Helpful Pregnancy Advice That Moms-To-Be Should Embrace

When I was pregnant, the only thing I wanted to read were the funny stories in the paper. All the books about pregnancy and parenting gave me anxiety. They talked about how my life would change forever — and it didn’t seem like it would be for the better. I read how I would never have any free time for myself again, barely sleep and hardly ever have sex. Yikes, I was scared.

I know that other moms were obsessively reading books like "What to Expect When You’re Expecting" in order to know exactly what was going on with their pregnancy. But after a few pages in, I realized I didn't want to know about every detail of cell-transformation in my body. Instead, I chose to spend my time devouring Haagen Dazs ice cream, laughing at comics and hoping for the best.

Holly Hughes, a fellow mom, tells me that she loved the book "On Becoming Baby Wise: Giving Your Infant the Gift of Nighttime Sleep" by Dr Robert Bucknam. She shared it with every mom-to-be, mainly because of this quote: “Every baby is different. And you know yours best.”

"Despite my uncertainty and worries about doing it all right, that quote always reassured me," says Hughes. "I typically like to add an aside, which is that I didn’t like my husband much for the first six weeks after our child was born, and that’s totally normal, too."

Glad to hear it! Yes, that book might have helped us get some sleep, which is something we are still trying to navigate.

I also discovered that a writer in my area named Danielle Claro recently released a book called “The New Rules of Pregnancy-What to Eat, Do, Think About and Let Go of While Your Body Is Making a Baby," cowritten by Adrienne L. Simone and Jaqueline Worth. I picked her brain to get the scoop on some of these new rules and find out what I missed out on.

"I wanted to write this book because in the last few years I've seen a lot of friends stressing out during pregnancy, feeling obligated to read everything available on the subject — and there's so much out there! Taking all that in doesn't seem to help," says Claro. "In fact, it just seems to make people more nervous. I was inspired to make things better. This book contains everything you need to know to take the best possible care of yourself pregnant, delivered in a spirit of calm and joy. It's the book I wish was around when I was having babies."

Reading through the book was positive and calming. I probably should have read something like this during my pregnancy, because after those contractions began, life got pretty crazy. My 24-hour painful labor, where I consumed every legal drug possible, ended in a cesarian. Then, when we took our son home, he refused to sleep unless in our arms. We were up all night cradling him, feeling like a total mess. A day later, we hired a nurse who whipped our lives into shape — after telling me I was starving my child and dressing him like a homeless man.

But back to being positive! Here are some tips from Claro's book that I found to be most helpful:

Clean eating while pregnant

This might be challenging when you're craving hot dogs and candy corn for breakfast, but it’s a good reminder, but it really will make you feel better during pregnancy. The authors say that while your prenatal multivitamin is helpful, nutrients from food are absorbed into your body better.

To doula or not to doula?

That was the question I was grappling with when I was pregnant. This book addresses the benefit of having one. The writers explain that a doula can keep you relaxed, centered and more “in control.” Yes, your partner can do that too, but chances are he or she might not have a clue either! In the end, I could have used that doula in my labor room, but there’s no going back now.

Sex after pregnancy

Yes, it will eventually happen, and pelvic-floor therapy as a way to recover faster (who knew?). The book also covers questions like whether or not you should stay on your anti-depressants (depends on the medication), if you should eat your placenta (please pass) and so much more.

The ultimate checklist

The book outlines what you can and should do while waiting and waiting for the big moment when a new life begins, from get a prenatal massage to checking whether your insurance covers a lactation consultant.

How to enjoy pregnancy

This book breaks down the facts and shares the truth in this new time, tackling every modern-day issue and concern about being pregnant so you stay calm and collected. Maybe that was one thing I needed the most help with: being at peace so I could handle every challenge and enjoy every moment of pregnancy and beyond. That is probably the best rule and greatest lesson of all.