Comments on: Caring, Keeping, and Gestating: How To Do Life While Pregnant

By: Jenny

Jenny — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 06:57:04 +0000

Great post!

By: maryanne

maryanne — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 21:14:41 +0000

Great suggestions - especially #5 (and of course you need 1-4 for 5 to work!)

By: Jenn

Jenn — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 21:15:14 +0000

These are great reminders. I have FINALLY learned these being pregnant with #3. We are also in a bigger house now and I've found myself behind on laundry and cleaning during the 1st trimester (which is now over!!!) I recently asked a young girl at church to come over as a mother's helper and help me clean and watch my 2 year old and 7 month old so that I can get some other things done. Just smelling my clean kitchen floor today made me FEEL so much better!

By: Daiquiri

Daiquiri — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 16:45:11 +0000

I totally agree - While pregnant with my 4th, I found myself longing for my more relaxing 1st pregnancy all the time!

I found that it also helps to have a very consistent routine for the older kids. I knew my older kids were going to be in bed by 8 each night, giving me time to move at my own pace (which usually meant moving...to the couch...to watch TV and crash!). It also gave hubby and me time to spend time together planning and talking about the day. He also got really good at giving me foot rubs during those quiet evenings :)

Thanks for the great post!

By: Kristin Baxter

Kristin Baxter — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 02:08:57 +0000

I've definitely had to lower my expectations... especially during the first trimester when I felt so miserable. I'm feeling so much better now and able to keep up with the house more and cook healthy meals again. And number 5 is soooo important! No matter what, I want my husband and son to know how much I love them and love spending time with them (even when I'm super tired and just want to sleep!).

By: Nola

Nola — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 23:03:27 +0000

I wish I had learned more about this earlier. I am now putting into practice the same principles with a newborn. These ideas are great and work for any season of life when things aren't quite "normal" due to increased demands in one area or another ie. sickness, pregnancy, new baby etc.

I agree that its important to remember the last point especially during pregnancy sickness and tiredness and overall during any time of life. Often I think that I will feel less stressed if the house is more tidy, but then I miss out on relationships and that is so sad. Our children are only young for such a short time. My mom told me she wishes she had worried less about cleaning when her kids were young. Hard to do but so important.

By: Stephanie @ Keeper of the Home

Stephanie @ Keeper of the Home — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 22:52:49 +0000

I specifically asked Jessica to post on this topic, and she makes so many great suggestions. It can be hard to really prioritize or to cut back or lessen our expectations, but as I am finding now that I'm on #3, it's necessary and it's best for everyone.

I especially love (and need to be reminded of) her last point, that relationships matter most. It can be hard when I feel like I'm behind in everything, but it's so true and so rewarding.

Thanks for a great post, Jessica!

By: Sarah

Sarah — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 18:01:16 +0000

Shoot - I'm having a hard enough time and this is only my first! I have definitely been limiting my commitments (and was in the process of cutting back/re-prioritizing before finding out I was pregnant) and lowering my expectations, but I think I need to work a little more at prioritizing and then actually doing the things that are my top priorities.

By: Karen

Karen — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 16:22:20 +0000

What a good post! I am pregnant with my second child and I am finally enjoying it more because I implemented many of your suggestions. I finally acknowledge that I had to let some things go and lower my expectations. It has benefitted my entire family.