10 Things You Should Think About Early in Pregnancy
by Justine Carmen Maria Callahan
AHH! You are about to enter one of the most profound, joyous, all-consuming chapters of your life! It’s a time of change and adaptation, love, and refinement. It is a curious, unpredictable time, but there are some things you can do in order to make it a little less stressful and a lot more enjoyable.
When I had my son, Luca, I was clueless, and by the time I had my second child, my daughter, Eilis, I knew a little more. Once my third, Parker, came along, I knew exactly what I wanted and even then I learned more about what my rights were as a mother and what options I had.
My goal as a postpartum doula us never to steer you in one way or another, but simply inform your decision. Here are some tips for early brainstorming early in pregnancy so you can start to illustrate your dream situation. While nothing can be guaranteed, knowing what is possible is a great start. Scroll for all 10 tips…
1) Where do you want to give birth?
No, really. It may not be as simple as “a hospital.” Do you know what hospitals are nearest to you? Are you familiar with their recent reviews/reputation? It’s worth looking into! Are you interested in a home birth? Do you know that it is possible your home birth is covered by you insurance company?
Some birth locations may completely be up to your OBGYN, but you do have options. And the sooner you inquire about them, the more you will have a say.
2) What kind of birth do you want and why?
You may have heard of an epidural or a water birth, but have you considered what you want your birth to look like. In the birth world, this is considered your birth plan. Though, of course, we can never guarantee what our birth will look like (or when it may occur,) having a plan that you and your partner understand – or those in the delivery room – can make a big difference when push comes to…well…push. Here are a few things to think about:
Are you wanting a natural birth? Do you want to not be asked about pain relief unless you ask? Do you want a water birth? Do you want immediate contact with your baby (known as chest-to-chest)? Who do you want in the room? What kind of atmosphere do you want?
These are just a few things you can put in writing. Need help with a birth plan? Let me know!
3) Taking time off.
Though a lot of people will opt for the 12 weeks (in a lot of cases, this is the amount of time provided per NYS,) not everyone will take the same amount of time off. Some will opt for less, some more, and some will never return to work at all! If you are employed, check with your employer about the benefits you may have. If you are self-employed, look into the regulations for NYS for family leave benefits. Do you need to save? Do you need to budget immediately? How much time will your partner be taking off, if any?
These are good questions to ask yourself and may determine if you need postpartum help. Some family leave benefits will require you to opt in early in pregnancy, so make sure you have this area covered!
Most health professionals would agree that the 4th trimester (no, your pregnancy isn’t actually 4 trimesters, this is another birth term!,) and how mom and baby are cared for, are extremely important. In fact, the United States is just catching up with the rest of the world. Make sure you start thinking about what you can do now in order to ensure this portion is all set.
4) Testing. 1,2,3..
This one is quick to the point: During pregnancy we undergo a lot of tests. Blood tests, urine tests, genetic testing, additional appointments like 2-3 ultrasounds, and more. The suggestion here is don’t allow yourself to be overwhelmed or pulled in a direction you don’t want. Be sure to ask your health provider which tests are necessary, which are deemed optional, and go with your gut.
5) To vaccinate or not to vaccinate? That is the question.
It’s a sensitive topic (especially now) but the fact is that you have options. Do you want to vaccinate, hold off, or not at all? Do you want to do some and not all? Do you want to delay the proposed schedule? These are all legitimate questions and concerns and there are a LOT of opinions out there. Do your research, talk to moms, and do what you feel comfortable with. It is you who has to live with medical decisions you make on behalf of your child(ren) and this is a decision you need to make peace with.
6) Circumcise?
Whether or not to circumcise your baby boy is another one of the many questions (and opinion inducing) that new and experienced parents may have. The decision is up to you, but know your options.
You can either circumcise or not, there are many resources, including many other moms, who you can reach out to in order to help with a decision. If you gave a birth in a hospital or other large institution, they will likely circumcise your boy before you leave. If you opt for a home birth, you may have more options. Some moms, especially those who reject the Hep B vaccine given shortly after birth, may choose to do a circumcision a week or so after, when baby boy’s blood has naturally coagulated.
7) Fitness
Now this one is personal and I am no fitness or child birth professional but I will share this…I truly believe I owe, in part, my birth success stories to being active during pregnancy. A lot of birth professionals will suggest you maintain your current activity lifestyle and would advise you not suddenly start pushing yourself, but many will agree that being active is a good thing. If you like to jog, it’s not the time to start planning for a marathon, but if you’ve got it, use it. This rule can be applied to most exercise. With that said, definitely double check with your healthcare provider just to make sure. And if you have access to a pool or natural body of water, swimming is a great and baby-friendly workout for all!
8) How long is your hospital stay?
Your stay will depend on a few things, mostly how much risk is there with you leaving and whether you need further monitoring. Were there concerns with your birth? These are the sort of circumstances that may result in a longer stay. If not, you should be able to leave around 24 hours out. This may be a good question to ask when vetting a birth location. Stays may also depend of staff shortages, volume of births within a certain time frame, and so on. And pack accordingly. (BTW, I thought about writing a hospital bag checklist next. Should I?)
9) Will you need postpartum help?
This is tricky because will you always know ahead of time? NO. But if you struggle with sleep, anxiety, feel lost as to how to care for a newborn, simply want the added help, consider some of services you may need post birth. What about therapy? Breastfeeding help? Give it some thought, look into your options, and secure your postpartum doula, if necessary. If you’re still not sure, some of our services are listed here, and may help you decide whether or not you need a little extra help.
10) More on breastfeeding..
This is a common area new moms or new breastfeeding moms may need help with in the 4th trimester. Look into your local CLC or IBCLC (breastfeeding professional) and know what the options may be. Also, call your insurance company and see who may be covered. Some companies will cover these services based on certain conditions and knowing them ahead of time will save you a lot of effort and potential stress.
While you’re at it…get your free breast pump! A lot of NYS insurance companies will send you a breast pump at no cost. Consider making a call before things get busy and see what you qualify for. Some companies will even allow you to look this information up online.
Hudson Valley Childcare Agency 