Planning A Pregnancy

Not all couples have the luxury of actually planning a pregnancy, sometimes it just happens and the parents to be will adapt accordingly. However, for other couples it is absolutely necessary for them to plan their pregnancy in advance, this means working on their health, their fitness and often realigning their career goals.

Certainly in today's world, many women prefer to take advantage of the massive career opportunities that exist rather than planning a pregnancy. This is a sign of our social advancement that more and more woman are being afforded the same career choices that until recently were considered men only. The plus side to this is that the proverbial glass ceiling is slowly crashing down, yet on the downside, planning a family or more importantly; planning a pregnancy becomes very difficult.

There's no magic button to press to change this situation, it is a question of taking some very difficult decisions. Unlike learning to drive or buying a house, planning a pregnancy can be a race against our biological clock, which in women starts counting down at a very young age. So it is not always something which can be put off until later. Of course, many women are able to get pregnant in their thirties and forties, however they will not find it as easy as their counterparts in their twenties.

So what is the best way of planning a pregnancy for a high flying career girl?

Probably the most important thing is that you're reading this article, so it's likely that you're thinking about a family. This is a great first step, yet you obviously have some reservations otherwise you would have just gone ahead and started planning a pregnancy.

In our experience, a lot of career women are put of planning a pregnancy because they believe that having a baby and the subsequent time off required will harm their career progression. In almost all cases, these concerns are not valid, nearly all companies operate to very strict guidelines about how they treat their pregnant staff, so this should not be a worry.

The best way of planning a pregnancy is obviously decide when you want to start, this will mean that you should stop taking any form of birth control or using contraception. You should then begin to focus on your health and fitness. Stop smoking and drinking immediately and try to take moderate and regular exercise, the healthier your body is, the greater shape it will be in during pregnancy and delivery.

If you have not already done so, we recommend that you make an appointment to visit your doctor. They will give you a medical check up to make sure that everything is working as it should be and that there are no mitigating risks.

Finally, once you have agreed with your partner that you are going to start a family, stop planning for a pregnancy. We know how strange that seems, yet in our experience, many couples get hung up on the whole idea of planning a pregnancy and having a baby, so much so that they forget to relax and enjoy each others company.

Related Article: Planning to Get Pregnant