Welcome to the first of the 2010 Attachment Parenting International Blog Carnivals. Today’s carnival focuses on the 1st Principle of Parenting – Prepare for Pregnancy, Birth, and Parenting.
Here is an excerpt from the 1st Principle:
The remarkable journey of new life is a positive, transformative experience. Pregnancy offers expectant parents an opportunity to prepare physically, mentally, and emotionally for parenthood. Making informed decisions about childbirth, newborn care, and parenting practices is a critical investment in the attachment relationship between parent and child. Education is a key component of preparation for the difficult decisions required of parents and is an ongoing process as each stage of growth and development brings new joys and challenges.
We received several submissions for our first carnival. Below is an excerpt from each contributor as well as a link to read the post in its entirety. If you didn’t get a chance to participate this month, join us next month as we celebrate API’s 2nd Principle of Parenting – Feed with Love and Respect. The submission deadline is March 12. Click to find out more about participating in on of API’s monthly parenting blog carnivals.
Without further ado, here’s how other attachment parenting families have Prepared for Pregnancy, Birth, and Parenting. Please note that these links will open in a new window.
A Paper Pregnancy: Preparing for Adoption Or… Birthing From The Heart
Particularly when people are adopting due to infertility, reminders of what have been missed or lost can be so painful that it is just easier to choose another parenting book or website. But don’t turn your back on attachment parenting, my fellow adoptive families! API has a great wealth of information and sage advice to encourage and nurture your inner parent. Visit API’s website or read Attached at the Heart – you will be so glad you did.
Mommy’s All-Natural Birthing Secrets
Since a few of my friends have recently gotten pregnant and have been asking me for my resources, I have compiled a short list of my pregnancy must-haves for your enjoyment! I didn’t need any fancy classes, a doula or an aroma-therapist. Just a few books, CD’s and websites to fully equip myself for this journey on uncharted waters. 🙂
Attachment Parenting Carnival: Preparing for Parenting
Well now that the hustle and bustle of the pregnancy and labor are over we spend our free moments (in-between diaper change, breast-feedings and playing) to really focus on the longevity of our parenting. What other exciting stages do we need to prepare for and how as a couple will we approach them. Here are the different topics to discus for preparing for parenting.
The remarkable journey of new life is a positive, transformative experience. According to my gynecologist pregnancy offers expectant parents an opportunity to prepare physically, mentally, and emotionally for parenthood. Making informed decisions about childbirth, newborn care, and parenting practices is a critical investment in the attachment relationship between parent and child. Education is a key component of preparation for the difficult decisions required of parents and is an ongoing process as each stage of growth and development brings new joys and challenges.
When preparing for the birth of a child, it is easy to get caught up in the material things associated with pregnancy, childbirth, and newborn care. Tiny infant clothing, the latest maternity fashions, and baby gear can all be part of preparing for a baby, but the lasting investment of preparation involves becoming informed so that you can create a peaceful, loving environment in which to grow, birth, and care for a new life.
Finding Your Own Parenting Style
Finding your own parenting style can seem like a daunting task in the beginning. One friend recommends one book, while another friend recommends a contradicting book. They both swear they’re the best thing since sliced bread… who do you believe?
Preparing for Parenthood Weekly
Preparing for parenting does not end once the baby is placed in your arms. As children grow and change, what seems like daily, it helps to prepare as often as you can. Each week we hold a family meeting. It is a time to discuss what happened in the last week and what we want to happen in the next. Beyond just plans and events, we also take the time to talk about the emotional health of our family. Our meetings are times to share our, and our children’s, expectations for the week and to share what we can do to meet those expectations thoughtfully.
You Deserve Better Than Cattle-Drive Obstetrics
This month, one expecting mama, a few days past her due date, told the story of how her obstetrician told her he wanted to induce her since she was a few days past due. She told her doctor that she, herself, had been two weeks late, as was her sibling, and that she didn’t want to be induced. She said that his very serious response was, “Who do you think is running this show, anyway?”
My husband and I are researchers. Before we we decided we were ready to become parents, we researched. We read books and websites and spent hours (years) digging through medical journals. We wanted to be prepared.
Editor’s Note: Attachment Parenting International does not advocate unassisted birth of any sort. We believe the safest birthing environment for every baby, whether at home or in a hospital or birthing center, is with assistance from a midwife, obstetrician, or another accredited birthing assistant. The article has been included to give this mother a voice in telling her birth story only, without any endorsement of her decisions made regarding her child’s birth.
Think Ahead to the Baby: A Checklist for New Parents-to-Be
I think in these days of online forums and Dr. Google, MD, PhD, it’s more common for people to go into childbearing having given forethought to their parenting. But it still shocks me when I occasionally meet someone who has done no research beyond the pregnancy stage, or sometimes the birth.
The Things I Didn’t Expect When I Was Expecting
When I first got pregnant six years ago, the first thing I wanted to buy was What To Expect When You’re Expecting. It was the only book about pregnancy I’d ever heard of. As far as I was concerned, it was a woman’s pregnancy bible. And then, about half way through my pregnancy I heard about Dr. Sears’s The Baby Book and everything changed: I entered the world of attachment parenting. Except that I was already there and just never knew my values had a name.
Preparing for Birth with Affirmations
I’ve written before about my birth affirmations and how they helped me prepare for and participate in labor. If you’ve never created affirmations before it might seem daunting at first. I honestly believe they are powerful and more so when they are created by you. I think this process will benefit your birth experience even if you never get to say a single affirmation during labor or delivery. It is the preparing itself that is so powerful. I’d love to share with you how to make your own Birth Affirmations.
Keep positive affirmations short and to the point. These are also easier to remember. Say them regularly through the day. If you suffer from stress or negativity affirmations will help you develop a powerful and positive attitude to live a successful, healthy and fulfilling life.