Pregnancy and Caring for Small Children

by Kim Neyer | More from this Blogger

Pregnancy is quite the journey for the first-timer, but it can be downright rocky when there's a toddler running around, or a whole brood for that matter. First time pregnant moms have the freedom to nap when they are tired, rest when they are ill, sit when they are sore, and eat when they are hungry. Pregnant moms with a toddler running around their feet face the challenge of running the house on "empty," cooking when they are sick to their stomach, chasing kids despite aches and pains, and eating on the go when there is no time to sit for lunch. Then there is the matter of finding someone to watch the kids during prenatal appointments. Suddenly the experience of having been pregnant before is worthless, because this is a whole new ballgame.

Fortunately, there are some practical ways to cope. Your primary source of support is your family. Grandma or Grandpa will become your lifeline. If they offer to babysit; take them up on it! Another way to lighten your load is to schedule play dates with your mommy friends. Just having a second adult around can be enough to ease the stress and might afford you the opportunity to sit down for a while. You can take turns catching fleeing toddlers. Planning and making your meals ahead of time can also be a lifesaver. Make double portions and freeze the extras for future meals. Or, spend a Saturday cooking while your spouse watches the kids. You can make food for the entire week and freeze it. Throughout the week, simply pull a meal from the freezer and reheat it. Some people will even cook for the entire month. If you have the patience to cook for a whole day, it's not a bad idea. When you are too tired to chase your kids around the house or the yard, find a new activity for them that requires them to sit still for a while, such as any art project, an educational computer game, or a new book. Even if it keeps them occupied for twenty minutes, that's twenty minutes you didn't have before to sit down and relax.

What are some ways you cope with your pregnancy symptoms when you have small children to care for?

Learn more about Kim Neyer

Kim is a freelance writer, photographer and stay at home mom to her one-year-old son, Micah. She has been married to her husband, Eric, since 2006.

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