besides from outgrowing my clothes I found it really easy to enjoy. The only part I disliked was being treated like a fragile petal. - When people give you unwanted advice, listen patiently and then do what you want anyway or just tell them to shut the fuck up.
Everybody is an expert on being pregnant and being a parent (even if they have never been pregnant & don't have kids); and will want to give you their two cents, it will drive you insane. I learnt to bite my tongue and just smile & nod.
BONUS ADVICE
At the end of the day, you have to do what you feel is right for both of you and not let anyone else make you feel like shit for whatever you decide.
This was received from another friend, but like number 4 this advice is for when you pregnant & for after you've had your tiny human. Everybody has their own opinion on how things (in their eyes) should be done, and you're not going to agree with everybody or its just not going to work for you. So fly your own flag, be the best that you can, touch wood and hope it all works out okay. It's all any of us can really do.
What is the best pregnancy or parenting advice you have received?