Things Every Free-Spirited Mom-To-Be Should Consider

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You’re an easygoing, fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants nonconformist, and you just found out you’re pregnant. There’s so much exciting stuff headed your way, and while your disregard for societal norms will help you navigate the process with happiness and grace, there are a few places where planning and toeing the line is important to keep you doing well and your baby even better.

Traveling while Pregnant

You’re a wanderer, an adventurer. You’re hoping to pass on that sense of adventure to your child. If your wanderlust takes you somewhere, what can you do to make sure your kiddo is safe, on the way?

For starters, stop flying at 36 weeks. When pregnancy stress has you down, it might be tempting to lounge on a beach and take in some sun. If you’re after 36 weeks, here’s hoping that beach is in road trip distance. Bring your prenatal medical records along, just in case. Bring snacks and take frequent breaks. Any traveling you do should be with relaxation in mind instead of excitement and adventure.

Keep an Eye on the Money

You’re kind of go-with-the-flow as far as your finances are concerned. You wing it, and that’s gotten you through mostly okay so far. A baby throws a wrench in that mindset. Be careful of how you spend, and more importantly, plan ahead.

Doctor appointments, prenatal care, all of those new supplies you’ll need and rising delivery costs mean that you can’t afford to wing this one. If delivery isn’t smooth, or the baby needs more involved medical care, everything can get very costly very quickly — so be sure to keep your proverbial head on the ground, when it comes to budgeting before your due date, so as to ensure you can continue building your credit history!

Make a Birth Plan

The good news is, you have a lot of say over how your baby is born. You can do it at home, in a tub, with a midwife or a doula. You can do it at a hospital with your OB/GYN. The important thing is to do some planning and preparation before so the birth itself can be as by-the-book or personal and spiritual as you like. Hospitals can be unfeeling, detached, and expensive, but an at-home birth still requires a professional, whether it’s a nurse practitioner, midwife or a doula.

A caregiver dedicated to you and your baby can help make a plan that ensures that the birth happens the way you want it, so that both you and your new little one are cared for in a way that fits your ideals. They’ve also been proven to reduce complications, like traumatic births and even maternal mortality.

Be Careful What You Eat

You like to experiment. You chase new culinary experiences. You’re the friend who would totally eat a deep fried cricket while traveling in Cambodia. When you’re pregnant, some foods are totally off-limits.

There’s now a lot of seafood that’s potentially dangerous, so lock sushi away in that same mental no-no vault as alcohol. Raw eggs, soft cheeses, unwashed veggies and caffeine are all suspect as well.

Alternative Medicine

The good news is, there’s a lot of herbal and holistic stuff out there to help with your pregnancy. Massage and acupuncture are still great non-medicinal ways to treat pain and discomfort. Most herbs and herbal medicines are still safe, so keep using ginger root for morning sickness.

There are a handful, however, that expecting moms should avoid. Chamomile tea can cause uterine contractions, as can pennyroyal and licorice root teas. Avoid some essential oils, like camphor, sage, wintergreen, and birch.