Preparing for Baby

Frequently Asked Questions

• How to start planning for baby?

  Start by preparing for a healthy pregnancy. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends meeting with a healthcare provider to discuss your health history, medications you're taking, and vaccinations you need as soon as you think you're ready to start a family.

  Be candid about your lifestyle. It's important to戒烟,curb drinking, and avoid certainhousehold chemicalsto protect your baby from birth defects and other problems. Talk about a nutrition plan tohelp you conceiveand keep your baby on a healthy growth track.Taking 400 micrograms daily of folic acidleading up to pregnancy helps prevent major abnormalities of the baby’s brain and spine.
  

  Learn More: Planning for Baby
• When to start planning for baby?

  It's never too early to start family planning. If you have a partner, share financial and relationship goals well before starting a family. Talk with a healthcare provider about how yourageandmenstrual cycle patternsmay affect your ability to get pregnant.

  Upon apositive pregnancy test, book yourfirst prenatal appointmentto plan for screening tests and discusschildbirth methods and options. At thestart of your second trimester, once your pregnancy is well established, consider adjustments to your work schedule and living arrangements to accommodate life with a new baby. As anymorning sicknesswanes, you may feel more motivated to turn to the fun parts of planning, like choosing baby names, making a baby registry, andsetting up a nursery.

  Learn More: Talking to Your Doctor About Getting Pregnant
• What do I need to plan for a baby?

  First, plan for a healthy pregnancy and childbirth experience. During prenatal appointments, speak with your doctor or midwife about creating abirth plan, which is a set of instructions about how you want to handle labor pains and any complications during childbirth. Another important plan to make when preparing for parenthood is a budget to account for new expenses. Make sure you have health insurance andlife insurance计划在place and up to date. As you approach your due date,choose a pediatricianas well as achildcare providerif you know you'll need one.

  Learn More: What to Do Before Baby Comes
• How to be emotionally prepared for a baby?

  It's natural to have some roller-coaster emotions as you experience achanging bodyand perhaps feelanxious about what kind of parent you'll be, especially with fluctuating hormones. It helps to build a support network well before your due date. If you have a partner, discuss balancing childcare duties to allow for proper sleep and exercise. Reach out to friends, family members, and potential sitters to plan forself-care breaks. If you've had mental health issues, meet with a mental health care expert during pregnancy. Treating stress and anxiety before childbirth can help reduce your risk ofpostpartum depression.

  Learn More: Mentally Preparing for Pregnancy
• How much to save when planning a baby?

  It's smart to save for a growing family. It costs about $13,000 each year to care for a child and around $234,000 to raise a child from birth through age 17, according to estimates.Contact your health insurance provider to understand what's covered before and after the baby arrives. Research local childcare costs, which range from about $5,000 to $24,000 annually depending on your location.Factor in projected expenses for diapers and other basics, and you'll have a good idea of how much you should aim to set aside to make sure your baby's needs are met.

  Learn More: What Is the Average Cost of a Baby?
• Are healthcare providers needed for planning a baby?

  Yes, healthcare providers are essential for you and your baby. Choose anobstetrician-gynecologist (OB/GYN), a family practice doctor, or acertified nurse-midwife (CNM)to monitor your pregnancy and your baby's development through regular appointments and screening tests. If you're having trouble conceiving, afertility doctorcan help. About three weeks before your due date, look for apediatricianfor your baby and schedulechildhood vaccinations. Contact your insurance company about in-network providers and ask trusted individuals for recommendations.

  Learn More: Choosing a Doctor for Your Kids
• What are the right diets to conceive a girl or boy?

  No diet will determine your child's sex. Despite what you may have read or heard about high-calorie diets making you more likely to have a boy or acidic foods making you more likely to have a girl, there's no scientific proof for these claims.If there are medical reasons for wanting a boy or a girl, like a sex-linkedhereditary disorder, you can talk to a fertility specialist about assisted reproductive technologies.In vitro fertilization with preimplantation genetic diagnosis (IVF-PGD)is a highly effective method of determining the sex of a fertilized embryo before implantation.

  Learn More: Choosing the Sex of Your Baby