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{Contributed by Tammy Winslow}
As a woman, you may feel the call to parenthood earlier than your partner. While you are ready to start discussing baby names and planning a nursery, he may be quite content with your life together as a twosome. Finding yourself in this predicament is never easy, as you and your partner need to be on the same page before you start trying to conceive.
Discuss Your Feelings and Consider His Perspective
Be open and honest about your desire to start a family. Take the time to have a conversation with your partner in a quiet, comfortable location where you can both earnestly discuss your feelings. He plays an important role in the process, and he will be 50 percent of the parental unit. Consider his perspective before coming to a compromise on when you will add a little one to the picture.
Think About the Reasons Why You Want a Family Now
Perhaps you feel your biological clock ticking louder and louder as each birthday passes, or maybe you are envious of your friends and family members who are announcing their pregnancies. Whatever your rationale is for wanting to become pregnant, do it for the right reasons. Avoid trying to fix any marital issues by adding a child into the mix. Make sure that your desire to have a child stems from your mutual decision as a couple to become parents and treasure those special moments along the way together.
Take Note of Your Fertility
It’s never too early to start thinking about your fertility. Note that your age, health history and environmental factors can all play a role in your ability to conceive and carry a baby. Start by taking the time to understand your menstrual cycle. Charting your cycle and tracking your fertile days is the best way to get to know your own body and identify when you will be able to conceive each month, according to WomensHealth.gov. Using a First Response ovulation calendar, you can identify your fertile window and note any patterns in your cycle.
Evaluate Your Financial Situation
You and your partner should discuss your financial situation at length before trying to conceive. Determining if you are financially stable will help you prepare your budget for a new baby. Your new little bundle of joy will cost you a lot of money — upwards of $10,000 during the first year, according to BeforePlay.org. Adjust your budget accordingly before you become pregnant. By limiting your spending and increasing your savings, you will feel more prepared financially whenever you decide to add to your family.
Decide If You Are Truly Ready to Change Your Life
As everyone will tell you, your life will never be the same once the baby arrives. Before you start trying to conceive, check off all those must-do items from your bucket list. Take a vacation with your partner, complete any major home improvement projects and enjoy your ability to be spontaneous. Completing these goals will help both you and your partner feel more prepared for the life changes that will come along with a baby.
Author: Tammy Winslow, Tammy is a mom and freelance writer happily living in Phoenix.
Jennifer E. says
Great post that really shows both perspectives. Just stopping by to welcome you to the Social Fabric Community.