Let’s not sugarcoat it: pregnancy is tough. Luckily, there is a wide range of great, supportive resources in Albuquerque to help lighten the load.
Books
With an Albuquerque Public Library card, you have access to the Libby app which offers a great selection of audiobooks and Ebooks that you can check out. I found Emily Oster’s Expecting Better extremely helpful for a first pregnancy. The book provides data-driven information to inform decisions related to, for example, consuming caffeine, consuming particular foods, exercising, taking particular medications, and inducing labor. I also read Cribsheet Emily Oster while waiting for baby. This book covers data related to infancy through toddlerhood and helped me to be aware of important baby topics ahead of time. Topics include deciding whether you want to breastfeed, sleeping safety, and childcare options.
Classes
Even if you don’t plan to give birth at Dar a Luz Birthing Center, you can enroll in their classes. My husband and I gained some useful tips from their pumping class. Oster’s Expecting Better covered most of the information in the birthing class through my OBGYN. The most useful information I received through the class was hospital-specific options and policies related to pain relief (e.g., nitrous oxide, fentanyl, and epidurals).
Movement
Remaining active helped me to feel a semblance of control during the very unpredictable pregnancy journey and generally helped with my mental and physical health. I went to many prenatal yoga classes through Baby Moon Tri-Fit. I enjoyed these classes for several. reasons. One, the classes are specifically for pregnant women and their guests (making modifications in non-pregnancy exercise classes sometimes made me feel isolated even with the teachers being as accommodating as possible). Two, I did not feel infantilized–the teacher led us in normal yoga poses, even including modified half-moons. And three, I could meet people going through the same experience as me, ask them for advice, and compare notes.
Doula
My husband and I found having a doula present during labor and delivery extremely helpful. We personally found our doula through ABQ Doulas. She met with us twice before having the baby. During that time, she learned about my ideal birth plan (which my baby did not follow for the most part, by the way) and pain relief preferences. She showed my husband ways he could support me during labor, and how she could provide counter-pressure during contractions.
» » » » » » » » » RELATED READ: Why I Chose to Use a Doula for My Second Birth « « « « « « « «
I ended up being induced at 41 weeks at midnight, and my doula texted my husband throughout the early morning to know when she should head to the hospital. During labor, she coached my husband in helping me. (I probably would not have wanted him to touch me if she was not there as a guide!) She also helped me move to different labor positions, went to get a nurse when needed, brought me an ice pack, and even applied lip gloss for me.
Little Treats
During my pregnancy, I did not crave specific foods consistently, but I did have very strong opinions about what I wanted to eat each day. I was lucky to eat many home-cooked meals. My husband eloquently described cooking during my pregnancy as similar to “shoveling coal nonstop in the boiler room of a ship.” On top of this all-star treatment, we also ventured into town when little treats called to me. Little Bear Coffee can make lattes half-caffeinated and also offers delicious chai lattes and donuts. We also found ourselves at Flying Star Cafe for lemonade and The Paleta Bar and La Michoacana for paletas more than once ( . . . or five times)!
Meal Train
Before my due date, my manager at work generously asked whether she could organize a meal train, and many of my coworkers contributed! It was fun to learn that my excellent engineering coworkers also are top-notch chefs! Eating homemade soups, casseroles, and pastas kept up my husband’s and my morale while we didn’t have time to cook following sleepless nights. I also felt that the home-cooked meals contributed to my body’s healing following delivery. Before my pregnancy, I had honestly never heard of a meal train. Now I seek out opportunities to contribute to them when I hear someone is expecting!
These sources of support were immensely helpful during my personal pregnancy experience.
For more pregnancy resources, check out our Ultimate Guide to Pregnancy and Postpartum in Albuquerque!
