So You Want to Have A Baby

Having a baby or not is truly an important decision. It can be the most exciting, thrilling, happy time of your life. Having a baby can also totally rock your world. No longer is it just about you. In fact, you now take a supporting role. It is now all about the little prince or princess that just joined your family. Their demands take precedence over anyone else.

I have never regretted my decision to have a child. Actually, I didn't think that much before having a baby - it just happened. Only married for a couple of days, our first little girl ended up being a honeymoon baby (born nine months and two days after our marriage date). Here are a few things that I discovered while I was pregnant.

You worry a lot when you are pregnant. At least, I did. I worried if I was eating the right things. I also worried if I was gaining too much weight. Would the baby be cute, happy, healthy, etc. Then there is the morning sickness - although you could have called mine the evening sickness. I felt great every morning, went to work and by about 4 pm I started getting sick. The smell of the gas stove in our little apartment made me very nauseous. I could not eat much in the evening and was exhausted. So, of course, my husband ended up finding his own dinner most of the time.

You compare yourself a lot when you are pregnant. At least, I did. I would look at others who were pregnant and compare stomach sizes after asking how far along they were. I found that some ladies have very good genes and can hide the fact that they are pregnant for most of the duration. Not me, I looked like I had a huge watermelon inside my tummy that was lying on its side. People would ask me if I was having twins and I would reply that there was only one.

You cry a lot when you are pregnant. At least, I did. You cry over your lost youth, you cry over your lost figure, you cry over your inability to control your emotions, you cry when you are in labor, then you cry for joy the first time you see your baby. You sort of forget the pains you just went through, otherwise you probably wouldn't do it again.

You feel a lot when you are pregnant. At least, I did. You feel the sweet stirrings of the growing baby inside of you, you feel deep concern for the baby, you feel a strong love for someone you have not met yet, and you feel a bond with the child that will last for the rest of your existence.

You learn a lot when you are pregnant. At least, I did. You learn that life is sacred, you learn that every thing you take into your body can affect the baby, you learn to take better care of yourself, you read a lot of books about pregnancy, new babies and parenting.

You pray a lot. You pray that you will be a good mother, that the child will be healthy and strong, that you and your husband will be able to support the baby, that you can protect the baby from all that is evil in the world.

Before you were conceived I wanted you
Before you were born I loved you
Before you were here an hour I would die for you
This is the miracle of Mother's Love.
-- Maureen Hawkins