Why Do You Want to Have a Baby?

Really knowing your reason will help you cope with the challenges that come with parenthood.

The first step to becoming a parent is to know why you want a baby. Do you want to create a new life? Or do you want to save your marriage? Are you hoping for the joy of holding a child in your arms, or do you need another person who will love and take care of you? What is YOUR why?

As Elizabeth Gilbert so famously put it in Eat, Pray, Love…

“Having a baby is like getting a tattoo on your face. You really need to be certain it’s what you want before you commit.” Elizabeth Gilbert #qoute #parenting

There are many reasons to want to have a baby, and honestly there is NO RIGHT answer to the question. But, it is a question you need to answer because your answer is going to give you the vision and strength to be an amazing parent.

Pro Tip: You don't have to get a tattoo on your face, but think about it. Babies are permanent commitment.

Think about it: why do you want to have a baby?

Having a strong reason for becoming a parent can help you weather the unexpected difficulties that arise. The following are some common reasons behind the decision to have a baby, and what not to do:

Reasons NOT to Have Children

Don’t have a baby because it’s expected of you
Don’t have a baby because you think it will make your partner happy (or vice versa)
Don’t have a baby because you think it will make other people happy

It’s okay if you have more than one reason to have a baby, but your number one reason should be your main motivation to become a parent.

Good Reasons to Have Children

A desire to give and nurture another.
True enjoyment for children.
A feeling that caring for a child will be more fulfilling than at least some of what you are currently doing in your life.
Feeling like you have enough to share (love, energy, emotional resources)

You need to be prepared for this. So think about it:

is having a baby something you really want?

Do you know your WHY?

Is it because you’ve been feeling lonely and want someone who will love you unconditionally? Or is it because you think having kids will make life better for everyone involved? Or maybe it’s because your partner wants them and they’re pressuring you into getting pregnant. Does having children sound like fun in theory, but when they come home from school crying or asking where their parents are at 11PM on weekends, could make depression an issue? If any of these are true, then maybe bringing home an infant isn’t right for now or ever.

Babies are people in development.

Your child’s development as a human is deeply dependent on YOU.
The fastest growth rate for a human is during their time in utero. If we were to continue to grow at the same rate we do in the womb, we would grow 50-60 cm (close to two feet) in height per year.
Babies are born with a sensitivity to touch. He can feel pain but he can also feel loved and secure through gentle, caring touch.
The parts of a baby’s brain that process sound start working during the third trimester of pregnancy, and it can remember what it hears in the womb after it’s born.
You can help your baby to thrive by remembering that every interaction is important, whether you’re rocking her to sleep, stroking her back or having eye-to-eye contact with her.
Infancy is a crucial time for brain development. It is vital that babies and their parents are supported during this time to promote attachment. Without a good initial bond, children are less likely to grow up to become happy, independent and resilient adults.

As a Pregnant Mom you are literally creating the future, one baby at a time!

Having a baby will change your life forever. You’ll be responsible for another human being, and it’s not going to be easy. You will have to give up a lot of things, make sacrifices, and put yourself second—all in the name of growing into a better version of yourself and raising someone who grows into an even better human than you have! Our Future Depends on YOU.

Here is an easy exercise for you to do to find your WHY.

The 7 Levels Deep Exercise…
is used to help determine what really drives you to accomplish ANYTHING in life. This exercise will give you your WHY. Once you know WHY you want to have a baby, then we can easily find out…
“WHAT is in for YOU”.

Click the link on the right and down load a PDF that will guide you. Then, find a quiet place and take your time. This would be a good time to get a Pregnancy Journal and you can write your answers in your new Journal.

I’M HERE TO HELP SUPPORT YOU…

And that is why I created this community, especially for First Time Mom’s (FTM’s). This is a safe place to connect, find answers to your many questions, and feel supported in your new journey of BECOMING MOM. I will post new original content once a week on Wednesday’s… And you can find me during my office hours in our Private Face Book Group and around my little piece of the World Wide Web @ howbirthworks.com where I have created a community just for YOU.