Motherhood Challenges Nobody Talks About

Becoming a mother is a dream come true for many women. However, motherhood is not all rosa and glitter. It can be a tough journey with many challenges to overcome on the way. More often than not, the word motherhood evokes sweet images of holding babies and playing with toddlers. Yet, before the parental journey begins, mothers (and fathers) have a long way to go.

Do these challenges affect the joy and excitement you feel when you become a mother? The answer is no. However, understanding them can help you prepare and avoid risks that could be harmful to your family.

Fluctuating fertility

Some couples get pregnant rapidly, while others have to try for a long time before they can finally welcome a baby into their lives. This has a lot to do with the F word, Fertility. Fertility is never a given. It can be affected by a variety of factors, including your lifestyle, your age, your stress levels, and your diet. Some health conditions can also reduce fertility rates. Therefore, if you are planning to get pregnant, it can be helpful to invest in fertility supplements that can help proactively fuel your body with all the nutrients it needs to preserve fertility for as long as possible. You might also ask for fertility tests for you and the father to determine your exact situation and improve it.

Pregnancy can be complicated

Is there such a thing as a smooth pregnancy? Here again, a variety of factors can influence your health and potentially cause pregnancy complications. Many women experience gestational diabetes, which can put the mother and the baby at risk. Gestational pregnancy occurs when the body fails to respond to insulin, leading to jaundice, low levels of minerals, respiratory distress syndrome, and a larger-than-normal body for the baby. Other conditions can affect the placenta, the amniotic fluid, the cervix, and the fertilized egg.

Childbirth is no child’s play

Let’s be honest: It’s called labor for a reason. Childbirth puts the mother’s body under a lot of pressure. Difficult childbirth could endanger both the mother and the child’s lives. That’s precisely why specially trained nurses and doctors can make a huge difference for families. For mothers who have experienced pregnancy complications, childbirth can be closely monitored and controlled to avoid further risks. Mothers want to give birth surrounded by medical professionals they can trust. While you don’t always get to choose your birth doctors, you can make sure you select a hospital that has a long history of successful births. Birth issues can occur for many reasons, yet a hospital with a high rate of birth defects could indicate that medical staff lacks sufficient training. Indeed, according to medical malpractice attorneys, some life-changing health conditions affecting the baby or the mother could be caused by medical errors during childbirth.

Let’s talk about costs

Your baby is a lot more precious than you realize. Indeed, giving birth is expensive. Mothers who require a C-section can expect to pay up to $14,500 for delivery. Complications during childbirth will also increase the hospital bill. The bill also needs to include prenatal care, additional health checks on the mother and the baby, hospital stay, and postpartum care. While your health insurance can help cover some of the costs, you could still be left out of pocket.

Motherhood is a heavenly feeling. Yet, you need to brace yourself for the challenges that precede it. From trying to get pregnant to managing your medical bill after childbirth, parents have a lot to think about!