Monday, April 20, 2009

Preconception

Starting a family is one of the most important decisions which a couple has to make. There are certain things which you might want to consider before planning for the arrival of your little one :)


Finances


Before planning for a baby, it is always better to take a second look at your finances to ensure that once you have your baby, it will not make huge hole in your pockets especially if you are planning to stop working for a while. Keeping a budget aside every month will be an intelligent decision. If you are not doing it already, there is nothing wrong in starting now!


Age


I was reading an article on how urban women have become career centric and busy schedule of spouses further delay their plans of starting the family. The 20’s is considered the most fertile period for women. As you get older, your chances of miscarriage and genetic abnormalities like Down’s syndrome are higher. Personally I feel this is an ideal age as you are more physically active to chase your little one around!


Support system


Although this holds good once the baby is born, there is nothing wrong in deciding about your support system. This especially hold good for working mums. You need to have a good and reliable support system who can handle your infant once you go back to work. If are one of those lucky ones like me who have their parents who can look after your kid, then nothing like it! you know your child is in safe hands and you can concentrate on your work without worrying too much about the little one you left behind…If you are not, then you need to find someone who will take proper care of your precious one.


Preconception Check up


It is a good idea to go for a preconception check up if you are planning to start a family soon. This is to ensure that you are physically ready for pregnancy and that your baby will be born as healthy as possible. It includes blood test and urine test and sometimes your practitioner may suggest some other tests like pap smear. S& I went in for a preconception check up. It really puts your mind at rest just knowing that you are healthy enough to have a baby! Your doctor will also give general advice on getting pregnant which will include figuring out your ovulation. Women who have regular periods can easily calculate when ovulation occurs. Ovulation happens 14 days before you expect your period if you have 28 day cycle.


Prenatal Vitamins


At your preconception visit, your doctor may ask you to take Folic acid tablets. Folic acid prevents serious birth defects such as neural tube defect (a birth defect involving incomplete development of the brain and spinal cord) in your baby upto 70%. These tablets should be taken especially before conception and during early pregnancy.

1 comment April 19, 2009 Mochagirl 

So I have finally arrived!!

Being an avid reader, I have always been interested in reading experience of people when it comes to choosing a restaurant, a holiday spot or review of movies or hotels. One of my big sources of information was BLOG….


Although I have been contemplating about starting one of my own, one thing that always stopped me from venturing into it was the question “What do I write about??” I just did not want it to be another blog where you post something for few months and then you realise there is nothing more to write!


Then finally, the day arrived when I got the inspiration to write something. The day when I first felt little flutter of life within me. So my blog “An Inspiration of Life” is intended to be place where I will share my experience of my journey from pregnancy to motherhood (read ecstasy, happiness, thrill, joy, worries, confusion and responsibility). And another inspiration, my husband S without whom this would not have been possible (I have to write this since he is the one who help me set up this blog!)


PS- There might me times when I might just write off the topic…call it writer’s liberty ;)