There are many things that go through the minds of soon-to-be-mothers. One’s mind is filled with fear, doubt, stress and anxiety. I think at one point or another we have all experienced the same reservations. Pregnancy, I believe should be a wonderful experience for us all.

I composed a list of a few things that I took into account when I was pregnant. Some of the things on the list may be common sense but proved to be rather useful for me.

• Take care of yourself – take prenatal pills, drink plenty of water, eat healthily and watch what you eat. Just because you are pregnant doesn’t mean you should be eating everything but the kitchen sink
• Attend all your prenatal appointments and inform your ob/gyn of any concerns you may have
• Try not to get angry over insignificant things – the stress is not good the mom and much less for the baby
• Set a budget for purchasing clothing. Maternity clothes tend to be expensive; one should definitely find deals – shop around and wait for sales
• Pamper yourself – have a spa day, get your hair done, get manicures and pedicures
• Don’t stress over things you can’t control
• Attend Lamaze/birthing classes – they information is very important and useful before and during the arrival of your baby
• If you are planning on breastfeeding take lactation classes. The lactation specialist provides advice, answer questions and also provide resources to help mothers with any uncertainties. La Leche League is also a great resource for information as well as meeting groups to help mothers with breastfeeding
• If you are employed and may have any concerns about your rights as a pregnant employee be sure to look into EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission). They are a federal agency responsible for enforcing employment discrimination laws

These assessments are in my opinion something that should be taken into consideration. Knowing that every pregnancy is different as is everyone’s personal and financial situations, my advice is simply this, do what is best for your well-being and that of your baby.