Parenting and mental health writer Caroline Chirichella says having these conversations as early as possible in the pregnancy and revisiting them regularly as the pregnancy progresses.

This may have something to do with the fact that people just, change their minds sometimes. Chirichella says that open dialogues on an ongoing basis will reveal fewer hidden resentments further down the line. A healthy habit for anyone, really.

Empathetic listening helps one understand another’s opinions, feelings, and perspectives. More so, sharing information about the advantages, disadvantages, and science behind various ways of birthing or feeding also matters.

Health professionals agree that increases the degree of knowledge, confidence, and readiness of women. Partners are encouraged to reflect on themselves with questions provided by their therapists to solve any cases of ongoing disagreements. A professional intervention can be a neutral ground for constructive discussions and resolution, giving confidence and assurance to both partners about their birthing and feeding.

Setting boundaries includes communicating how we feel about the relationship and taking more control over our own treatment in the setup. They mainly entail the expectations and needs of the parties involved that help the bond feel safe and homely. If you feel in any relationship that you cannot say no and have to put others’ needs and desires in first place, it’s time to think about setting boundaries that help you feel better.

Boundaries can be seen as a new self-care routine where putting yourself first helps you become more empowered, maintain your identity, and ensure that your relationships are healthy and nobody can take undue advantage of you. They also help gather authenticity from both members and make the relationship truly shared. They are crucial aspects of any relationship and as the bond changes, so do the boundaries. Boundaries can be physical, intellectual, emotional, material, or have to do with time. If you’re having difficulty drawing the line, here are various ways to effectively set boundaries in your life.

The main obstacle to setting boundaries is the apprehension about losing the person we care about after saying no. Find the areas where you are not willing to negotiate. Determine your capacity and stick to it. Don’t worry about any guilt or what the other person might feel as you should have the utmost priority.

Tell the other person about your needs firmly – but calmly – so that they don’t instantly become defensive. Be assertive about what you feel and need so that there is no confusion. It’s best to do it in person so that you are able to explain your issues properly and have a discussion if needed. While the conversation is not always pleasant, the results will make you feel way better about yourself.

Be flexible in the things that you feel uneasy about. You can divide them into the ‘must haves,’ and the ‘would be nice’ that can be negotiated. Whatever you decide, you have to listen to your gut on what is acceptable and what is not. Through this, you can create a collaborative discussion so that it becomes as mutual as possible.

While setting boundaries itself feels intimidating, sticking to them is even worse. However, to maintain your identity and sanity, it is important. The most effective tool in doing so is deciding what happens when someone crosses the boundary. It can range from a simple discussion to a complete severance of the relationship, depending on your needs.

While and after setting boundaries, there is always a chance that the bond might not remain the same or can even end. But if the relationship ends or changes drastically when you put down your boundaries, it might be a sign that the relationship was not healthy to begin with. The important thing here is to keep in mind that you would suffer if there were no boundaries. You are not responsible for how others feel and should not feel guilty about telling them how you feel.