Prepping for pregnancy is tough. There are so many decisions to make and new things to learn that it’s hard to know where to start. That’s why we put together this blog post of all the things you need to do before your little bundle of joy arrives. Consider these preparing for pregnancy tips and tricks, get ready for what’s coming, and enjoy every minute of it.
Go see your doctor and chiropractor (if necessary)
If you haven’t seen your doctor in a few years, now is the time to go. You should also see your chiropractor if you or anyone in your family has had any issues with their spine. If either of these professionals tells you that it’s not a good time for you to get pregnant, listen to them. Also, make sure that whoever checks you over is aware that you want to become pregnant and go through all the necessary tests before doing anything more.
Start tracking your ovulation
If you want to know more about how pregnancy happens (Warning: It’s not as simple as putting sperm on an egg.), we recommend checking out this article. Though, if there’s going to be a baby involved then one of those little swimmers needs to find an egg and swim into it. This takes place around the time of ovulation, so you need to know when that happens before you get pregnant. Luckily it’s easily tracked with a few simple tools.
You have a few options here: You can buy an ovulation predictor kit from the store and pee on some sticks, or download one of the many apps for your iPhone / Android phone. Some websites will help you track this yourself if you’re more tech-savvy (or just want to save a bit of cash). Make sure that whichever option you choose is something that works for you and something that makes sense to use regularly.
Stockpile some snacks
Depending on where you live, there might not be safe food to eat for a while after the baby comes. And if your partner is deployed in the military then this may be an issue no matter what. So make sure you have plenty of snacks stored away for yourself and whoever else is going to be taking care of you in case things get tough. You can find out more about what foods are safe during pregnancy here. Remember, keep it simple and healthy – nothing too fancy.
Make time for yourself
Now that you’ve got all these exciting changes ahead of you, don’t forget to take some time off before they happen. You could go on holiday, visit family or friends at another location, do whatever makes sense for your life and interests. This is important because it’ll help you relax and remember who you are as a person before the baby arrives. It’s also a great time to get rid of those things in your home that no longer make sense (like clothes that don’t fit), as well as set up your nursery if needed.
Work out how you’re going to pay for this
Having kids isn’t cheap. There are food, clothing, healthcare costs, education costs, and much more depending on where you live. Add that to the fact that most women stop working during pregnancy and then may or may not go back afterward (usually, they do come back but often with fewer hours), which means money could be tight for a while. Make sure you’re ready for this by saving some money and making some financial plans ahead of time.
Read up on what’s coming
There are lots of resources available online to help you understand more about pregnancy and childbirth. But the best way to learn is often through talking with other women who’ve been through it all before. If you can, find a couple of moms with kids around the same age as yours (or older), and ask them what they would recommend doing ahead of time. It’s also a good idea to meet these ladies in person if at all possible, as having someone there to talk to when things get tough will make those first few weeks much easier.
Decide where and how your baby will sleep
While it’s possible to just let the baby sleep anywhere they like, this can be dangerous and not very efficient. You can read lots of different opinions on how your baby should sleep here, but the main thing is that you need to choose a safe place for them to sleep. It’s also a good idea to work out how you’ll get your baby in and out of their sleeping area so you don’t have to keep going into their room when they cry. This will help you save some energy for yourself, which is especially important after the baby comes.
Watch out for signs of postnatal depression
Not everyone gets postnatal depression, but some do experience it more often than others. It’s thought to be caused by a combination of many different factors including hormonal changes, body image issues, sleep deprivation, and even just being overwhelmed with caring for another human being 24/7. There are all kinds of symptoms people can get with this condition that might not sound familiar at first, but if something seems off then talk to your doctor or check out Postpartum Support International for help.
Look up parenting techniques ahead of time
There are plenty of parenting techniques out there to choose from, and choosing the right one for your family could be hard. This is especially true if you’re not sure what you want to do, or if more than one person is helping with the baby (e.g. two working parents). The point is that even though there are no wrong choices, it can still take some effort to think about how each style works in daily life. Especially early on when everyone’s tired.
Find out where to turn for help
When something does come up (and something always will.), make sure you’ve got lots of support available to give you a hand. Whether this means talking with friends and family, finding a parenting class near you, or speaking with an online counselor, it’s important to have someone to go to when you feel overwhelmed. This way you can work through your problems ahead of time before they get out of control. It can also be a good idea to look into how much help is available from the government in terms of financial assistance and maternity leave.
Pregnancy is a big change for any woman, and planning will make the whole process much easier to handle. Even if you’ve got a pretty good idea of what’s coming your way, it still doesn’t hurt to think about all the little things that might come up along the way. Doing so will help you find ways to deal with these problems ahead of time, and it could be the difference between making it through to the other side with your sanity intact (and even stronger than before.) or falling at some critical moment.