Image: iStock
Family planning usually starts when you and your partner have settled down and are seriously considering having a baby. If this is where you are at right now, congratulations! Reaching that milestone with your partner is a wonderful feeling. But now that you’re looking to expand the family, you may realize that planning for a baby can be a little overwhelming and very confusing. Especially with all the advice you’ve received from family, friends, well wishers and sometimes, even random strangers! Everyone thinks they know exactly what to do when expecting a little one. But who do you listen to? What piece of advice to take seriously and what to discard? It is known that planning for your family’s future will require mental, physical and financial stability and readiness but there are also some essentials that you must invest in. And it might come as a surprise to you that very few of them are material.
Here are 5 things to invest in while family planning:
1. Put Your Health First
Image: IStock
If you didn’t before, now is the time to prioritize your health. Take yoga classes, improve your swimming or just go on a daily walk around your neighborhood. Any amount of physical activity will rejuvenate you. Exercising will help you get in shape and help you achieve a healthy weight, which will enable you to get pregnant easily. It also increases your chances of having a comfortable pregnancy and labor. It doesn’t mean you have to get a fancy gym membership. Just put on a work out video you like and follow along in the comfort of your home. If consistency is a challenge, join a fun class and bring your partner along to keep you accountable. This can be a great bonding experience for the two of you. And you’re less likely to bail on your workout regime when you invest money into it. Whichever route you take, the point is to be as active as possible.
2. Check Your Reproductive Health
Image: IStock
Getting a prescription check up by a gynecologist or an obstetrician is a great place to start while trying to conceive. A routine check up will help your doctor rule out any threats or potential complications that may arise in your pregnancy journey. Taking prescribed tests and vitamins will prepare you and your partner for what’s up ahead. If you’re on birth control, don’t just stop all at once without consulting your doctor. You may have to ween it off in order to avoid any drastic hormone fluctuations. Your doctor would advise you to be off of the pill for a couple of months before you try to conceive.
3. Invest In Sound Financial Advice
Image: IStock
If you know anything about babies by now, it is that they are expensive. Regardless of if you’re already pregnant or planning to have a baby in the future, it’s never too late to start saving. From diapers, to furniture for the nursery, baby skincare( yes that’s a thing) and vaccines, your baby is going to break the bank account. It can’t be helped. Pregnancy is just as expensive. All the pregnancy medication, monthly checkups, ultrasounds, maternity clothes and food cravings are going to leave a dent in your wallet. So it’s best to wise up when it comes to money. If you’re having trouble setting up a budget and sticking to it, hire an accountant to do the same. Don’t forget to check about maternity insurance and benefits that can be of help to you.
4. Skincare And Relaxation Products
Image: IStock
Here’s an essential you didn’t see coming. Due to the hormone fluctuations during pregnancy, your body may freak out and have an outburst of acne, rashes or skin conditions. So taking care of your skin is imperative. Not to mention the stretch marks that normally form on the stomach, hips and breasts that will require extra attention. As you expand to accommodate the baby, your skin will lose elasticity which may cause redness, irritation and itching in these areas. Moisturizing regularly and investing in a good stretch mark cream, oil or mask will nourish the skin and improve elasticity, therefore reducing any discomfort. You may also experience leg pain during pregnancy so be prepared with a relief cream.
5. Plan Your Baby Essentials
Image: IStock
Once you’ve conceived, don’t buy every cute baby item you see on display. Make a list of baby essentials and plan to buy the things you need during the course of nine months. However, try not to keep anything for the last minute.
Planning for a baby may seem like a long winded process and in some ways it is. It takes a lot of thought and preparation to get things in order but this is also the time when you and your partner can come together to support one another as you make major lifestyle changes. Doing so will increase your chances of pregnancy and will ensure that you are both happy and prepared for the next milestone!
