MOMSQUAD NAPA VALLEY

Find your mom squad before baby arrives

Pregnancy isn't just hard on the body -- it can be hard on the soul. The emotional roller coaster comes with the process.

Your partner and family can comfort you when you're feeling vulnerable, but plugging into a group of moms-to-be and new moms can be a lifeline.

"Women who have been pregnant before often offer the most support and empathy," says Heidi Murkoff, coauthor of the What to Expect series. If your closest friends live far away, or do not have children, and if you need to find a sympathetic ear, consider the support of a doula. Also, as soon as possible, try locating mom groups through your doctor, childbirth center, or prenatal classes. Our Friday 10:00am meet-ups at Las Flores Community Center Classroom are PERFECT for you!

Research shows that women who were least excited about their pregnancy were also the ones who received the least support.

If you have negative feelings about having a baby, be honest with yourself and consider talking to other moms-to-be and mom friends. Chances are, you are not alone in your ambivalence. Take this self-test and consider talking to your medical provider about counseling or other options to help you if the feelings persist.

The following links are very important to have on hand to nurture yourself and your closest relationships as well as make decisions and engage who will be involved in your postpartum recovery.

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• Your Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy - Cleveland Clinic

• Discuss how you can prepare for the possibility of Postpartum Depression with your doctor, and make a plan beforehand

• Sleep, your guide to getting some

• Pregnancy and Postpartum Podcast an OB/new mom talks about a realistic way to approach all three trimesters

• Postpartum Plan "Just as your birth plan allows you to think through and communicate your ideal birth, a postpartum sanctuary plan is an excellent way to anticipate and plan for the support you will need to have the smoothest sacred window possible. I recommend that you create your plan with your partner in your third trimester. But before I guide you in putting together your postpartum sanctuary plan, there are a few things I want you to know." Read more.

(this postpartum plan is also great)

• Postpartum Checklist an OB directs you on items to address with your doctor at the first postpartum check-up

• And Baby Makes Three  the 6-step plan for preserving intimacy and rekindling romance after baby arrives

• How can I tell if I am depressed and what can I do about it?

• Understanding trauma-informed care and how it relates to obstetric violence

• Five Ways to Better Advocate for Yourself in Labor