Here’s What to Do When Trying to Get Pregnant

So, the years of wild nights and hung-over mornings are getting past, and you are now ready to get down for some real family business. You probably don’t know the first thing about babies, but you know that you are prepared to get one. You and your partner have decided to settle down, and you are now trying to get pregnant. It can all be quite overwhelming and may even come as a shock if you have not made proper plans to prepare yourself for it. Here are some critical things you should not forget to include in those plans:

INTENTION

Be as sure as you can that both you and your partner are actually ready and willing to start the journey of a family together. You don’t want either of you backing out just when the test reads positive.

To get here, you must both have a serious talk about it. Do not assume anything. Picture a life with a baby and see whether you are both committed to it.

FOOD AND SUPPLEMENTS

It is advisable to start taking some prenatal vitamins at least three months before you start trying to get pregnant. They lower the risk of your baby getting any congenital disabilities especially those of the spine and brain. Make sure, however, that you consult your doctor before you start taking them so that he can advise on whether it is safe to do so and the correct dosage.

It is also important to start watching your food before conception. Avoid processed foods and those grown inorganically. Put the wine, alcohol, cigarettes and other drugs you may be taking aside. Cut your coffee consumption to at most a cup a day.

CONTRACEPTION

As you would know, the whole point of taking contraception is to NOT to get pregnant. If you are trying to, its time to stop popping the pill and take out that IUD.  Generally, most women start ovulating two weeks after quitting contraception. For some, it may take up to six weeks. Consult your doctor for an estimate of the time you should wait before starting to try after quitting contraception.

FINANCIAL PLANNING

Babies can be expensive, and the sooner you start budgeting for them, the better for the whole family. Check with your insurance partners to confirm that the check-ups, delivery and basically everything else that needs to be covered is actually covered. If not, put a good plan into place.

The baby will also need a whole lot of other expensive things. List them all down carefully, estimate their prices and start saving. Remember the expenses only increase after birth, and soon you will have to worry about your child’s school fees among other things.

In short, preparation is essential for successful conception, pregnancy, and birth. You don’t want to be in the trimesters stressing about things you could have easily handled when you still had time. Once you are sure that you are ready to be a mama, go right ahead and do just that!