When I adopted a pair of twins, one of the first things that struck me was how many doctor's appointments they needed to go to. As we took them to all of their baby well-checks, I realised that these appointments were designed to find and address issues early before they caused other problems. Fortunately, our family paediatrician found a few critical problems that we were able to resolve head-on, and it was immensely helpful. Check out this blog for information about health care, preventative care, and helping your child to enjoy a better life. I know that some of these tips helped me, and I know that they can help you too.
Pregnancy can be one of the happiest or saddest times of life. If you are on the fence about whether you want to keep your baby, going to pregnancy counseling can help you clarify your emotions and help you make clear decisions about your life and future. If you are leaning toward keeping your baby rather than giving it up for adoption, here are three things you need to discuss in counseling to be sure you are prepared for this new part of your life that is sure to change your life forever.
Consider This: Your Parenting Skills
If you decide to keep your baby, you need to work on your parenting skills before you ever become a parent. When you take your parenting skills seriously and learn as much as you can, you are setting yourself up for success. If in doubt, ask your counselor for recommendations for groups or organizations that may help improve your parenting skills. Additionally, you may be able to take a class at your local community college or otherwise work with a mentor on parenting skills.
Consider This: Your Financial Health
While your financial standing should not be the deciding factor in whether you keep your baby, it may influence your choice. When you have a baby, you will likely need to spend about $12,000 on baby-related expenses during the baby's first year of life. Diapers, baby food, formula, clothes, and medical expenses are just a few of the high costs of caring for a baby. While help may be available for mothers on a very low income, you need to also keep in mind that you will need to find childcare if you need to work to support you and your child, and there may be unexpected expenses like cleaning items and baby powder.
Consider This: Your Own Well-Being
To thrive as a parent, you need to be happy as a person. Talk to your pregnancy counselor about any emotional issues you may be facing or any other health problems you encounter. You need to be as healthy as possible when you become a parent. Babies and young children require a great deal of care, constant supervision, and a lot of attention. You need to be prepared to give these things. Someone should become a parent when they think their doing so would be the best choice for the child. If you have doubts, talk to your counselor to figure out this part of your journey.
Finally, keep in mind that nobody should try to pressure you when you are trying to make decisions about your pregnancy. Your pregnancy counselor is not there to convince you to make a certain decision. Instead, they are there to help you. Make a list of any questions you have, and your pregnancy counselor can help you with many dilemmas and issues that may come up while you are expecting.
Share4 January 2017
