Family Planning Plus

It is natural for young women to want to have children. Babies are adorable, but they are also a lot of work and responsibility. Just be sure you fully understand the many lifestyle changes that occur with parenthood. Babies require constant care, patience, flexibility, unconditional love, dependability, lots of sacrifice, not to mention lots of money. While your friends are out having fun, you will need to be at home with the baby. You’re very young and have your whole life ahead of you. I would urge you to live a little first – enjoy being young – continue your education – become financially stable first.  That being said, if you feel you are definitely ready for parenthood and want to become pregnant, there are some steps you can take to help ensure a healthy pregnancy.

• First, schedule a pre-pregnancy appointment with your doctor.  Let your doctor know you are planning a pregnancy.  Your doctor will review your family health history, be sure you have the proper immunizations, review your medications, schedule any needed tests, and discuss your present health behaviors/lifestyle and recommend changes.
• Begin taking a daily multivitamin with 400 mcg of folic acid (a B vitamin that prevents birth defects of the brain and spine).
• If you smoke, quit and avoid second-hand smoke.
• Avoid alcoholic beverages.
• If you use street drugs, stop. Once you become pregnant, check with your doctor before using any prescription or over-the-counter medications (some medications are not safe to use during pregnancy).
• Eat healthfully and maintain a healthy weight.
• Be sure to get regular preventive medical care.
• Reduce the amount of stress in your life (if possible).
• Get regular exercise.  Walking, swimming, stretching, and housework are all good exercise choices before and during pregnancy.
• Once you are pregnant, be sure to get early and regular pre-natal care.

The suggestions above will help prepare your body for pregnancy. Five months of trying to become pregnant and not succeeding does not mean there’s anything wrong with you. If you don’t become pregnant within a year once you take the above steps, you and/or your partner may have some fertility problems and should consult an infertility specialist for some suggestions.  He or she may also order tests to determine the problem.  If you don’t have the money for an infertility specialist, contact your primary care physician.  Best of luck!