I happen to be quite the people pleaser. In fact, it's a deeply rooted part of my personality that's hard to break. Oftentimes, my husband reminds me of the importance of standing up for myself, but it can still be challenging. I think the trait is pretty common for people who were bullied or mistreated in the past — simply put: We never want make someone else feel like they don't matter.
While that trait may seem charming at times, it's very hard during pregnancy. And that's because I, personally, viewed questions I had off-hours to be an inconvenience for others. The internet can be a wonderful resource, but when it comes to your baby, it's more important to discuss any pain or problems with your doctor directly. Every pregnancy is different, and just because one woman online reported having cramps that ended up being gas, it doesn't mean your cramps are caused by the same thing.
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It's important for people, especially women, to advocate for their own health. They know their bodies best, so they shouldn't be scared to bring up unexpected symptoms.
A lot can go wrong in the third trimester.
There could be issues with your baby growing. It's also possible to suffer from a placental abruption. If you're suddenly feeling itchy, you might end up having a rash known as PUPPPs, and the best way to relieve it is to talk to your doctor. Just because you're in the third trimester doesn't mean that you're out of the woods. Yes, the first trimester may be the most fragile. But the third trimester is when your body may feel like it's going to fall apart.
When you're pregnant, you're likely a little self-conscious about certain things. When your body changes so much and you have one of the world's biggest responsibilities ahead of you, it makes sense. Hormones also play a big part. Don't let your mind tell yourself that you've "gone to the doctor enough" or fantasize about the doctors making fun of you for your multiple questions and concerns.
It is very important for you to realize that you deserve to feel comfortable around your doctor. If they make you feel foolish, then they're not the match for you. Remember, doctors are supposed to work for you, not against you. You might not love what the have to say, but you should at least love their method and approach of saying it.
The right doctor won't make you feel like you're being dramatic. Never settle when it comes to the health of you and your baby.
This is the first (of many) times you'll feel concern about your child.
Is your child more important than briefly feeling like an inconvenience? Of course the child is. Just because your child isn't born yet doesn't mean that the parenting duties have yet to start. You know your body better than anyone, so it's important to speak up and tell someone if you're feeling a little off. Doctors often have emergency lines for this reason. When it comes to having a baby, usually someone's on call to answer questions and help.
Those lines are open for reasons just like this. Your unborn baby, unfortunately, doesn't know what a schedule is. They might choose to keep you up all night with kicks, or decide that it's time to be born at three in the morning. This is why professionals keep different shifts.
Doctors are also very used to questions, and answer them all day. Chances are, they've already answered a question that's not as serious as your own. While you shouldn't bog down the lines with chatter, it's a good lesson in parenting — as Mr. Rogers would say, "look for the helpers. There are always people who are helping" if you're worried or stressed.
It's better to be safe than sorry.
That's a statement you've probably heard multiple times before, but it's still true. It'll be hard to live down any guilt you have if you persuaded yourself not to call or ask a question while in the moment. Bad and unexpected things in pregnancy are almost always not anyone's fault. The process of having a baby is very complex if you think about what's actually happening inside your body to create life.
Nobody will ever blame you for being too cautious about your pregnancy. Even if you have pains that you assume are "growing pains," calling a doctor on the phone to see if you need to be checked out will help ease your worry if you're not completely sure.
Having a baby is wonderful, but it can also be terrifying. Sometimes, it's hard to tell whether aches and pains are normal, or not supposed to happen. That's why it makes sense to tell your doctor about all of your symptoms — even the embarrassing ones.
Your doctor is more knowledgeable than any forum or piece of advice from a friend or colleague. When something is wrong, your doctor should be the first person you call. And, you should never be ashamed — because when it comes to pregnancy, there aren't any "bad times" or no dumb questions.
