Preparing for Birth: From Perfection to Perspective
I often think about the preparation that goes into a first pregnancy. Some of us begin even before we conceive, while most of us dive in during those nine months of anticipation. This was certainly true for me.
In my first pregnancy, preparation was an exploration — through books, conversations with elders who could guide me, and eventually, birthing classes alongside other new parents. All this energy was poured into trying to do everything “right.” Try as we might there is also another being involved in the process and “doing it right” becomes an adaptable process.
Birth, as in parenting has no perfect, or no “right” way to navigate the process. Still, the striving can be both empowering and, at times, paralyzing. What matters most is not perfection, but learning — taking what we didn’t know before and allowing it to shape us for the better.
By the time I prepared for my second birth, I had already lived through the awkward days and sleepless nights of newborn life. Experience gave me perspective and a sense of empowerment.
That is my goal for every parent: to have clear information and supportive guideposts, so they feel equipped to navigate those first, tender years with confidence and grace.
Read More From Nancy
Brain Grows by Repetition
One important principle I have come to understand, and one that sits at the heart of It’s All in the Head, is that the brain develops through use. The brain does not simply grow with time it grows through experience. Each level of brain development is built upon the successful repetition of the level below it. […]
My Second Child
I made so many preparations for the birth of my first child, doing everything I could in the hope of being the best parent possible. But as every parent learns, no amount of planning prepares us for the responsibility and learning that come with welcoming a firstborn. When Emmy, my first, arrived, I remember carrying […]
The Reach and the Rhythm: How Movement Builds the Growing Brain
This is a photo of our firstborn daughter, Emily, learning to brachiate, those tiny hands reaching, grasping, and swinging across a simple setup we built in our home. I still remember the look on her face the first time she figured out the rhythm, reach, grip, shift, breathe. It was a small victory that felt […]
