Medical Aspects of Planning a Pregnancy
* A woman should prepare her body for pregnancy by living a balanced lifestyle that includes good nutrition and exercise.
* Do all things in moderation.
* If you are a smoker, stop smoking.
* Take Calcium, Vitamin D and Folic Acid supplements.
* Consider any pre-existing medical conditions, such as obesity, hypertension, diabetes, thyroid disease, depression, inflammatory bowel disease and cardiac disease. Speak with your physician to ensure he or she is are aware of your pregnancy plans, especially when you are using certain medications. It will be important to stabilize and/or eliminate these conditions prior to pregnancy.
* If you are using medications, be sure to discuss this with your prescribing provider or obstetrician. It is vital to be on the fewest medications possible to control a chronic illness prior to pregnancy.
* Think about your family history and make your provider aware of any congenital anomalies or inherited diseases, such as cardiac, neurological or renal conditions, and musculoskeletal and blood disorders.
Financial Aspects to Planning for Children
* The major expenditures to consider when having a child include housing, clothing, food, healthcare, transportation, childcare, education and other miscellaneous expenses.
* Keep in mind that the total expenses per year increase as the child gets older.
What can I do instead of having a baby?
