Advice from the first time around
I recently came across an old “what-I-would-have-done-if-I-knew-then-what-I-know-now” blog entry about pregnancy. I don’t believe we ever posted it, but I think I made some good points:
I would have stopped stressing about my expanding waistline and worrying about whether I would get any sleep once the baby arrived. And I would have talked non-stop to my belly, telling it that I just couldn’t wait to meet/hug/hold/laugh with her. I guess you can say I’ve learned a lot because of Zoe – and maybe I’ll get to apply what I learned next time around.
So, this time around – how did I do? I definitely stopped stressing about my weight at some point (I started avoiding the scale a few months ago), and I also haven’t worried quite as much about caring for the newborn and suffering from sleep deprivation. (We can get through that, I think.) What I haven’t done though is talk to my belly or even, as mentioned before, felt much of a connection to what’s inside. Like with my first pregnancy, I have a hard time imagining what the baby will be like and so it’s difficult to feel bonded to her in a meaningful way. But I also know from last time that this will change the minute the baby is plunked on my stomach – and I just can’t wait for that moment!
-M