Preparing for a pregnancy is an arduous task. Many women are curious and anxious related to their health, fitness, nutrition, delivery etc. Having a child in one’s life is not an easy affair. It encompasses many responsibilities and duties that need to be fulfilled as a couple. It is always advisable to have a talk and see that the couple is physically and mentally prepared for the same. As each couple is different, their financial, emotional, social, and cultural needs differ. Here are five things to consider before planning a baby as a couple.
Babies bring a lot of changes in the lifestyle of their parents. So, the couple, in general, must be ready to face the changes. The process is much smoother is preparations are done beforehand. Certain pointers are helpful when planning a baby as a couple. Let us see the top five things that are important before planning a baby. These are not just physical but distinct aspects.
Let us now take a look at the top five things you must keep in mind.
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5 Things to Consider Before Planning For a Baby as a Couple
Planning for a baby isn’t as simple as it sounds. There are many factors you must carefully consider such as the health of the couple, financial stability, a home that is big enough, and support in the form of family and friends at the later stages of pregnancy and post the birth of the baby.
Here are a few factors you must give serious thought to.
1. Consider a Fertility Health Check-Up
Getting a fertility health check-up is mandatory as the doctor can review the medical history of the family and the couple.
The doctor can also discuss the pre-pregnancy diet and fitness, weight loss regime, unhealthy habits to look after, if at all, etc.
The fertility health check-up also helps in tracking medical issues like asthma, diabetes, or high blood pressure.
Detection of sexual transmission of diseases is done with the help of a pap smear test.
2. Are You Physically And Mentally Prepared For Pregnancy?
Planning for a baby entails physical and mental well-being from both partners.
- It is important to be happy when trying to conceive.
- Being in a stressful environment makes it difficult to conceive, hence trying to relieve stress.
- Doing yoga and meditation helps in beating stress.
- Eat healthy and stay away from habits such as smoking and drinking for at least 3 months before the time you plan to have a baby.
- Get all the necessary check-ups to ensure all your health parameters are in line for healthy conception.
3. Assess Your Living Situation
It is a wise decision to assess if there is a need for more space or if your current living space is big enough to accommodate the new addition to your family. Once you are pregnant, moving into a new home can get quite complicated. If planning to get into a new home, ensure to zero in, move in, and settle in before you conceive.
4. Get Your Finances in Order
From the time you get pregnant, your expenses will increase. Hospital visits, scans, blood tests, and the delivery process itself are all expensive. Once the baby arrives, your expenses are going to take an upturn. It is vital that you, as a couple, sit and discuss the present financial status and look for better ways to save effectively.
Pregnancy is also the time when one of the couples may have to stop working or go on a break, primarily the woman post-delivery.
It is important to also assess the monetary impact in this condition as additional expenditure is there. Prenatal, during pregnancy and post-delivery, all the phases need good financial backup to cover ultrasound, food and nutrition costs, undeterminable tests etc.
5. Health Insurance Coverage – Understand the Importance of it
The thought of having a baby has a profound impact on the finances. It is significant to first plan the finances and then plan a family.
A wise decision will be to have a thorough knowledge of the finances, be it insurance plans, finances during pre-natal and post-partum.
Medical treatment is quite expensive so investing in health insurance is an excellent idea since both the quality of your finances and savings are well taken care of. Mostly the companies offering policies that cover maternity benefits have a waiting period of 2-4 years, but the coverage starts from 9 months only.
Thus, having proper planning for pregnancy is important to sail through smoothly. It is also important to get a proper prenatal check-up done to rule out all possibilities that could later be an issue. Remember to give up alcohol, smoking or any such addiction to avoid any congenital disability in the baby. A mother’s body and mind go through a lot of changes; hence the mother-to-be must be mentally prepared to take on all the responsibilities and duties the baby will bring in her life, during and after pregnancy. Staunch support from the partner is foremost. It is advisable for the mother to stay happy and healthy to have a stress-free pregnancy.
FAQ’s
1. When Should a Couple Plan a Baby?
The preconception period is the appropriate period to make the required changes for boosting fertility, reducing problems during pregnancy and planning for the delivery and post-birth phases. This period is 3-6 months prior to pregnancy.
2. What Foods Make Sperm Stronger During Pregnancy?
The foods advisable for a strong sperm count are walnuts, fruits, veggies and fish.
3. What Are The Ways to Prevent Infertility?
Quitting smoking, having a healthy weight, and avoiding alcohol are the three ways to prevent infertility. But if you have any health issues that are preventing you from falling pregnant, consulting specialists and getting treatment is important.
