How Do I Get Myself Prepared For Being A New Mummy?

To be as prepared as you can be for starting a family, ask yourself some questions before you decide to try and conceive. Sit down with your partner and ask yourselves the following questions: •    Are you both as committed as each other in becoming parents? •    Are you ready to give up your lie-ins and Friday nights with your friends? •    Do you have enough support for childcare? •    Have you considered how being a parent may change you and affect those closest to you? •    Are you aware and prepared that your child may have a disability or be special needs? •    Are you on the same page as your partner in terms of how you want your child to be brought up?  Do you agree on what religion you would choose for your child as an example? The change to your life once you become a parent is monumental. Instead of you being the centre of your universe, your child will be. This can be a shock to some new parents. You need to be fully aware of this huge change and that parenthood brings its own highs and lows. Your baby needs love more than anything else but think about saving a little before you become a parent. You will be financially responsible for that child until he is eighteen years old. If you have not arranged these things before you will now have to consider getting life insurance, making a will and start saving for university fees. Once you have stopped taking contraception and trying for a baby make sure you are as healthy as you can be. Eat three meals a day that are well balanced and full of the nutrients your body needs. Eat lots of fruit and vegetables and make sure you are getting enough calcium, iron and vitamin D. It is advisable to take a daily supplement of folic acid. Think about whether you are at a healthy weight as being under or overweight can affect your fertility. Exercise is good before and during pregnancy as it builds your stamina, flexibility and strength. When you are trying for a baby you should stop smoking, drinking and taking drugs. These are all harmful to you and can affect your chances of getting pregnant. Once you have conceived you will want to protect your baby’s development by being as healthy as possible. Also think about the job you do. If you are exposed to chemicals at your workplace you will probably want to make changes to your job before you conceive. If your job entails standing up all day think about how this can work if you are pregnant. You should be able to speak to your employer about your plans to get pregnant and how you can eliminate any hazards at work. If you do not want to speak to your employer then you should be able to speak to a Health and Safety Executive about how you can be pregnant and safe at work. By Eirian Hallinan