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10 things I wish Id known before I was pregnant
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Pregnancy is something that you can never completely prepare for. However, here are 10 things that can help. - photo by Tamsyn Valentine
When I was younger I would look at pregnant women and think that they were just so beautiful. They usually had a glow about them, and they seemed filled with this inner joy and excitement about carrying a child.

After learning I was pregnant, I thought those were some of the wonderful things that I had to look forward to. And they were; however, there are also many things about pregnancy that you cannot understand or know until you are pregnant.

Pregnancy is something that you can never actually prepare for. However, here are 10 things that are helpful and good to know beforehand.

1. Invest in a body pillow

Honestly, your body pillow will become your best friend! Whether it's to help with comfort for morning sickness, aches and pains, insomnia, or is just something to cry into, your body pillow will be essential through each trimester of your pregnancy.

2. Sleeping becomes very, very hard

This is due to a variety of factors, from your ever-growing belly to nighttime bathroom trips to fears of inadequacy about becoming a parent. But try to rest up, because having a newborn does not mean you will be catching up on that sleep anytime soon.

3. Pregnancy brain is really a thing

Ever heard of pregnancy brain? Well let me tell you, it is all too real! No one had shared with me before I was pregnant that due to general exhaustion and the million other things you are probably worrying about now that you are about to become a parent means that you are going to begin to forget things you would have never forgotten before, such as your husband's name, or how to form a sentence. I do not lie; these things really do happen!

4. Morning sickness does not just happen in the morning

There is a slight chance that some (lucky) women will not have this issue, but I have found that the majority of pregnant women suffered through nausea all day, at least in their first trimester. Let me tell you, it really does last ALL DAY LONG -- and I mean 24/7. You will become very familiar with saltine crackers and ginger ale.

5. Staying active is really important

This might be advice that you've heard before, but I just want to reiterate it due to its importance. No matter how exhausted or nauseated you may be, it is important to do moderate exercise throughout your pregnancy. You will find this can sometimes be the solution for some of the minor discomforts that pop up during pregnancy, as well as just being good for your self-esteem. Both your body and your baby will thank you in the end!

6. Stretch marks are a thing

Yes, you will gain weight during pregnancy, and yes this means stretch marks. You may think you are the exception to this rule, but most likely you are not. Cocoa butter and other lotions help; but a growing body is a great sign that you contain a healthy baby. Dont stress out too much about it, and take it as proof of your forthcoming miracle.

7. The Internet is not always your friend

The Internet is a wonderful place to find information instantly. However, when it comes to pregnancy, especially for new moms, it can become a scary black hole that makes you think that a million different things are wrong with either you or your baby. So take everything you read with a grain of salt, and if you are really convinced that something is wrong, call your OB-GYN.

8. You will cry. A lot.

Even if you were not a crier before getting pregnant, get ready for the waterworks. Whether it is a beer commercial or simply spilling some milk, you will find yourself crying over the weirdest things. Just blame the hormones.

9. You actually dont have to buy that many maternity clothes

This is something really useful to know, because it may seem that as your belly grows, you will need a whole new wardrobe to go with it. And although I am not someone to ever turn down an excuse to shop, the reality is that you only have to buy a few essentials -- and the rest you can use from your pre-baby wardrobe. Your husband and your wallet will thank you for this.

10. In the end you are OK

Let this become your mantra: Everything is OK; everything is alright. Being pregnant for the first time is a scary ordeal, and is different for every single person. Dont get overly anxious because 1) it is bad for the baby and 2) it is usually something that's not a big deal. Rely on your husband, mother and most importantly, God, and you will get through it! Trust me; when you meet your precious new baby for the first time you will want to do it all over again.
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How to avoid 'sharenting' and other paparazzi parenting habits
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A recent study revealed parents often spend up to two hours staging a single photo of his or her child to post online. - photo by Amy Iverson
Before having kids, some people just dont appreciate their friends baby posts. But after having a child of their own, three fourths of new parents jump right on the parental social media bandwagon. If you have become a member of this group, there are some rules to follow for posting responsibly.

Much of a parents worry is how to teach their children to use social media responsibly. We talk with our kids about privacy, oversharing, and setting restrictions on their devices to keep them safe. But parents themselves need to look in the digital mirror once in a while. Before having children, it doesnt take as much effort to think about what to post online. Its up to us to decide what we share about our own lives. But once you become a parent, there are many questions to think about regarding what is appropriate to post about your kids on social media.

In a recent survey, kids clothing subscription company Mac and Mia surveyed 2000 new parents to find out how they are documenting their kids lives on social media, and what concerns they may have.

First of all, people without children seem to feel a bit differently about the onslaught of baby pictures online than those who are parents. 18 percent of people say before they had kids, they were annoyed by their friends baby posts. But after having children of their own, 73 percent admit they post progress pictures of their little ones every single month.

Not only are new parents letting the world know each time their baby is a month older, but they are posting about their kids every few days or so. Men and women report they post 6-7 times per month about their baby.

And while 70 percent of new parents say the benefit of using social media is how easy it is to help family and friends feel involved, there are some downsides. Here are a few tips to avoid the pitfall of becoming paparazzi parents.

Dont miss the moment

In the Mac and Mia survey, some parents admitted to spending up to two hours to get the perfect shot of their baby. That seems a little extreme. New and old parents alike should be careful about spending so much time taking pictures and videos that they dont enjoy the moment. Years ago, I decided to never live an experience through my phone. A study by Linda Henkel, a psychology professor at Fairfield University in Connecticut, found that when people took pictures of objects in an art museum, they didnt remember the objects as well as if they simply observed them.

This photo-taking impairment effect can happen to parents as well. If we are so consumed by getting the perfect photo, we can miss out on the moment all together, and our memory of it will suffer.

Dont forget about privacy

60 percent of couples say they have discussed rules and boundaries for posting their babys photos, according to the Mac and Mia survey. Even so, men are 34 percent more likely to publish baby posts on public accounts. If parents are concerned about their childrens privacy, keeping photos off of public accounts is a given.

In the Washington Post, Stacey Steinberg, a legal skills professor at the University of Florida, and Bahareh Keith, a Portland pediatrician, wrote that sharing too much information about kids online puts them at risk. They write that all that sharenting can make it easier for data thieves to target out kids for identity theft. Check that your privacy settings are where they should be and never share identifying information like full names and birth dates.

Dont be paparazzi parents

36 percent of parents say they take issue when their childs photo is posted online by someone else. Responsible social media users will always ask permission before posting a photo of another child. But parents should also think about whether their own children will take issue with their own posted photos a few years down the road.

When parents are constantly snapping pictures and throwing them on social media, it can be easy to forget to pause and make sure the post is appropriate. I always use the billboard example with my kids. I ask them to picture whatever they are posting going up on a billboard in our neighborhood. If they are okay with that, then their post is probably fine. Parents should ask themselves this same question when posting about their children. But they should also ask themselves if their child would be OK with this post on a billboard in 15 years. If it would cause embarrassment or humiliation, it might be best to keep it private.

Once children reach an appropriate age, parents should include them in the process of deciding what pictures are OK to post. Researchers at the University of Michigan surveyed 10- to 17-year-olds and found children believe their parents should ask permission more than parents think they should. The kids in the survey said sharing happy family moments, or accomplishments in sports, school and hobbies is fine. But when the post is negative (like when a child is disciplined) or embarrassing (think naked baby pictures or messy hair), kids say to keep it off social media.
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