Specialist ed’s note
It’s been 23 years since I started writing for this magazine! I just love awakening mothers-to-be about the amazing changes their body is going to go through and to boost confidence in your ability to take on this job of parenthood. Be it birth, breastfeeding or bonding, we’re all hardwired to take on this task. There’s so much to know, so many decisions to make and hundreds of questions to ask.
So many moms-to-be feel helpless and hopeless, and there are many obstacles for you to overcome before you can feel empowered during your pregnancy.
Having a baby is a big deal – especially the first time. If you’re a first-time mother, the emotions you experience are mixed, and at times you can deal with them easily, and at other times it feels as if nothing can prepare you for what is to come.
As your baby grows, so does your desire for information and knowledge regarding your changing body and the miracle that’s going on under your very nose. Understanding what is happening to your body, your baby and your emotions will decrease your fears and concerns in every way. Each new life brings with it a different set of circumstances, and just as each child is unique, each pregnancy experience is unique. Whether this is your first time around or your fourth, you’ll always learn a little more.
Childbirth education has become an essential part of pre-natal care for many parents-to-be. The need to make informed choices about birth options, and the necessity for a wider range of information to be made available to prospective parents is critical in order for parents to make decisions properly. With every issue, this magazine tries to approach the experience of pregnancy and birth with eyes wide open and with the truth being told in factual, exciting and positive ways. We do our very best to inform you, support you and build your confidence. You’re not alone out there; we understand how you’re feeling, and that’s why we go to great lengths to answer as many of your questions as we can.
I hope you find this issue as informative and helpful as all the others, and as always, I wish you love and a healthy baby.
With love,
‘Childbirth is an experience in a woman’s life that holds the power to transform her forever. Passing through these powerful gates in her own way, remembering all the generations of women who walk with her… She is never alone.’ SUZANNE ARMS