Things a Mom Waiting to Give Birth Should Do

from one angel to another by timeless photography

By the time a pregnant woman hits seven months, she can start to relax because she is no longer at risk of miscarriage.  Her miserable stage of extreme nausea, vomiting, fatigue, hating every spicy smell is so over.  It is the perfect time to be happy, hit the malls and run free, right? Not exactly. 

And well-meaning people can be so tactless sometimes, as they give you different versions of “You are so huge you are no longer cute.”, like: 

I actually cried and wanted to give birth really bad when somebody told me I would soon be bigger than hubby!  Pregnant women can be sensitive sometimes (not only during the first trimester), you know.  I couldn’t wait to give birth!

Waiting can be long, mind you.  Days would seem like weeks!  But you can try the following and before you know it, you are on your way to the hospital and getting ready for the special moment you have been waiting for so long.

Go to work as usual.  Continue to work until a week before your estimated date of delivery (EDD).  It may sound difficult for you at this point when getting up can be such a struggle, but you can make ways to make yourself feel more comfortable.  Other people will be more understanding, too.  Don’t give in to temptation and take a leave a month before your EDD.  If you chose to stop working and just stay home, you will be bored out of your head and wished you shouldn’t have gone on leave that early. 

Shop for baby stuff.  I shopped for baby stuff usually on the seventh month.  Make a list  of basic stuff you and your baby will need:  clothes, receiving blankets, onesies, bottles, bottle warmer, a crib, and maybe an iCandy Stroller.  Sales people in the malls will practically pounce on you and will entice you to buy everything you might never need anyway.   Stick to your list and politely refuse them.  Some of those cute things will be given to you as presents anyway, either during your baby shower or during your child’s baptism, so don’t get too excited and buy every cute thing you see.

Prepare the baby’s room.   Or corner, if you are planning to have the baby sleep in the same room with you.  Preparing a baby room is loads of fun, especially if you have conceptualized a theme.  Have somebody help you because you might need to move some big furniture along.  Don’t do it all in one day, though, because you will just tire yourself out.  

Walk.  I used to do Pregnancy Yoga when I was pregnant, but on the third trimester, doing even those simple stretches can be such a chore. Walking is probably the only exercise you can do now that you are so big.  Remember to walk in a pace that is comfortable for you.  In the last weeks of your pregnancy, walking will help the baby engage in a lower position to prepare for birth, so walk whenever you can!

Relax.  Every mom is scared of giving birth.  And when other mommies tell you their childbirth tales, it is so easy to be fearful and anxious.  You may even lose sleep thinking about giving birth.  But you know what, just snap out of your fear.  Those moms who told you their horror tales are all right.  Their birth stories are no indication of how yours will go.  Learn how to relax.  It is not going to take the fear away, but it will help you cope.  

Enjoy the final days before you give birth.  There are a lot of things you are going to miss about being pregnant, like your husband’s extra sweetness, the special treatment from relatives, friends and even strangers, the privilege to leave home without feeling guilty about leaving a little baby behind.  Enjoy these moments.  Take your mind off being bored and focus on the bright side of being pregnant.  Take this time to return other people’s kindness, take plenty of rest.  When you give birth, you won’t have lots of time anymore.