You’re finally ready to start your family. Congratulations on reaching this point in your life. The next question for many is how to prepare for starting a family. Here are a few tips to get you started:
Visit Your Doctor
Once you know you’re pregnant, start taking prenatal vitamins. This reduces the odds of several birth defects. The higher levels of iron and calcium will protect you from anemia and weakened bones. Your doctor should also give you a checkup and address any other concerns. Then you can start searching for a good midwife or obstetrician. Factors should include how close they are to home, whether they accept your insurance and quality of care.
Get Better Health Insurance
As new parents, you’re going to be seeing the doctor a lot more often. Medicare covers general well-checks and sick kid visits, but you may have to wait to get in. Private health coverage on the other hand, will allow you to visit the doctor at any time. Research health funds to find the best possible coverage. And in the meantime, remember to schedule your monthly OBGYN appointments.
Sign Up for the Right Classes
About half-way through your pregnancy you should consider signing up for childbirth education classes. These classes will cover the labor and birth process. You’ll probably tour the hospital associated with the childbirth education class, but you can tour others as well. This’ll give you all the information you need to create a birth plan.
Run the Numbers
Babies are expensive. You’ll want to sign up for better health coverage before you have the baby, but that’s not the only thing you’ll need to add to your budget. Start figuring out how much you’ll pay for childcare, extra food and necessities like diapers, and other costs that come with another addition to the family. If one of you wants to take time off work or quit your job, you’ll need to budget for that too.
Line Up Your Support Network
Taking care of a newborn is exhausting. Line up your support network. Who could pick up items from the store? Who can help clean the house and do laundry before you’re up to it? Who could watch the baby while you’re running errands?
