Preparing Your Mind for Pregnancy

If you are planning on becoming pregnant, it is important to be sure that you are ready mentally as well as physically. There are several things that you may want to consider in terms of your readiness for parenthood:

Your relationship. Is your relationship a strong and loving relationship? Does your spouse or partner want a child as badly as you do? Are there areas of your relationship that require improvement before you start a family together? These questions and others are important to consider before becoming pregnant. If your relationship is unsettled or new, if you are currently experiencing a rough patch in your marriage, or if you are the one who really wants a baby while your partner is cool to the idea, these issues should be settled. Small issues can turn into large ones under the stress of bringing another person (your baby) into the mix. If you are planning to get pregnant, you are fortunate in that you have time to make your relationship as strong as possible and resolve any issues before you are committed to starting a family.

Your career. If you have a stressful job or are in a career that demands a lot of you physically and mentally, you will need to decide before becoming pregnant whether you will continue working or if you would like to make any career changes. Mental stress can be hard on you during a pregnancy, so you may want to ensure that you will be able to focus on yourself rather than your career when you are pregnant.

Financial considerations. Financial stress can be a lot to deal with when you are pregnant. Having a baby is expensive. Medical bills, the cost of having the baby in hospital, time off work and the supplies your baby needs can all demolish your budget, so it helps to be ready financially for the costs associated with having a baby. Having a plan in pace can help relieve the stress associated with financial worry.

Your mental health. Are you in a good place in your life? Do you suffer from depression or other conditions which will require special consideration should you become pregnant? Emotional readiness for pregnancy and parenthood can be more difficult than physical readiness. Be sure that this is the right time in your life and that you have the support of everyone around you, including your partner! Above all, new parents need to be resilient and ready for any of the changes life throws at them.