Deciding whether you want children is easy for a lot of people, although some spend a lot longer thinking about it. But choosing when to have children can be a little more tricky. Not only do you have to think about when children are going to fit into your life, but you also don’t really have complete control over when it happens. You can choose when to start the journey, but you can’t decide when everything will start happening for real. If you’ve made the big decision to start trying for a baby, you can find yourself facing a lot of big steps you have to take along the way.
Have Your Health Assessed
Checking your health might not be the first thing you think of when you decide to start trying for a baby. Many only think of it after they’ve been trying for a while and realise things aren’t happening as quickly as they would like. But having a general health checkup and perhaps a fertility consultation is a really smart idea if you want to improve your chances of a successful pregnancy. It gives you an overview of your health, any potential issues, and what steps you might need to take to improve your chances.
Boost Your Health
Even if you don’t feel at your healthiest, it’s not too late to improve your health. The healthier you are, the more you could increase your chances of getting pregnant. There are lots of things you could do to boost your general health, from quitting smoking to starting a regular exercise routine or eating a healthier diet. You might know that folic acid is important to take during pregnancy, but you can also start taking it when you’re trying for a baby. It will help to start building up folic acid in your body to provide maximum protection against neural tube defects in the foetus if you get pregnant.
Take a Look at Your Finances
This is something you might have done before deciding to try for a baby, but it’s worth staying on top of the issue. The financial aspect of having children can be really worrying, especially when you start thinking about things like childcare or taking time off work. It’s a good idea to create a new budget, especially if your income will be reduced, and perhaps even try living on your new budget for a while. Make sure you know what you’re entitled to in terms of benefits and maternity pay too.
Talk About Your Journey
It can be difficult to decide who to share your journey with, as you might not want to let too many people know that you’re trying. However, it’s also important to be able to talk about it, especially if you’re struggling. Being able to talk to your partner is good, but you might also want to be able to talk to someone else, such as a parent, friend, sibling, or even a therapist.
Trying for a baby can be an exciting journey, but it can also be stressful. Taking these important steps can help you to feel more prepared.