This week’s Friday Question comes from World Moms Blog writer Karyn Van Der Zwet of New Zealand.  She asked our writers,

“What are three bits of parenting advice you’d give a friend who was pregnant for the first time?”

Here is the advice some of our World Moms would give their friends…

Kally Mocho of New Jersey, USA writes:
“1. Read “Twelve Hours Sleep by Twelve Weeks Old: A Step-by-Step Plan for Baby Sleep Success” by Suzy Giordano. The title says it all.

2. Baby wipes can be used for so much more than just wiping your baby’s bottom. I use them to clean my children’s shoes. (It’s one item some moms can’t live without!)

3. Take all advice with a grain of salt (including mine). Everyone and their mother will tell you how you should handle your newborn. Only you will know what’s best for your child. Know that the advice given to you comes from a place of love, not judgment.”

Polish Mom Photographer of California, USA writes:
“1. You DON”T HAVE to enjoy every single moment of being a parent. Don’t get depressed or angry at yourself because sometimes you feel like you hate it. It’s a normal feeling, and almost every normal thinking/feeling mother experiences it.

2. If you have the opportunity to spent some time without the baby TAKE IT. Don’t feel obligated to spent 24/7 with him/her. You’ve got your own life as well, you need some YOU-time.

3. Exercise, Exercise, Exercise. While pregnant and after. You can take your baby to a baby yoga, to a gym that has baby care, or simply at home, but the best way to do that it to go for a walk with your family! Your baby will enjoy it, you will get some fresh air, and exercise, and you might even have some good talk with you husband.

And an extra one 🙂

4. Do not sweat over breastfeeding. I suffered for two months because I thought I had to breastfeed, because everybody would say I was a bad mother. It’s not true. If you can’t or don’t want to it’s your body, your baby, do what you need to do to stay happy and healthy!”

Kelley of Laos writes:
“1. Trust yourself and your instincts.

2. Needing help is normal, sane, and human. Don’t be afraid to get specific and tell people exactly what you need them to do.

3. Hire a doula for your birth!”

Courtney Cappallo of Massachusetts, USA writes:
“1. Take as many pictures and video of the baby as much as possible. The baby changes so quickly… her sounds, her looks – video is the best way to capture the moment!

2. Keep a journal of your thoughts and your child’s accomplishments. It is also a good reference for when (and if) you have another child. It will be good to know when your child started solid foods, so that if you have a second child you’ll remember when to start introducing your newborn to new things.

3. Try and realize you are not alone. The hardest two weeks in my life were after I had my first child. At night I struggled because I knew the *world* was sleeping and I wasn’t. I felt very isolated. Just know that you aren’t alone, things will get back to normal and you will develop a healthy sleep schedule again! Promise!!”

ThirdEyeMom of Minnesota, USA writes:
“1. Parenting is the toughest job you’ll ever love. There are good days and there are bad days.

2. Trust yourself and your partner on how to parent. There is no right or wrong ways of doing things. Only what works best for you and your family.

3. Set a good example and role model to your children. Remember they are watching your every move and learning from you at your worst and at your best times.”

Kyla P’an of Massachusetts, USA writes:
“1. See a lot of movies in the theatre, you won’t for a while.

2. You will gain a great deal but also will lose a great deal (freedom, privacy, your figure, your brain).

3. Don’t sweat over pre-school, you’ll have loads of time to sweat over their education.”

Inspiration to Dream of Australia writes:
“1. Sleep while you can – it may be a while before you get another full night’s sleep

2. Enjoy quality time with your partner both during pregnancy and following the birth

3. Listen to what everyone has to say and only take the bits that work for you. Not everything will work for everyone.”

Maggie Ellison of South Carolina, USA writes:
“1. Enjoy every moment.

2. Trust your instincts.

3. Let family and friends help you.”

DC Blogmama of Washington, DC, USA writes:
“1.  Pregnancy: enjoy the time with the grown-ups in your life.

2.  Delivery: small earrings, Chapstick, and a headband – you’ll be glad you did when you look at the pictures 🙂

3.  Baby’s first year: hug and kiss and hold that baby and know that you are the best mommy for your baby – and try to enjoy the time with the other grown-ups in your life. :)”

Alison Lee of Malaysia writes:
“1. Ask for help.

2. You know your child best.

3. This too shall pass (for whatever crisis that will inevitably come up).”

Salma of Ontario, Canada writes:    
“1. Take pregnancy/ parenting advice with a grain of salt.

2. Enjoy doing the things you do.

3. Ask for help.”

Eva Fannon of Washington State, USA writes:
“I have to agree with most of the suggestions already mentioned above, so I will only add a book recommendation:  “The Baby Book: Everything You Need To Know About Your Baby from Birth to Age Two” by William and Martha Sears.  It’s my baby bible….I always look in there first before I impulsively call the consulting nurse or email the pediatrician freaking out about something I’ve found or noticed in my babies.” 

Veronica Samuels of New Jersey, USA writes:
“1. Read “The Happiest Baby on the Block” by Harvey Karp and “Healthy Sleep Habits, Healthy Child” by Marc Weissbluth.

2. Go with your gut instinct.

3. Ask for help.

4. Repeat the affirmation “My body has all the energy it needs to get me through my day.”

5. Have you read World Moms Blog? You must subscribe!”

What advice would you give to one of your friends who is becoming a first-time mom?

And do you have a question you would like to pose to our WMB writers? If so, email us at wmbsidebareditor@gmail.com to see what they have to say.

Don’t forget to come back on Sunday to get next week’s travel itinerary!

– World Moms Blog

Photo credit to Mahalie Stackpole http://www.flickr.com/photos/mahalie/144905384/. This photo has a creative commons attribute license.

World Moms Blog

World Moms Blog is an award winning website which writes from over 30 countries on the topics of motherhood, culture, human rights and social good. Over 70 international contributors share their stories from around the globe, bonded by the common thread of motherhood and wanting a better world for their children. World Moms Blog was listed by Forbes Woman as one of the "Best 100 Websites for Women 2012 & 2013" and also called a "must read" by the NY Times Motherlode in 2013. Our Senior Editor in India, Purnima Ramakrishnan, was awarded the BlogHer International Activist Award in 2013.

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