This post may include affiliate links.
In a conversation with Bored Panda, Vicki Broadbent, the creative mind behind the renowned family and lifestyle blog Honest Mum and a mother of three herself, emphasized that there are no strict rules when it comes to pregnancies, birth, or babies because "every experience is unique and every child is an individual."
"I've had quite challenging pregnancies with all three (and I sadly suffered a missed miscarriage before my youngest, too), but my easiest pregnancy and birth overall was my second," Broadbent shared with us.
"I do remember a GP once telling me that the more babies you have, the easier the pregnancies and births tend to be, but I'm not sure that's true!"
"I think what's easier with subsequent pregnancies, as opposed to your first, is that you're more prepared, and that applies to expecting the unexpected!" Broadbent said.
She believes that life is already disorganized once you have one baby, "so adding another isn't such a shock, whereas the transition from no baby to one changes it in every way."
"The responsibility, sleep deprivation, and parenting 24/7 are a real baptism of fire!"
Naturally, when you first find yourself under such circumstances, you're hungry for advice on pretty much everything, from how to prompt kids to follow through with everyday responsibilities to the best ways to help them stave off unhealthy behaviors.
However, some sources may be inaccurate or confusing, leaving you overwhelmed by the abundance of contradictory information.
"Always head to verified sites such as the NHS in the UK or Baby Center in the US, which provide trustworthy and regulated advice," Vicki Broadbent said. "I would also lean on fellow parents, particularly seasoned ones who have more than one child, or your own parents/relatives, for example."
Vicki said there are also some brilliant books and reminded us that you can listen to their audio versions as reading, especially with a newborn, isn't easy.
"At the top of my book list is The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read (and Your Children Will Be Glad That You Did) by psychotherapist Philippa Parry, and I wrote Mumboss (UK), which is titled The Working Mom in the US and Canada on how to survive and thrive in motherhood!"
"Most of all, trust your gut," the mom highlighted.
"I'll never forget the pediatrician I met when my eldest was unwell in a hospital's emergency department and she said she never, ever doubts the parent/carer's instinct about their own child."
"If you feel that something isn't right, get it checked."
However, sometimes you're bound to end up in a situation without a clear answer.
"I think you have to accept you learn on the job as a parent, and being human means not always making the right decision," Vicki Broadbent said. "What's important is learning from mistakes, holding your hands up when you get it wrong and apologizing, learning endlessly, and keeping the conversation open, honest, and loving when it comes to problem-solving and decision-making, whether that's with your partner or if your children are old and mature enough, with them too."
According to her, if you're trying your best, you're doing your best, and that's what matters.
