Pregnancy is an exciting time. Not only does your perspective on everyday life change, but it also brings with it entirely new worries and concerns .
Often, as soon as the first positive pregnancy test arrives, parents begin to perceive their surroundings differently. Suddenly, all they see in the park are small children, and every headline about possible illnesses, complications during pregnancy, and parenting advice literally stands out from the sea of letters.
Or in short: it has never been so easy to drive yourself crazy.
Finding the right course in the sea of information
Especially for pregnant women, there’s a flood of books, information, and videos that could fill your entire free time. Here’s a documentary about a family with twins, there’s a book about birth and the proper development of a child.
Your own parents, friends, and acquaintances also have many stories to tell , as well as their own opinions and ideas. For example, your brother-in-law might bring over a book about baby sign language, while your good friend insists that only linen diapers are allowed in the house.
Meanwhile, the almost endless checklist from the birth preparation course for the hospital and the time after the birth lies on the table.
Sure, this is all well-intentioned, but does it really have to be that way?
Many young parents must first learn to create their own filters against the flood of information . Especially in our fast-paced, digital lives, the absorption and transmission of information is often a constant flow, without a fixed beginning or clear end. We unconsciously read push notifications on our phones or are manipulated by ads, advertisements, and messages on social media or while surfing the web.
We’ve forgotten how to separate important information from unimportant information. And this skill often has to be painfully relearned. Usually through dramatic experiences, like a recent TV show on German afternoon programming about miscarriages, which was worthy of criticism and included crying mothers, which gave pregnant women many dark thoughts.
Talk early about what is important to you
During pregnancy, it is important to insulate yourself from the storm of stories, opinions and ideas to such an extent that important information gets through, but unimportant or even negative contributions are kept at the door.
After all, young parents certainly have a great need for useful information, whether it’s about important features of a stroller, how to dress children properly, or how to recognize complications during pregnancy early on. Therefore, it’s important to build a network right from the start of pregnancy that provides a manageable stream of reliable and relevant information, without creating unnecessary anxiety or stress.
So totally simple, right?
Many small steps are recommended. For example, you can start by selecting sources to use during pregnancy, whether that’s a friendly YouTuber or a professionally produced specialist magazine.
It also helps if expectant parents discuss things and agree on clear rules about how they want to deal with various issues, fears, and worries. This makes it easier to resolve many critical topics, from amniocentesis to cesarean sections.
But one thing is most important: keep a cool head !
During pregnancy, even doctors tend to exaggerate things or be overly cautious and critical. That’s the job of doctors. Yours, on the other hand, is to enjoy the pregnancy and take a step back. Go to a spa, enjoy the weather, and eat some ice cream. Your worries can wait for you at home while you enjoy the time until your little one turns your life upside down.
