If you’re starting to ask yourself, “Am I ready to have a baby?”, you’re probably starting to think seriously about pursuing parenthood. Remember—there’s no way to completely prepare for parenthood, but there are some key factors to consider when you’re ready to prepare for pregnancy.
Of course, remember that preparing for pregnancy is a different journey for everyone, and that’s OK! There are resources and people who want to help you. That’s why I’m honored to be the medical director at Framea virtual family building clinic that supports you with everything from 1:1 coaching and planning guidance to connecting you with care, whether through their platform or a personal provider.
Here’s what I’d recommend if you’re just starting out on your parenting path.
Related: 10 questions to discuss with your partner before getting pregnant
Take a moment to reflect
If you’re wondering when the time might be right for a baby, it can be helpful to step back and think about how a baby fits into where you are in your life. If you have a partner, involving them in this dialogue is also really important.
For example, you might ask how having a baby will or won’t change your lifestyle and/or professional paths. This can prompt questions about your living situation, finances, as well as your health. It will also help you think through some of the questions that will come up in relation to your professional situation. For example, does your employer offer parental leave for you and/or your partner?
Additionally, considering how many children you want will also help you think about the order and the right timing of it all. For big questions like this, you can first talk to a friend who has been through this to be a good sounding board, or a coach or mentor.
Schedule a pre-pregnancy test
Now on to making sure your health is in order because that’s an important consideration—having a baby is a big job for your body. Women’s health experts as well as the CDC and World Health Organization recommend getting a thorough checkup checkup with an OB-GYN before trying to conceive as the first step in the process.
This preconception checkup will go over all the things you need to consider as you begin trying to conceive. You will learn about vaccinations that are important to receive before and during pregnancy, whether the medications you are taking are safe for pregnancy, how to optimize any health conditions you may have, and help you your clinician to decide when is the right time. to go off your birth control, if applicable.
These visits are often done virtually, so ask your OB-GYN about it or you can use virtual care and support services like Frame which will help you make this kind of visit in your own time.
This is also a good time to schedule a visit to a dentist to make sure you are up to date on your dental health, which may have an impact on your pregnancy. Also relevant? If you have a male partner, now is a good time for him to check in with their primary care provider, as male health also plays a role in fertility.
Related: This little device is clutch if you’re trying to conceive
Consider some basic lifestyle factors
Before trying to conceive, it is important to review your diet and other habits such as drinking or smoking. Eating a balanced diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables, lean protein and whole grains is key to getting all the necessary nutrients for a healthy pregnancy.
Related: Eating a Mediterranean diet can increase your chances of getting pregnant, studies show
Additionally, now is a good time to start taking prenatal vitamins. The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG) recommends taking a vitamin that contains at least 400 micrograms of folic acid daily to reduce the risk of neural tube defects (such as spina bifida) in infants. Ideally, your prenatal vitamin also contains other important nutrients like DHA, choline, vitamin D, calcium and magnesium.
A nutrient-dense diet along with moderate exercise (~30 minutes/5 days per week) can also help prevent complications during pregnancy such as preeclampsia or gestational diabetes. Of course, in every situation, moderation is key, as being underweight comes with risks as well as fertility issues, preterm labor and low birth weight.
If you smoke, or your partner does, now is the time to quit. Smoking carries a variety of risks, including fertility problems, baby growth issues while you’re pregnant, preterm labor and delivery, and birth defects. It also increases the chance of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) after the baby is born. If your partner smokes, and you or the baby is exposed to secondhand smoke, many of these risks are still present.
Finally, the current recommendation from ACOG is to stop drinking alcohol when you are trying to conceive until the end of pregnancy. Risks include possible decreased fertility, miscarriage, preterm delivery, fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, stillbirth and low birth weight.
A note on considering “Am I ready for a baby?”
Of course, it’s impossible to control everything that happens on your journey, and pregnancy can have many unpredictable twists and turns. However, starting with this list and trying to do these things before you get pregnant will help you have the healthiest pregnancy possible.
This story is part of The Motherly Collective contributor network where we showcase stories, experiences and advice from brands, writers and experts who want to share their perspective with our community. We believe that there is no single motherhood story, and that every mother’s journey is unique. By amplifying each mother’s experience and offering expert-driven content, we can support, inform and inspire each other on this incredible journey. If you are interested in contributing to The Motherly Collective please click here.
