Mia
Becoming a parent is an exciting time in anyone’s life. While it is certainly a chapter filled with moments of joy and endless love, it is also a time in which adaptability and learning are crucial. Doing what is best for you and your family is something we feel confident any parent would be thinking about, both before falling pregnant, during the pregnancy and following a child’s arrival.
At the same time, it can often feel like a confusing process, particularly if you are a first-time parent and navigating unknown waters. Suppose you are planning to start a family in 2022. No matter what has led to you making this decision with your partner, there are certain factors that should be considered when embarking on this life journey, of which we will be discussing further in this piece.
Financial Factors
Any existing parent will tell you that raising a child is costly and comes with a wide variety of costs. As a result, you should have a conversation with your partner about whether or not you will be able to afford to bring a child into the world in the coming months. Budgeting your income and factoring in any new costs will give you a better idea of what you can expect your income to look like following the birth of your child.
At the same time, should you discover that you are not in a financial position where you feel comfortable having a baby, consider postponing your plans for a short while and saving some money up in preparation. However, should you want to have a child with the budget you have, consider asking family members and friends whether they would be able to contribute towards anything your baby might need, rather than buying baby shower gifts that might not be practical.
Prospective parents should also think about their employment situation and whether there is scope for full- or part-time employment following your child’s birth. Talking with your employer about any relevant maternal or paternal leave rights will give you a different idea of what to expect in the coming months, too, and whether you will receive any payments during this time.
Housing Factors
We feel confident in saying this is one of the top considerations for prospective parents reading this and beyond. Understandably, you want enough room in your home to raise your child while also having a space that is not cramped or overrun with the various items you need. Assessing your current living situation and establishing whether it is an ideal and appropriate environment to raise a child is always recommended as the first step. Have you got enough rooms in the property, or have you concluded that you need some extra space? Having the right home environment to raise a family is crucial and should be taken into account sooner rather than later.
Should you be in the position where you need to upsize your existing living quarters to accommodate a new family member, you can find out more information about the range of real estate that is out there and any relevant homes for sale. Finding and acquiring the deeds to the right home for you will take the stress and pressure off both during your pregnancy and beyond.
Linking closely with our previous section, you should find properties that are within your budget and consult the services of a realtor too. They will be able to find the ideal property to suit your needs, which lies within your budget too.
Conception Factors
We have every faith that prospective parents who have decided to try for a baby are eager for everything to fall into place. This is an entirely normal way to feel, but you should do what you can to think about this factor in your plans too. While there is nothing to say that you won’t fall pregnant relatively quickly in your journey, it is also worth flipping this on its head and considering that it might take some time for you to conceive.
Particularly if you have been taking a form of hormonal contraception for some time, it might take a few weeks, if not months, for your hormones to return to their usual levelv. This fluctuation in hormones could lead to a delay in conception, so it is worth making a note of.
At the same time, it is also worth thinking about whether there are any other fertility factors to take into consideration. Should you be trying for some time to no avail, it might be worth contacting a family planning clinic, for they will be able to help and advise on what to do moving forward.
Factors relating to your conception timeframe are not the only things you should be thinking about. When some couples try for a baby, they end up with twins or triplets. While you might not think the odds are in your favor with this type of thing, it is undoubtedly something you should factor for, too; you don’t want to be caught short further down the line.
Many couples conceive more than one child at a time due to genetics, but there are other factors that you should think about when planning to start a family that also relate to your genetics. This takes us to the final section of this piece.
Genetic Factors
We have all heard stories from those we know and beyond of certain genetic disorders being passed onto children and grandchildren. For the most part, these genetic conditions are picked up during pregnancy. There are often times when the physician and OBGYN consultant will advise you on how best to progress both during pregnancy and following the birth of your child. Some people choose to remain childless through fear of passing on a genetic condition, but if you are set on having a family, don’t let this put you off.
Complete research yourself into the genetic condition that runs in your family if you have an understanding of what it might be. From here, you will see what can be done to treat or manage said condition, but this enables you to create a list of questions to pose to your doctors at your next appointment. After all, they are there to care for you and provide treatment and answer any questions you might have.
We understand many prospective parents will want a thorough understanding of what they might face moving forward; posing questions to your healthcare professional is one way of doing so, but so is reaching out to others who are going through or have been through the same thing. Having a network of people around you will make the genetic condition easier to manage while providing a shoulder to cry on should you need one.
This list is only a handful of the factors that prospective parents should think about and consider when wanting to start a family in the coming weeks and months. No matter how many children you want to have in the future, or when you want to get started, go forth with a better understanding of what you should be thinking about and where best to start.
