The enormous responsibilities and adjustments needed for parenthood, when there are two parents, can be overwhelming. So coping with these as a single mother can be extremely stressful, although many women manage well. A single parent needs extra help and support during this stressful period. Support groups and contact with other single parents can be invaluable.
You need to consider the financial implications as well as the emotional problems of having a baby. Plan ahead for after the birth. Accept all the help you are offered. Consider choosing a friend or a family member to attend childbirth education classes with you. Your support person can accompany you to hospital for the labour and birth.
Make your relationship with your child a priority in your life and you will gain a great deal of joy, happiness and companionship. When returning to work, select a childcare facility carefully. As long as your child has your love and feels wanted by you, he has a good chance of being a healthy, happy child.
Remember: To investigate support groups in your community, create a financial plan and look into career adjustments and options.
Look for single parent groups in your area for additional support or click here for useful resources.
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The last few weeks of pregnancyThe uterus
During the last weeks of pregnancy your uterus prepares for the birth. It becomes more irritable and contracts more frequently. These Braxton Hicks contractions are felt as hardenings and tightenings of the abdomen and are usually mild and painless.
