ABSTRACT
Self-awareness is useful to us throughout our lives, and the ability to self-reflect is particularly useful during personal change and transition, including the change that having a baby would mean to parents. Self-awareness includes a recognition of our personality, our strengths and weaknesses, our likes and dislikes. Some people do not experience all the stages and whether parents do or not will largely depend on whether their baby is planned. Each individual will experience the curve in their own way. It should be noted that these feelings are normal and sometimes can seem quite conflicting. We think it is useful to weigh up the pros and cons of having a baby as objectively as we can before taking the first step towards conception. Many parents-to-be romanticise about having a baby and don’t realise the major impact that having a baby can entail.
