How to Decide When to Get Pregnant

Many factors play a role in whether it is the right time in a person's life to have a baby. Maturity of the person or people who will parent the child, along with many financial issues are important to take a look at.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Decide whether current lifestyle habits are conducive to having a baby. Habits such as smoking, drinking alcohol and illegal drug use must be given up before becoming pregnant to ensure the health of the baby both through the pregnancy and as an infant. Anyone else living in the same home should also give up smoking, as it is a major risk for pregnancy, as well as SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) after bringing the baby home.
2. Analyze your budget. Is there enough money to add a child? Not only is labor and delivery generally a hefty cost, but after the baby arrives, there's child care, doctor visits and needs such as diapers and clothes.
3. Look over insurance coverage. Prenatal care is very costly, so insurance is needed. Decide if current money situations allow for the payment of whatever insurance doesn't cover.
4. Get a full checkup from the doctor. Get your health issues under control before becoming pregnant. Check if your current medications are safe to take during pregnancy, and if not, decide what can be done in order to get off of them, or replace them.
5. Look into your job's maternity leave policy. Six weeks is required for a normal delivery, eight for a c-section. Does the company offer leave? Is it paid? Will your job position will still be there when you return? FMLA requires that companies keep the pay, but not the actual position of the person taking leave.
6. Watch how the company treats other parents around the workplace, as well as pregnant women. Prenatal appointments, children's appointments, sick days, and other sudden emergencies become a reality. It is necessary to work for a company that understands this.