Going through pregnancy can be extremely tough emotionally and physically, but going through a pregnancy alone? Well that can be a whole other kettle of difficult fish.
Having a baby is one of the hardest things your body will go through. Emotions are heightened, your body is in a fragile state, and there will be some days you wondered why you thought it was a good idea to do it at all. That being said, these thoughts and feelings are all totally normal and what you need is to know how to support yourself through it.
This piece is going to take a look at how you can do exactly that – so read on to find out more.
Develop a Plan for Pregnancy
One of the first things you can do to make yourself feel more at ease about going through a pregnancy is to make a plan. While you can’t plan for everything that is going to happen, you can get a good idea about what you can experience with it and what your options are. Creating a plan can help you feel more in control of your situation, and if anything becomes urgent, everything will be already in place, so you know what to do.
It is up to you what you include in your plan – it can be anything from research into dealing with morning sickness, who your trusted support system is, and what kind of birth you would like.
Understand prenatal care and screening tests
Prenatal care is a critical component of healthcare during pregnancy. It includes regular visits with your healthcare provider, common tests and screenings to assess the health of you and your baby, getting healthy habits started right away, counseling on any lifestyle choices that could affect the outcome of your pregnancy, making sure immunizations are up to date, and more.
Regular prenatal care ensures your well-being is monitored closely throughout pregnancy and that any problems can be identified quickly so you can get the necessary treatment in time. It’s important to start prenatal care as soon as possible for a healthy pregnancy for both mother and baby.
You can start bonding with your baby early into pregnancy by taking a gender prediction test to discover the sex of your baby as early as 7 weeks.
Build Your Support System
If you are lucky, you will not have to do pregnancy truly alone – you will have friends and family there to support you even if you do not have a partner. While going through pregnancy without a partner can be intimidating, there are many people out there who will be in the exact same position. Find other single parents and create your own support network if you do not have anyone close nearby so you can all be there for each other.
Do not be afraid to ask for help or reach out to people – there are many people having the same core experience as you or have already done it, and there are also resources out there too.
Make Sure to Rest
Being pregnant can be exhausting for many people, and when you are having to do it by yourself, things can feel overwhelming. If you are able to, do not be afraid to slow down and say no. It is important to rest, listen to your body, and not to push yourself if you do not have to.
This can be a little more difficult for single parents who might not have immediate support, so do what you can, when you can, to make your life and pregnancy experience more comfortable. Try to cut out other people’s expectations and simply do what you feel able to.
Just remember that you can do this!
