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Dealing with unsolicited advice from well meaning people is part and parcel of being a parent. In fact, by using your own judgment and verifying facts at a later date, you may find that some of the advice you have been given can actually be quite useful.

Expecting a baby especially your first one, can be quite a daunting prospect. Everyone who has already experienced childbirth and who has brought up a child remember the experience that they went through. For some it may have been a fairly pleasant experience, for others not so good. The one thing people have in common is that they are aware of what you are going through and this solicits an emotional response to your happy news. I have found that most people who have offered me unsolicited advice do it from a well meaning perspective.

Sometimes the advice will come from someone who you love and trust. It may be a parent or a grandparent or a sibling. Either way they will have your best intentions at heart so there is no need to snub them. You tell them how much you appreciate their help and that you will take what they have told you into consideration. Your family are trying to become involved in your pregnancy and will be doing what comes naturally to a family unit, and that is to pass down valuable information. Whether it is useful or not that is for you to decide.

You will learn during your pregnancy and bringing up your baby that you develop an instinctive feeling for when something is right or wrong. All people are different, and what may be right for one child may definitely be wrong for another. Sometimes a mother's instincts can outweigh any scientific knowledge. For example, you may not be happy with the advice you are being given by your doctor or midwife and you may need to get a second opinion about something. Don't worry about voicing an opinion about your child if you have any concerns. You will find that the medical profession have a lot of regard for the motherly instinct and your health care expert may well seek another solution on your behalf.

Be very careful about the advice that you do decide to take from someone. Especially if it is someone who does not know you very well or it may even be a complete stranger that you may have exchanged a few friendly words with on the bus. Always double check facts, no matter how persuasive the advice can be.

I found various polite ways to deal with well meaning people. I realized that I was probably going to get a great deal of it over the course of my motherhood

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