Blues...

[Ginarama]

I live far from family (my mom & my hisband's aprents are on the coasts -- we're in the midwest), and don't have many parenting friends. I'm finding myself sometimes feeling anxious about birth and parenting, which I'm inclined to think is normal, but also kind of lonely.

I'm planning on starting a prenatal yoga class in the next few weeks (I already do exercise regularly, which helps), and our Bradley classes start in a couple of weeks. i think both of these will help, but am also open to other suggestions.

Anyone else ever had the pregnancy blues?

[sophie]

Hi Gina
how far along are you in your pregnancy? I am due (with my 3rd) in three weeks time. I find pregnancy a real emotional rollercoaster sometimes...some days I'm so excited and up, adn then other days I'll feel like I have the worst case of PMS. At least we know our bodies are going crazy with hormones, which explains some of it. It must be hard being far from your family though, my sister went through the same thing. Is anyone from your family coming to support you when the baby is born?
Your anxiety about labour and birth are perfectly normal, and I guess the thing is to try and relax and go with the flow re. labour, write a birth plan and make sure you have as much control as you need, and then once you've done all you can maybe you'll feel relaxed. As for parenting, I think every woman pregnant for the first time has felt like that, but honestly, when you have your baby mothering will feel like the most natural thing in the world. When I was pregnant for the first time I didn't know any other parents (I was 23 and had children much earlier than my friends, who are just getting round to it now (I'm 30 now)), but once I'd had my son I met lots of other mothers through baby groups and things, some who I struck lasting friendships with. Lately I've met some new people through antenatal classes, so you'll probably find that going to your classes is a great way of meeting people, as well as providing a positive focus on your pregnancy. I wish you all the best, adn hope you are feeling happier!

[Ginarama]

I'm 19 weeks now -- almost a the halfway point, with our first. When we bought the house we live in now, it was due to where we worked, not so much to where we wanted to live. I am starting a prenatal yoga class soon, and our Bradley (childbirth) classes start in a couple of weeks. I'm sure we'll be meeting new people, other new parents, when we do. I'm also confident that will take some of the anxiety out of the labor / delivery scene.

My mom will come at some point -- for the shower in May, or around the time of the birth. She's helping out my sister, who's fighting cancer and has kids, so that kind of leaves things up in the auir. My wonderful in-laws will come around the time of the birth, and stay to help us adjust. Cousins in Ohio are throwing me a shower in May. So yes, I do have family support. I guess putting it this way makes me feel better too.

My midwife says that "this too shall pass...then it'll be something else." That's kind of how pregnancy goes. On the bright side, I've had NO nausea, NO morning sickness, just some shortness of breath and some leg cramps. So I can't really complain after all.

Thanks, Sophie. All the best with your birth.

Gina