Becoming a parent is a significant life event. From now on, your daily life will revolve around another little being : diapers, naps, tantrums, but also cries, joys, and cooing will spice up your days. This event is prepared for by both the expectant mother and the co-parent, and it's essential that everyone finds their place with the arrival of the baby.
The decision to conceive a baby should be made by both partners.
Conceiving a child is generally a two-person decision, so the decision must be made together , since the arrival of a newborn will bring about changes in both the mother and the co-parent. The decision to start a family is not to be taken lightly. It's a serious discussion to have at some point in your relationship, and the decision can in no way be imposed on your partner.
Many topics need to be addressed once you've made your decision: the education you want to instill, the organization that the arrival of the baby will require, the financial aspect, etc. Discuss the future as well, such as activities that seem important to you, but also the qualities and values you would like to pass on to your child.
This kind of dialogue is very important because it allows you to envision the future and make sure you are on the same wavelength as your partner.
Prepare for the changes (from the beginning of the pregnancy)
The nine months of pregnancy may seem long, but they will fly by before you know it. As soon as you announce the arrival of your child, begin to prepare , both psychologically and in terms of organizing your home and family. Indeed, from the moment your child is born, you will no longer be considered a couple, but a family , which requires some adjustments.
Neuroscience studies have shown that the brains of mothers and fathers change when they become parents. However, while this change occurs naturally in our brains, it's necessary to prepare by informing oneself through specialists about best practices, recommendations, and tips and tricks from other parents.
During her pregnancy, the mother already creates a bond with her unborn child, and it is important for the co-parent to find their place by getting involved in birth preparation activities such as haptonomy, for example.
What should expectant parents prepare for?
Preparing from the beginning of pregnancy is a way to anticipate the weeks and months that follow. By informing yourself about pregnancy, childbirth, and even the first weeks of your child's life, you avoid a significant leap into the unknown.
This preparation should be done as a couple to allow for better communication between the mother and her partner. Indeed, the co-parent must also be informed of the different stages the expectant mother is likely to go through.
By preparing for potential unforeseen events and unpleasant surprises, you can already try to find solutions and answers to some of your questions . For example, the postpartum period, which remains a taboo in our societies, can be anticipated by learning about fatigue, changes, and the new roles of everyone involved. Informing yourself also means organizing yourself!
Prepare for the baby's arrival in a healthy environment.
Even though there's a strong chance you'll be sleeping with your child for the first six months (a practice recommended by doctors), nothing prevents you from already preparing a lovely room for them where they will spend their nights later. Preparing your environment for the arrival of your newborn is a necessary and essential step to officially mark the upcoming birth of your baby. This could mean creating a nursery, a play area, or simply organizing your wardrobe to store their clothes, swaddles, and their future comfort blanket.
💡 The " nesting " instinct is a feeling that affects many pregnant women during the second or third month of pregnancy. It's a need felt by the mother to prepare a cozy little nest to welcome her newborn. Nesting is a primal instinct that has existed since prehistory and interacts with pregnancy hormones to drive the mother to do everything to have a clean and ready place for the baby's arrival.
The best advice for preparing to become a parent serenely is to learn to anticipate. A child requires a lot of attention and vigilance , and nothing should be left to chance. While it's true that some things can be organized at the last minute, such as buying pacifiers, bottles, and diapers, others need to be planned, sometimes well in advance. For example, the hospital bag should be packed 4 to 6 weeks before the due date, childcare arrangements should be secured well in advance, and, of course, your future baby's name should be carefully considered.
Finally, as a last piece of advice, Ouatine & Cumulus would like to remind you that parenthood isn't necessarily innate and that you learn to become a parent day by day. All parents make mistakes, and there's no need to put pressure on yourselves; the most important thing is to trust yourselves .
