Motherhood is never an easy journey. And although there are various
tips to help lessen the burden, there is still a substantial amount of
work that comes with such a big responsibility. However, the burden is easily
doubled when it comes to working mothers. There are countless success stories from which working mothers or expectant working mothers can draw some
encouragement. With proper preparation and lots of patience, you will be
able to ride the storm and enjoy all the positives that come with
motherhood and having a career.
Hopefully, the following tips will help to take away some of the stress
that this important chapter in life brings.
Prepare For Nausea
After you find out you're pregnant, your body starts changing and you should
make the necessary adjustments to ensure your day at work isn't interrupted or impacted greatly. For example, you will experience nausea and fatigue more often. Keep a can of ginger ale, candies, or tea bags on you to sip on to keep
nausea at bay. Alternatively, you can make your own juice out of fresh
ginger and lemon to drink throughout the day. You can also avoid eating in
a group so that you are less exposed to triggers for your nausea, which
isn't a rare occurrence during pregnancy.
Stay Comfortable
While at work, try to keep yourself as comfortable as possible. You can do
this by first dressing comfortably. At some point, the tight clothes may
not allow your body to breathe as it should so you can prepare for that by
investing in some more freeing clothes. Also, switch to low heels or flats
to reduce the pressure on your feet. If your job requires heavy lifting,
talk to your boss about moving you to a department that requires less
strenuous activities. The idea is to stay off your feet for as much as
possible so that you don't put too much pressure on your already strained
body. Alternatively, if your job doesn't involve any movement, try to get
out of your chair once in a while to get in a few walks and stretches. Make
sure to adjust your chair to be comfortable before you get back in it.
Try To Avoid Stress
With the unexpected emotions that pregnancy brings, it is important to
do your best to stay calm and collected at work. One way to do this is to
stay rested. Make sure you are getting an adequate amount of sleep so that
you are energized for the next day. Also, consider adding foods rich in
protein and iron to combat fatigue during the day. While at work, try not
to do too much at once. It may not be the best time to volunteer to help
other colleagues with their work. And when others offer to help you, be
open to the idea because you will need it. All you have to do is smile, say
yes, and thank you and use the time to catch your breath. Also, stay organized so that you don't forget anything you have to do
while dealing with everything else. It is the best time to make a list and use your phone to schedule reminders, even for the little things. Make a conscious effort to
breathe every now and then and go out for some fresh air to calm down your
nerves.
Keep Everyone in Loop
This should be pretty obvious, right? However, the problem is not simply
about making sure that you are prepared. It is mainly about how you prepare
- what you do to prepare. First of all, if you have
an idea when you are due, it is important to let your employers or
customers know (anytime after your first trimester). This will give room
for everyone to prepare and put things in place for when you are gone and
when you return. For the weeks leading up to your delivery date, inform
them about the days you will need off to attend to things like prenatal
classes and doctor's appointments. Also, talk to your spouse about the plans you have for work as
well, so that they can adjust their schedule to complement yours. Discuss
with them the way forward for your bundle of joy, in terms of employment.
Answer questions surrounding whether you will alternate taking time off to
take care of the new baby. Getting all these questions answered ahead of
time is a good step to take and will make things easier afterward.
Stock up on important supplies
There are certain things you may not be able to do immediately after
delivery. For example, during an emergency, you or your spouse may not be
able to make a quick journey to the pharmacy or drugstore in the middle of
the night since they might be closed. So, it is very important to ensure
that you stock up on all the essential
baby care products
. Make the time before your due date for you and your partner to shop for
everything you might need. Make sure you have a lot of wipes and diapers
before your little bundle of joy arrives. The good thing is that it will be
a great learning experience for your spouse. Be careful to check the best
before dates, so that you don't end up with things you can't use. You can
also sign up for an auto-ship from a trusted retail platform (for example,
Amazon) to help relieve you of some burden.
Consider a Paid Caregiver
This option may be quite pricey and impractical as it can range from $20 to $40 per
hour or from $150 to a little over $300 each night. The different price
range depends on the qualifications the night nurse comes with or where you
live. However, especially if this is your first time being a parent while
working, or have no experience at all, you will find this option very
helpful. If it's just you and your spouse, who also works, and you're far
from family members, you may find it overwhelming to deal with the midnight
shifts that newborn babies demand. In such cases, a night nurse or baby
nurse will be more than worth the money, especially when they will give you
and your partner the chance to get that night rest that you will need
badly.
Research Childcare Options
It is absolutely crucial to do thorough research on the right childcare
essentials before your baby arrives. Your research should cover
almost every aspect of childcare, ranging from feeding to daycare
facilities. Websites such as tastyganics.com offer a wide range
of baby products that cover both feeding and wellness. I've already
mentioned the benefits of getting a night nurse if you can afford one.
But if you have a very busy work schedule during the day (as if raising a
baby isn't enough), you can consider hiring a nanny or relying on a home
daycare. Again, take time to do a lot of research with your partner before
settling on one choice. If you are going to conduct your search online, look for
the options that come with reviews of the caregiver. If your day hours are
very unpredictable, then getting a nanny will make a lot of sense. Plus
most, daycare homes have very strict policies when it comes to policies
regarding pickup time.
 |
| photo via |
Find Support
A lot of the tips we have already talked about have elements of support in them. There is a different kind of support you will need that you cannot find in a nanny or a home care facility. There is a lot of knowledge that new parents have to gain. And although you may have friends and family members to fall on at some point, there's nothing more helpful than having a team of other working mothers backing you up, supporting you, advising, and giving you the moral help you need. There are things you will experience that only other working mothers can relate to, and thus, provide a broader shoulder to cry on (when you need to). Thus, it is important to find an online support group
for working moms and make an effort to be part of their discussions and activities. Their classes and workshops allow them to share their experiences and offer advice that you will immensely benefit from. It takes a village, as they say.
No comments
Post a Comment