“Always be prepared,” runs a boy scout motto. While moms-to-be are too old for scouting, they are never too old to prepare themselves for unavoidable circumstances. The thoughts of pregnancy and child birth may be associated with wonderful expectations of welcoming an additional family member. However, along with these wonderful expectations are anxieties that every pregnant woman must cope with: mood swings, hunger pangs and a myriad of other discomforts associated with pregnancy.

The following are easy-to-remember useful tips that can help moms-to-be prepare for and survive the ups and downs of baby-bumping months.

1. Welcome friends. Not all should be welcomed during the pregnancy months, especially problematic ones who have a knack in dampening one's spirits with their own share of woes. The best ones to keep close are those friends with a cheerful disposition, upbeat attitude, and saint-like patience and demeanor. The hormonal changes that accompany pregnancy induce mood swings and depression, so that feelings of helplessness and diminution of self-esteem are normal. When the man of the house is away, friends who can lend both ears and can offer a hand in doing the household chores will prove to be real treasures for the mom-to-be.

2. Eliminate temptations; keep a stock of good food. Hunger pangs and an increased appetite accompany pregnancy, but this is natural because the mom-to-be has to eat for two: herself and her baby. A wise way to counter these anticipated hunger pangs is to replace the stock of junk food and sweets in the kitchen with healthier food options: wholegrain products, rice, bread (“go” foods), meat, tofu, beans, milk (“grow” foods), vegetables and fruits (“glow” foods). The food pyramid for pregnant women is the appropriate source for the mom-to-be who wants to know how much of what to eat.

3. Invest on cocoa butter. One of the more obvious things that will suffer the toll of pregnancy-induced weight gain is the skin. True enough, ordinary lotion can hydrate the skin but why not ditch this product with one that can do more? Investing on cocoa butter will actually help the mom-to-be address two common problems: dry skin and stretch marks. As a moisturizer, cocoa butter is relatively cheap, easy to secure from any store, and pleasant-smelling (it smells like chocolate because it does come from the cacao bean used in the creation of chocolates). As a skin stretcher, cocoa butter is perfect. Although it does not all the way prevent the appearance of unsightly stretch marks (which are inevitable during pregnancy and surgeries), with continued use, cocoa butter does make skin suppler and more elastic.

4. Accept Murphy's Law. According to Murphy, what could go wrong will go wrong. For the mom-to-be, this law will be evident in a plethora of areas: looks, health and daily routine. Acceptance of this law is the first step of mental preparation. The next step involves making a list of expected complications and corresponding measures. Pregnant women must find solace in the thought that at the end of all the “storms” they must undergo is a promise of better days.

There are still many useful tips for newbie moms-to-be, but the given four should be enough to get the ball rolling. After all, nine months is plentiful time to learn things one at a time.