| Preparing for Pregnancy |
| Written by Jane Brown | |
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Having a child is a life-changing experience that, while incredibly rewarding and joyful, also demands a great deal of sacrifice and selflessness. Before choosing to have a child, you and your partner should make sure you're ready for the changes you'll have to make to your lifestyle, and also ensure that you're relationship and finances are stable enough to handle the needs of a baby. When it comes to your child, you want to make a habit of making good decisions early. This means anticipating challenges and making your child's needs a priority. The best way you can do this is for you and your partner to make a solid plan to prepare for your pregnancy. To begin, you and your partner should discuss whether you both want to have a baby. Having a reluctant or unwilling partner isn't a great way to prepare the way for a new life, so you should both be on the same page. If you're having a child on your own, you should consider whether you have the emotional and financial support necessary to provide for the needs of a baby. The next step in preparing for pregnancy is to ascertain fertility and other medical issues related to pregnancy. Fertility does decline with age in both men and women. For example, women in their early to mid-30s are 20 percent less fertile than women in their early 20s. Women in their late 30s may be 25 to 40 percent less fertile. Men also see an age-related decline in fertility too, but it occurs later. A recent study found a 40 percent drop in the likelihood of a man impregnating his partner from ages 35 to 40. You and your partner may want to visit a doctor to discuss these issues. A fertility doctor can help determine if you and your partner are capable of producing children, and suggest strategies or medical procedures that will increase your chances of conceiving a child. Other medical issues you may need to discuss are: Age: If a female partner is over the age of 35, she is at increased risk for fertility problems, pregnancy complications and miscarriage. Many of these problems can be mitigated with the help and counsel of medical professionals, however. Lifestyle: Prospective mothers who drink, smoke or eat a poor diet will need to change their ways to prepare for a new baby. Remember, whatever goes in the mother goes in the child. Health issues: Women with ongoing health concerns such as hypertension, asthma or diabetes should make sure these issues are under control and seek the advice of a doctor on coping with these issues during pregnancy. Medications: If you're on certain prescription medications, you may have to take reduced dosages or a substitute while you're pregnant. An open and honest conversation with your doctor will help handle these issues and allow you to prepare for the birth of your child. Addiction: If you have a problem with drugs or alcohol, or if you're addicted to tobacco, you'll need to break these habits while pregnant for the sake of your child. A doctor or counselor can suggest strategies to help. In addition to ascertaining the mother's health, it's also important to get a gauge on the other partner's health too. A serious medical condition occurring simultaneously with a pregnancy can place a great deal of strain on what should be a joyous time. So for peace of mind, go ahead and have your partner get that yearly physical. Another key concern in preparing for a baby is your financial stability. If possible, you should ensure that you're as debt-free and liquid as possible before having a child. Although having a baby is a source of great joy, children can also be an extremely expensive proposition, especially if they're born with special needs or have medical conditions. Having financial worries on top of the normal anxieties produced by the sudden responsibility of having a child can be very stressful, and stress during pregnancy isn't good for a mother or her child. To prepare financially for having a baby, you should pay off as much debt as possible, estimate how much you'll spend per month on child care costs -- and then multiply it by 1.5 -- and also make sure you have money tucked away for a rainy day. Nothing can put more stress on a relationship than having a child, so it is absolutely imperative that you and your partner prepare financially for the birth of your child. One key financial factor to consider when deciding to have a child is the length of time the mother will be away from work. Look into your company's family leave policy and also any short-term disability plans offered. Make sure to factor in any extra time that may occur because of a premature birth or other complications. Now's also a good time to consider legal issues such as marriage, wills, life insurance policies, etc. Once you've made sure that your lifestyle, health and finances are conducive to having a child you're ready for the fun part -- making the baby. |
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