{"id":328,"date":"2022-05-14T16:17:00","date_gmt":"2022-05-14T16:17:00","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2023-09-04T18:10:22","modified_gmt":"2023-09-04T10:10:22","slug":"guide-to-family-planning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/magazine.circledna.com\/guide-to-family-planning\/","title":{"rendered":"Guide To Family Planning: How To Plan Your Baby Timeline"},"content":{"rendered":"

There\u2019s a lot that goes into family planning, especially when it comes to planning to have a baby. For many people, family planning isn\u2019t something they think of until they suddenly realize they\u2019re ready to start a family. Perhaps, your sister or a close friend just announced her pregnancy, making you more cognizant of your ticking biological clock. If you\u2019re wondering if you\u2019re ready to be a parent<\/a>, you should sit down and assess your lifestyle because this is a loaded question with a lot to consider.<\/p>\n

Raising a child is indeed a big deal. If you\u2019re considering parenthood, knowing what to expect and planning for your pregnancy will help tremendously. Below is a mini-guide on family planning, so you can plan your baby timeline, and understand what you need to plan or prepare:<\/p>\n

Are You Ready To Become a Parent?<\/h2>\n

If you\u2019ve worked up the courage to think about this question and even say it out loud to your partner, you\u2019re most likely ready to become a parent and start a family<\/a>. Surely, after researching the topic, you will now know that most parents concur that no one ever feels truly 100% ready for parenthood. That\u2019s why waiting until you\u2019re \u2018ready\u2019 isn\u2019t always the best game plan, since it\u2019s normal to never feel ready. Moreover, you can only feel and understand the full impact of parenthood when your new baby is born.<\/p>\n

Becoming a parent is a transformative experience. And for this reason, taking the time to plan and prepare can make a world of difference. If you\u2019re not sure about what to do and feel as if you\u2019re lost, continue reading to assess your parental readiness and see concrete suggestions on how you can prepare for a new bundle of joy.<\/p>\n

Family Planning: Make Time for a Physical Exam<\/h2>\n

If you have been considering conceiving a child, you know how babies are made. However, the road to getting there is not always linear and straightforward. The \u201clet\u2019s wait and see what happens\u201d approach is not always the best, because you could have issues with your body such as endometriosis<\/a> or PCOS for females and a low sperm count for males. You and your partner may need to see a reproductive health specialist for an assessment. You may need fertility testing and perhaps even fertility drugs. And for women, taking folic acid and other supplements before conception primes the body and helps in preventing neural tube defects<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Thus, one of the primary considerations of having a child is the state of your body. Research says when a woman is born, she has 1 to 2 million eggs. By the time she hits puberty, this drops down to 300,000 eggs. Unfortunately, you lose around 1000 eggs each month, and this is compounded by the fact that egg quality also declines with age. By the same token, male fertility, sperm count, and sperm quality all decline with age<\/a>, making it difficult to conceive a child. These are factors to assess when making baby plans, especially if you want 2 or more children.<\/p>\n

That being said, if you feel pressured to have a baby because of your age, you have options. You have the option to freeze your eggs<\/a>, go for in vitro fertilization, or look into adoption.<\/p>\n

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Ensure Your Finances Are in Order<\/h2>\n

Babies are expensive. You also have to think ahead and plan for education, especially if you want to give your kids the best start in life. Does this mean you need millions saved up to have a child? No. In general, you should have sufficient cash flow to cover necessities.<\/p>\n

Make a concrete plan by imagining what your life-with-a-baby budget will look like. If you intend to have more than one child, you should factor this into the picture, too. Think long-term by calculating possible future expenses such as sports clubs, birthday pirates, college tuition, and the like. Don\u2019t forget to account for inflation, which experts say fall around 4% per year<\/a>. Factoring additional costs and making a budget with a child in mind won\u2019t make your transition jarring once the baby comes.<\/p>\n

Consider your financial situation when having a child and do your best to save up. Having children comes with many surprises so you need an emergency fund for sudden expenses because they usually crop up when you least expect them. To help you out, take note of the following details:<\/p>\n