For all the new mums in here, if you could give advice to your pregnant self what would it be?

My fiancee only yesterday found out she is expecting. A lot of information is around about pregnancy do's and dont's. What would you tell us?For all the new mums in here, if you could give advice to your pregnant self what would it be?
1. Bring your own toilet paper to the hospital.


2. Don't listen to everyone's horror stories about labour. It's not that bad, and you'll get through it just fine.


3. Don't buy too much stuff in advance, I did that, and now my house is literally full of baby stuff I'll never use because so many people buy you gifts.For all the new mums in here, if you could give advice to your pregnant self what would it be?
1. Don't worry about breastfeeding, and don't let the nurses in the hospital scare you into thinking you will never do it right just because your baby doesn't want to nurse in the hospital! (It took a few days for my very lethargic daughter who experienced a traumatic birth to get accustomed to breastfeeding, and now she's a pro!)


2. Mommy (and Daddy!) knows best. Never let others make you feel inadequate because you're a new parent. They may have raised kids of their own, but they never raised YOUR baby.


3. People will want to play the ';pass around the baby'; game for a long time. You have every right to take that baby to address its needs whenever you see fit, even though people will actually complain that you do!


4. Look out, your hormones will be even more out of whack postpartum, and you will become a protective mama lioness. :)


5. This is the most important advice: ENJOY YOUR BABY. Don't worry about what milestones he/she ';should'; be achieving, or what other competitive parents say their kids are (supposedly) doing. Don't stress yourself out over whether your baby should have a schedule, or should be sleeping a certain amount, etc. That will all come in due time, and if you're patient, you and your baby will figure everything out together.





Parenthood is the most wonderful thing ever! You'll have a blast, trust me. :)
I would say to myself....the first three months you'll be knackered, the next 3 months will be good, you'll feel great and then the last part of the pregnancy you will feel really tired so take it easy and nothing you do to help the baby along will make a damn bit of difference, i tried everything and he came when he was ready.





Also get as much sleep as you can, there's no point in getting proper clothes for them other than baby grows at such an early age, especially jeans they are so stiff that the poor babies legs just don't lay right.





Accept all the help that is offered to you and make sure you make time for yourselves and not just the baby. Good luck, it's fantastic having children. For all the hard times and sleepless nights you have to go through, it's all worth it for that little smile xxx
To be realistic - everyone has airy fairy ideas about parenthood in the beginning and you spend too much time reading books, planning it all, buying things you will never really use etc..





The reality can be different so prepare yourselves now for a really tough few months, know you will both be absoloutely knackered, probably nark at each other etc etc





That said, it still is an amazing thing to happen - and once you find your feet as parents it will change your life for the better but as I say however hard you think it will be times that by 100.





Also do not spend too much time worrying about the pregnancy and labour - the hard work actually starts when he or she is here.





Finally, spend as much time resting - sleep sleep sleep etc, travelling, going out or having couple time NOW - you really will not stop for the first couple of years and do try and be a team, it will make all the difference and keep a sense of humour. Remember too in the early days that those tough sleepless nights etc will not be forever..it really does get much easier..





Good luck and many congratulations Daddy! x
Relax, towards the end, your baby WILL come, even though it feels like you have been pregnant forever, you will soon be holding your child. Don't be afraid to ask your midwife-if they've heard it hundreds of times before it's because other women are having the same worry.





Take time to rest, read a book, eat very slowly whatever you like and can eat, because you don't get as much time when baby is here. Although that sounds bad, it isn't, they are so worth it, I could write a book on it.





Think about what you will really need for the baby, don't buy it all at once, no matter how tempting that will be, you don't need a highchair until they are 6 months (though posh ones are from 4 months), you know in your mind what they need and don't need.





As a pregnant woman, continue doing as much or as little exercise as you have already been doing. Do not stop climbing or canoeing etc, just because you are pregnant, your body is used to the activity and it is not dangerous.





Enjoy every minute, and when the baby comes, love them dearly.





Congratulations to you both.


x
Spend as much time with your partner as you can. It's so easy to just pop out and do your own thing without kids and it is alot harder once there is a little one to care for.
Above anything else, enjoy the time you have to yourself, as soon as baby is here all your energy goes into caring for them. And enjoy being pregnant, it's really a lovely time, even with the aches and pains!
i would tell myself that pregnancy is not an excuse to go all out and eat whatever i want, whenever i want and how much i want. indulge once in a while is okay, but every 20 minutes is not appropriate.
Having a child changes your life - for the better! But as a couple you still need time for you or you will fall a part. And that means no baby talk, no cute stories - serious time for you and your partner.
don't smoke drink cut out coffee don't eat shellfish raw eggs or liver apart from that just enjoy being pregnant try not to worry to much although that can be hard.
Do tell people as soon as possible and don't eat for 2 till about 6 months.
Drink lots of water, get lots of sleep and relax :)