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Let’s be real, mamas… sometimes parenting and motherhood feel like an endless game of judgment and shame. But don’t you think it’s time we let go of all that judgment and give one another the benefit of the doubt instead? Because when it really comes down to it, aren’t we all just trying to do the best we can as mothers given the knowledge, experience, and resources we have?
Plus, when we come together as mothers without judgment and shame, we can feel safe to open up to one another—and learn from one another. With this in mind, I’ve gathered some of my best blogging mom friends to share their top parenting tips, in their own words and based on their own real-life experience, in a blog post series: “From the Mouths of Moms.”
First-Time Pregnancy Tips — From the Mouths of Moms
In this post of the “From the Mouths of Moms” series, our experienced mom friends share their very best birth and pregnancy tips for moms-to-be…
23 Pregnancy Tips for First-Time Moms (From Mothers Who’ve Been There!)
1. Listen to Your Body
“Listen to your body. When you are tired, sleep. When you are hungry, eat.” Kara of Kara’s Classroom
2. Drink Plenty of Water
“Drink water! Plenty of it. I did not know how unhealthy my soda habit made me until I drank copious amounts of water while pregnant with my twins. I’m not sure I’ve ever been healthier.” Olusola of My Twintopia
3. Spoil Yourself
“Indulge in cute clothes and pedicures. Pregnancy is tough, so don’t feel guilty doing something that makes you feel good.” Rebekah of The Golden Gleam
4. Take Lots of Pictures
“Every pregnancy is different! After having 3 babies, I’ve realized that the pregnancies feel new each time. I do think that time quickly helps you to forget the details and you mostly remember the good ones. Try to enjoy every moment of it and take lots of pictures of your growing belly!” Kim of The Educators’ Spin On It
5. Skip the Stuff
“Don’t buy all the things on the lists that stores provide you when you’re getting ready for baby. There are so many things that we spent money on that we didn’t end up using.” Andie of Do. Play. Learn.
6. Surround Yourself with Support
“Surround yourself with loving and supportive people.” Ariadne of Positive Parenting Connection
7. Consider Hiring a Doula
“Hire a doula! Really. Do it. I didn’t have one [for my first pregnancy], but we decided to hire one [for my second]. She was awesome and my birth experience was much better the second time around.” Adrienne of The Iowa Farmer’s Wife
8. Be Informed But Keep an Open Mind
“Make a point to be really informed about everything, but keep an open mind. I had three really different pregnancy and birth experiences — each special in their own way, but not one of them went ‘according to the plan.'” Ariadne of Positive Parenting Connection
9. Be Prepared for Anything
“I really wanted to have a natural birth with my first pregnancy, so I chose a small hospital that offered waterbirth. But after eight hours of natural labor and three hours of pushing, we needed an emergency c-section and the hospital wasn’t equipped for my newborn’s complications. He had to be transported to a larger hospital with a NICU while I had to stay behind to recover from my c-section. Looking back, I wish I had prepared for such potential complications and chosen the larger hospital.” Krissy of B-Inspired Mama
10. There’s No Such Thing as a Stupid Question
“If something feels off, ask your midwife or doctor. There is no such thing as a stupid question during pregnancy and birth.” Kara of Kara’s Classroom
11. Adjust Your Expectations
“Don’t expect that your birth will go according to your birth plan, what parenting books say will happen, or what your friends, mother, or sisters tell you will happen.” Chrissy of The Outlaw Mom
12. Your Baby is Made for Your Body
“When I was worried about my son measuring big on an ultrasound during my first pregnancy, my midwife assured me that ‘every baby is made perfectly for its mother’s body.'” Krissy of B-Inspired Mama
13. Trust Your Instincts and Ability
“You can do it! Trust your instincts and know that you are one of billions of people who have given birth. You are stronger than you think.” Jen of Kitchen Counter Chronicles
14. Take Things As They Come
“Relax and take things as they come. I have four kids, and each pregnancy and birth has been very unique.” MaryAnne of Mama Smiles
15. Try Meditation
“I read the book Birthing from Within by Pam England and Rob Horowitz several times during my pregnancy. Not only did it teach me about creating a birth plan, the meditations and imagery it provided allowed me to have a completely natural birth.” Andie of Do. Play. Learn.
16. Surrender to the Process
“Be at peace with the process. Pregnancy and birth are the time to let go of control. There are two of you involved with the process, and sometimes the baby has its own ideas.” Maureen of The Vegetarian Salmon
17. Trust the Professionals
“Stay calm and trust the doctors and midwives. I had a very complicated birth with J, but things turned out great because everyone stayed calm and I trusted that the doctors and nurses knew what they were doing.” Amanda of Messy Motherhood
18. Every Birth is Different
“Every birth is different, even between each of your own children. I had a traumatic experience during my first pregnancy but we were all singing along to the movie Grease the second time around!” Chrissy of The Outlaw Mom
19. Ask for Help
“My best advice is to ask for help if you need it for whatever you need. It could be meals, someone to watch your baby so you can take a nap, or even just to come and sit by you.” Deirdre of JDaniel4’s Mom
20. If Breastfeeding, Make Friends with a Lactation Consultant
“If I didn’t have an excellent lactation consultant with my first birth, I may have given up on breastfeeding, which would have been such a shame since I went on to nurse all three children into toddlerhood.” Kara of Kara’s Classroom
21. Don’t Hesitate to Call Your Doctor or Midwife
“My second baby came home on a Friday, and I was trying and struggling to breastfeed for the first time. It became increasingly difficult to wake her for feedings (every 2-3 hours per doctor’s orders), and I knew something wasn’t right. But I didn’t want to bother my midwife on the weekend and family members kept reassuring me, saying to ‘never wake a sleeping baby.’ When I finally called my midwife and met her at the clinic, we discovered that my newborn had severe jaundice and needed to be readmitted to the hospital immediately for light therapy and formula supplementation. I wish I had called sooner!” Krissy of B-Inspired Mama
22. Skip the Blame and Shame
“Don’t be upset if [your pregnancy and birth] get way more medical than you wanted. And don’t think you have failed if you choose to use drugs for [labor] or end up having a c-section. You will have plenty of opportunities to screw up as a parent later on; how your little one comes into this world is the least likely to send them to therapy as an adult.” Monko of Taming the Goblin
23. Accept the Outcome and Forget the Rest
“There are a lot of surprises during labor. It probably won’t go the way you expect, so you just need to accept the way it turns out for you. No matter how your [first pregnancy and birth] goes, you really do forget how awful it was once you are holding your precious newborn.” Danielle of 52 Brand New
Pregnancy and Birth Essentials (Recommended by the Mamas)
Now, check out the following pregnancy and childbirth books and products (some recommended above) that can help you make the most of your pregnancy and birth. You can find even more in B-Inspired Mama’s Amazon Shop: Pregnancy & Birth Essentials (According to Experienced Moms).
The CeeCee Pregnancy PillowPalmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Complete Stretch Mark and Pregnancy Skin Care KitBABYGO Birthing Ball and Pregnancy Yoga Book SetTraditional Medicinals Organic Pregnancy Tea Raspberry Leaf Herbal TeaBirthing from Within: An Extra-Ordinary Guide to Childbirth PreparationFrida Mom Hospital Packing Kit for Labor, Delivery, & PostpartumPreggie Pop Drops for Morning Sickness and Nausea ReliefThe First-Time Mom’s Pregnancy Journal: Monthly Checklists, Activities, & Journal PromptsFujifilm Instax Mini 11 Instant Camera + MiniMate Accessory BundleBELLA B Pregnancy & Beyond Complete Skin Care Gift SetPregnancy Day By Day: An Illustrated Daily Countdown to Motherhood, from Conception to ChildbirthWavHello BellyBuds Baby Bump HeadphonesKeaBabies Maternity Belly Band for Pregnancy Belly SupportZmart Labor and Delivery SocksTheraICE Gel Ice Cap
Find These Pregnancy Tips for First Time Mothers Helpful? Share ‘Em!
Did you find these pregnancy and birth tips helpful? Know a pregnant mama who needs to read them? Share them! Click on the buttons at the top or bottom of this blog post or when you hover over an image, or simply click on the following: Share on Facebook | Tweet It | Pin It | Email to a Friend
More Pregnancy & Birth Advice from B-Inspired Mama
- Advice for a New Mother-To-Be
- 10 Parenting Books Recommended for New Moms
- New Mother Needs
- Ways to Support Moms of NICU Babies
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