Pregnancy & Counseling

Regardless if you’re young or old, if it’s your first or fourth kid, all parents should receive some form of counseling. Believe it or not there are many forms of counseling besides going to a doctor’s office and sitting for an hour while you spill your guts all over Dr. Gilbert’s desk. Talking to a doctor is a reasonable thing to do, seeing how professionals are experienced, but you can also talk to your friends and family. You can join a support group or form a support group for families. Books, mentors and other woman who have been pregnant can offer some of the best advice.

Books and Groups

What to Expect When You’re Expecting is definitely the most popular pregnancy book on the market and it has been for a number of years. It’s full of useful tips and reminders, along with previous experiences of other parents that can help parents prepare for the baby. The Birth Partner by Penny Simkin is a great book for fathers, partners and other family members. It helps understand the emotional woman who used to be so sweet and thoughtful. Planned Parenthood tends to help out younger parents, but offers help and support to all parents in need. Online chat rooms are also good ways to find other mothers and family members in similar situations.

A Family Affair

Many women, actually about 20% experience some form of depression and mood swings during the pregnancy. This usually causes tension with the spouse and with the other children in the home. Counseling for every immediate family member is crucial before a baby is born. Parents need to ready for the first few weeks after the baby is born. Roles of family members change, emotional highs and lows occur, along with stress and jealousy. Parents who have other children need to prepare them for the arrival to assure them they’re not forgotten. Some hospitals have classes for brothers and sisters before the baby is born.