What to think about when trying to conceive

The decision to have a baby is never one that is taken lightly, although sometimes these little babies are an unexpected surprise. No matter what your circumstances, preparation is always helpful.

There are many things to consider when you want to become pregnant physically, emotionally and also financially. 

What you can do to prepare yourself physically

It is important for you and your partner, if you have one, to prepare yourselves physically for your pregnancy. Although it is perfectly feasible to get pregnant with no changes at all, maintaining a generally good level of health in preparation for pregnancy is never a bad thing.

1. Dietary habits: maintaining a good healthy and balanced diet is important both for you and your partner when trying to conceive. Excessive amounts of sugar and limited intake of nutritious food can be detrimental to your health as well as making conception and pregnancy more difficult under certain circumstances. It is important to look after your own health.
   Pro tip: We recommend you start taking a low dose of folic acid when you are trying to conceive.
2. Daily habits: excessive drinking and any amount of smoking, both for yourself and your partner, can have detrimental effects when trying to conceive. The use of tobacco and alcohol during pregnancy has been shown to cause problems to the developing fetus. 
3. Exercise and activity: Maintaining a level of fitness that is appropriate for your body type is important for you when trying to get pregnant. If you exercise regularly, continue what you would usually do with certain safety adjustments, ensuring you are consuming an adequate amount of calories for your level of activity. If you do not exercise frequently ensure you maintain some level of activity every day. A daily walk of 20 minutes to an hour is beneficial both for your physical and mental health. 

What you can do to prepare yourself mentally and emotionally

1. Deciding to have a child is a big step in anyone’s life. This step often brings with it a certain amount of societal pressure that is not always easy to deal with. It is helpful to unpick these feelings and understand that this pregnancy and journey are yours and it is not a decision that should be made due to pressure or coercion of any kind from your partner, family, friends or society as a whole. 
2. Anxiety surrounding pregnancy and birth can be one of the main factors that women and couples decide not to have a child. Dealing with these feelings can be very beneficial and understanding what pregnancy is all about empowers you to make the right decision for yourself and your family.
3. Mindfulness and meditation can be really helpful grounding techniques that will keep you calm in times of turmoil and help to prepare you for the pregnancy and parenthood road ahead. 

What you can do to prepare financially

1. In this day and age it can be very daunting trying to juggle everyday life and financial hardship with the desire to have a baby. Forward planning is a really important part of feeling financially secure when you have a baby.
2. Savings and investments can be helpful avenues of passive income
3. Do not overspend when buying for a baby, use second hand and donate. Babies grow out of everything very fast. And they don’t need lots of toys and stuff. They need you.

See our specialist article for more information about financial tips when planning a pregnancy. 

For more information like this please come to our online or face to face preconception workshop with Hera Family Care where we can unpick any concerns you may have and help you make the best decisions for you and your family.