Taking Care ofFinding Out What's Typical and Preparing for the Unexpected
Each woman is a unique individual and each pregnancy is a unique
experience. This experience is shaped in part by a woman's cultural background,
as well as her own life experience. For example, is she married, does she have
other children, does she work, does she live far away from her family? Some
women (like women over 35, immigrant women, and women who adopt) have special
needs that may make becoming a mother even more challenging.
Sometimes it's hard for new mothers to know what to expect, especially if they don't know what other women typically experience.
Talk to your health care provider - she or he will help you determine what's right for you, especially when it concerns the health and well being of you and your baby.
Talk to other moms - knowing that others have had the same experience can be comforting and encouraging.
Prepare for the unexpected - knowing what you will do if things don't go as planned will help you prepare for some of the uncertainty involved in becoming a mother. Talk to your health care providers in advance about how you will work together to successfully cope with relatively common but unexpected events like cesarean section, complications during or after childbirth, difficulty breastfeeding, or emotional distress.
