This is a contributed post and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Meet The Harris Family.
Being a parent is one of the most fulfilling and incredible things you can do with your life. To bring a new person into the world, love, nurture, and see them grow is just amazing. But when you are preparing to become a parent, the reality of the whole process might feel overwhelming.
It is completely normal to doubt whether you will be a good parent and frankly, for most parents it is the job of a lifetime. However, before you do take the leap, it is always best to have realistic expectations and know where to turn for help.
What Will Happen During Pregnancy?
For the mother-to-be this is quite possibly one of the scariest questions. You will experience many new and unexpected changes to your body. Although having a baby might be a miracle, some of the lead up might not be what you expected. From sore boobs to morning sickness, feelings of absolute elation to getting that first kick, pregnancy is a real rollercoaster ride.
Having information at your fingertips is the best approach to any big life decision. With that in mind, you might want to check out guides on pregnancy by week. If that doesn’t do it for you, chat with your mother and other mothers about their experiences too.
For the father-to-be pregnancy isn’t going to affect you much. You are going to have to learn how to best look after mommy – and fast! It can be tough for men to see their partners going through so many changes and not be so involved. If you enjoy some ‘belly time’ talking to the fetus and feeling it kick, you can start to forge your own connection too.
How Will A Baby Impact Our Lifestyle?
“Having a baby is like getting a tattoo on your face. You really need to be certain it’s what you want before you commit.” Never has any advice been more apt than this quote from Eat, Pray, Love. Having children won’t just impact your lifestyle, it will change everything about the way you live.
As a parent, your goal is to raise your children the right way. This will affect the money you spend, where you go on holidays, or which job you take. Of course, as soon as you have your infant in your arms, clutching your finger you won’t care that everything has changed. It is worth thinking about now and getting your finances in order so that you are fully prepared.
When Will We Become Parents?
Despite what the media seems to think, getting pregnant is a bit harder than it looks. You only have a couple of days per month. For some couples it may take a long time before you finally conceive. It is for this reason that you can’t truly predict when you will become parents, even if you have prepared.
Give yourself time, and keep trying without feeling any pressure or stress about the situation. You will have a baby one day and that day could come at any time.
