A responsibility, a privilege, a combination of both–how do you view parenting? Did you always know you wanted to be a parent?
Some people are 100% sure they want a child, while others are firm about having no kids. If you’re unsure, don’t be too hard on yourself. There’s no right or wrong answer, and you can take your time to decide.
Now, if you’re pretty certain you want to be a parent, you can’t take planning for pregnancy lightly. Whether you or your partner hope to be pregnant soon or thinking of using a surrogate or adopting, let’s discuss what you need to know to have a child.
Becoming a Parent: The Traditional Way
Before buying pregnancy books or following a diet plan for pregnancy, be sure to get medical screening.
For the mom-to-be, a pre-pregnancy check-up can help reduce the possibility of miscarriages. It can also help make parents aware of possible congenital disabilities.
If your tests don’t reveal any fertility issues, it’s time to follow your doctor’s dos and don’ts list, which may include quitting smoking, avoiding alcohol, and taking prenatal vitamins.
Single Parenthood and Planning for Pregnancy
Growing a family might be an easy decision for some, but there are more factors to consider for women who plan to have a baby without a partner.
The first would be financial security. Even for traditional families, raising a child is expensive. If you have a single income, consider job security and additional costs to see if they’re enough to support child-rearing.
Your support system will also be crucial. Family, friends, and other loved ones can be there for you while navigating the single parenthood path.
Nontraditional Means to Become a Parent
If you and your partner have trouble conceiving, artificial insemination and in-vitro fertilization are options worth considering. With artificial insemination, donated sperm will be used. It’s best to time it with the woman’s natural ovulation cycle for a higher success rate.
Meanwhile, in-vitro fertilization or IVF is a more complicated process. First, a woman needs to provide eggs. These eggs will be fertilized with sperm in a laboratory, then implanted into the mom’s or surrogate’s uterus.
Both eggs and sperm can come from you and your partner or donors (anonymous or otherwise). However, there’s a downside to IVF. It’s not always successful, and the journey can be difficult and expensive.
For couples who couldn’t conceive through artificial insemination or IVF, adoption is another option. Note that fostering differs from adoption, with the latter being a more permanent arrangement. You can check out Alldayparenting.com to learn more about these options.
Are You Ready to Be a Parent?
Having a child will change your life, and now that you know more about planning for pregnancy, as well as the different ways to become a parent, we hope you’ll realize your desire to be a mom or a dad.
Don’t forget to check our other posts for more parenting tips and advice. We also have tons of articles on related topics like sex and love, health, and lifestyle. Feel free to stick around and browse our site for more awesome content.