Things You Can Do To Reduce Post Partum Stress And Enjoy Giving Birth

Preparing for the coming of a baby can be quite a challenge. Parents-to-be are usually pre-occupied with the growing "baby bump", shopping for baby things, and planning the birthing process.

They tend to forget to plan for when the baby actually comes. Parents.com listed tips on how to make your journey to motherhood easy breezy.

• Make sure all your needs are taken care of. At this point, there is nothing wrong with being a little bit selfish. You have to make sure that both your needs, as well as your little one's are taken care of. It will reduce your stress levels to know that everything is set and ready whenever you need them.
• Jot down your plans. It may seem pretty obsessive-compulsive, but iit is very efficient to write down the tasks you want to be done. The list is actually just something to help you remember, but the thing that's most important is the process of making the list.
• Set your boundaries. It is only normal for friends and family to be excited about the baby. However, you must also know when to say no. These boundaries will include everything, from the things you talk about to how long they can stay when they come and visit. It's always better to think ahead to avoid hurt feelings when the time finally comes.
• Do not set high expectations. It is only natural to paint a picture in your head about how it is to have a family of your own, but there will be times when the picture you painted in your head will be far from what it really is. You have to also understand that your new normal will be different from the old one, and in time, you'll get the hang of it.
• Seek expert help. It's always good to have someone to help you with things, especially those which are not really familiar to you. Most new-mothers these days hire a doula. According to AmericanPregnancy.org, a doula is someone who are trained to help women before, during, and after childbirth. This will help you to have a more positive experience. 
• Prepare meals in advance. When the baby comes, most, if not all your attention will be on them and there might be a slight chance that you won't have time to prepare meals for your husband. Rather than have him order pizza every night, you can plan your meals for the whole week and then cook them while the little one is sleeping soundly. You can store the foods you cooked in the fridge and just heat it when you want to eat.
• Know when to ask for help. Always remember that there is nothing wrong in asking for help. You'll be surprised to know how many people are just waiting for you to call them and ask for their help. So when you think that you can't handle something on your own, all you have to do is ask for help.

Video Credit: youtube.com/LifeAfterBirthProject