Dear Readers,
You may have noticed that this is the first new column I’ve posted since early November. That’s because the new baby surprised us and came a couple of weeks early! We are all doing great and adjusting well to becoming a family of four.
In honor of the occasion, this week’s blog features a question about second pregnancies from parliamentary procedure training guru Susan Leahy, founder of Robert’s Rules Made Simple. Enjoy and happy holidays.
Regards,
Jennie
Q: My husband and I have a beautiful 15-month old baby girl and I just found out that we have another one on the way. Is it bad that I’m not feeling as emotional about this second pregnancy as I did about the first? How do I stay focused on building our business and still feel joy about our new addition?
You’ve probably already heard the cliché “Every pregnancy is different.” And it is easy to nod your head and accept the fact that you or may not have morning sickness, you may or may not gain a pound a week, and you may or may not have a C-section this time around.
But it’s a lot harder to wrap your head around the fact that your emotional experience will be different. It is completely normal to feel a little distant and even for your partner to be more detached with a second pregnancy. There are a variety of possible reasons, depending on your personal situation. One common reason for mompreneurs to feel this way is that your business is in a different phase. Typically, during your first pregnancy your business was newer and probably smaller and more manageable. Fast forward a couple of years and now your business has grown, is more complex, and has more customers demanding your time and focus. Remember that’s a good thing!
Regardless of the reasons, you need to focus on a clear vision of how you want to feel and then take specific actions to help you achieve that. Do some things you enjoyed the first time around and also try a couple of new things that will be special to this pregnancy and this baby. Here are some ideas to get you started.
- Sign up for a weekly email about your pregnancy. For example, BabyCenter.com offers a free “My Baby This Week” email if you register.
- Try a little retail therapy, whether that’s a special outfit for the baby, maternity clothes for you, or a “Big Sister” t-shirt for your daughter.
- Take time to record the milestones, either via photos, videos, or a written journal.
- Declare a pregnancy holiday! With a business and a toddler, you may not have time for a week-long babymoon, but pencil in a day to celebrate your good fortune with a pedicure, or massage, or lunch with your girlfriends.
- Get on the mat. A prenatal yoga class is great way to connect to your body, your baby, and your gratitude for this miraculous blessing.
To get your business featured in this column, please email your entrepreneurship, parenting, or work life balance questions to Charlotte executive coach Dr. Jennie Wong at Jennie.Wong@LimelightExecutiveCoaching.com.
You can also like "Ask the Mompreneur" on Facebook or follow "Ask the Mompreneur" on Twitter.
