They say it takes a village to raise a child — yet some mamas try to do it all on their own. Building your pregnancy support team can make a world of difference. Being a parent in today’s world is challenging. However, there’s no reason to tackle it solo.
From conception to childbirth and beyond, enlist the help of your dream team for the support you need. This support can help you enjoy every moment of the process.
Core Medical Team
For the Mother-to-Be:
Once those two lines appear on the pregnancy test, it’s time to start scouting out the medical team that will care for you and your baby. Most mothers will seek the services of an obstetrician-gynecologist (OB-GYN). This is a physician who oversees prenatal care, including screening tests and physical exams. This provider will also perform the delivery of the baby.
If your pregnancy is considered low-risk, you may choose a certified nurse midwife (CNM) for your prenatal and postnatal care. They can also assist with delivery. For high-risk pregnancies, your OB-GYN may refer you to a maternal-fetal medicine specialist (also called a perinatologist). This specialist manages high-risk pregnancies, including situations of multiple births. They also address health concerns with the mother or baby.
For the Baby:
During your pregnancy, you should select a pediatrician, a medical provider who specializes in the health of infants and children. You may wish to interview some different practices to see if they are the right fit.
Your OB-GYN may be able to provide recommendations if this is new terrain. It’s important to set this up before the baby’s birth. This is because the pediatrician will do their first baby check-ups in the hospital before discharge.
Physical Health and Wellness Support Team
Your physical health and wellness is important, especially during pregnancy! Your lifestyle choices now directly impact your baby as well. Therefore, pregnancy can be a good time to clean up some habits or stay the course with healthy practices. Your pregnancy dream team can help support you with your changing physical and wellness needs.
A registered dietitian (RD) is a great resource to help understand what you need during pregnancy to ensure you and your baby are receiving adequate nutrition. This can be particularly useful if excessive weight gain is a factor. It also helps if there are other medical concerns like gestational diabetes or special dietary needs.
Physical activity is beneficial for most women during pregnancy. It can help prevent gaining excessive weight as well as prime your body for an easier delivery and recovery. However, not all exercise is advisable for individuals who are pregnant. Finding a trainer who is well versed in prenatal exercise can help you safely stay strong and active during pregnancy.
During your pregnancy, the extra weight of the baby and the placenta can sometimes put extra strain on the back. To help provide relief for associated aches and pains, you may wish to find a chiropractor with prenatal training. This can help manage musculoskeletal discomfort as well as postural changes. A massage therapist offering prenatal massages can be another resource. They can help you feel your best when your body feels a little out of sync.
A provider who can assist with pelvic pain, back pain, urinary leakage, birth preparation and postpartum recovery is a pelvic floor physical therapist. They work with many issues experienced by pregnant individuals both during and after pregnancy.
If you plan to breastfeed your baby, seek out a lactation consultant (IBCLC). Despite what many people think, breastfeeding doesn’t always happen easily on its own. These consultants support breastfeeding preparation before birth and help troubleshoot any feeding challenges afterward.
Mental and Emotional Health Team
Pregnancy creates hormonal fluctuations, both during gestation and after, that can wreak havoc on your emotions. You are also dealing with some major physical changes. Additionally, you face a complete life upheaval. You are learning how to adapt in your changing body. At the same time, you are contemplating how to integrate this new family member and what this means for your daily routine. This can be a very exciting but also unsettling time.
Enlisting the services of a therapist or mental health counselor can help you manage anxiety, stress, depression, relationship changes or other concerns in a non-judgmental way. Many new mothers experience the “baby blues,” postpartum depression or other Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs). Reaching out for help to get you through it is a sign of strength, not weakness.
Many physician practices or hospitals also offer support groups that provide connection with others in similar pregnancy stages or parenthood. It can be helpful to connect with others going through similar experiences. This lets you share how you handle certain situations and have a place to vent frustrations.
Your Personal Support Team
Your personal support team is a critical component during this life stage. If you have a partner or co-parent, they can help with emotional support, practical assistance and shared decision-making. This role may also be filled by a friend or family member.
Rely on these trusted people for help in whatever capacity you need — rides, meals, encouragement, laundry or even watching the baby so you can take a nap. If you have older children, you may want to line up a childcare backup person that you can call in a pinch. This person can watch the other kids when you go in for labor and delivery.
Many women enlist the services of a doula, a trained professional who acts as your personal advocate and coach throughout pregnancy and new parenthood. Doulas do not perform medical care but instead provide emotional, physical and informational support. They work with you and the medical team to assure you are well cared for.
Practical Life Support
If you are currently employed, you will need to make arrangements with your employer regarding your leave. Meeting with your human resources representative (HR) can help you understand your benefits for maternity leave, compensation and insurance coverage (including how to add your newborn to your plan). Creating a plan with your supervisor can help the team be better prepared for your absence. It also helps clarify how your duties will be covered while you are away.
A financial advisor is a wealth of information regarding planning for your growing family. An advisor may help you prepare for any healthcare costs not covered by insurance, childcare expenses and general budgeting for monthly bills. They can also advise on setting up educational plans. This helps you start putting away a little money for secondary education.
Depending on your family’s needs, consider hiring a household helper. This could be a cleaning service, dog walker, errand runner, or laundry service. Or, it might be whatever small tasks you can delegate so you have more time and energy for yourself and your growing family. This is particularly helpful in the early weeks or months.
Surrounding yourself with others who can help in small but significant ways will help ease the transition. Finding the right providers will allow you the opportunity to focus on yourself and your baby. Create your dream team and then utilize their services.
A happy mama helps create a happy household.
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