Deciding To Have A Baby: A Guide

Deciding to have a baby is an exciting and memorable time in your life. However, the thought of bringing a new life into the world can be extremely daunting, especially if it’s your first child. Fortunately, there is an endless amount of advice and guidance out there to help make pregnancy easier.

With this in mind, here’s a useful guide to help couples planning or expecting a baby.

Book an appointment with your GP or midwife

You should book an appointment with your GP or midwife as soon as you discover you’re pregnant. Your midwife will register your pregnancy and prepare a detailed care plan that will be used to support you throughout each stage of your pregnancy. At this point, it’s important to check how healthy you are and take any necessary action to ensure a safe pregnancy.

For instance, medical experts advise against smoking or drinking alcohol while pregnant as this can damage the baby’s development and lead to long-term health issues. While pregnant, it’s also vital that you get all of the necessary nutrients to keep you and your baby healthy. Folic acid and vitamin D are both extremely important in pregnancy, and many women take supplements to ensure they’re getting the correct amounts of these nutrients.

Fortunately, you can easily purchase specialist pregnancy vitamins and supplements online through popular websites like Health Monthly.

Tell people you’re pregnant

When you decide to tell your family and friends about your pregnancy is completely down to personal choice. Some couples choose to tell their closest family members about their pregnancy straight away, whereas others prefer to wait until they have made arrangements and had sufficient time to process their own feelings and emotions.

According to medical advice on the NHS - “Many women wait until they’ve had their first ultrasound scan, which is around 12 weeks, before they tell people about their pregnancy.” This is largely due to the fact that the risk of miscarriage reduces significantly at the end of the first trimester which is around 10 to 12 weeks into the pregnancy. 

Understand your maternity options

It’s important to research your maternity options early on in your pregnancy. Understanding the different options will allow you to make informed decisions about your pregnancy. This includes key elements like where you want to give birth and what pain relief/medication you would like administered during labour.

Remember, that you can still change your mind about where or how you would like to give birth at any point during your pregnancy, but having an idea will help you explore different options and feel prepared for the birth of your baby. If you’re unsure about anything, then be sure to seek advice and guidance from your midwife.

Finally - don’t panic

It is important to remember that becoming pregnant marks a huge change in your life and it’s completely normal to feel a range of emotions - from joy and happiness to shock and anxiety.

Many couples experience mixed feelings when they discover they’re pregnant and you should always take the time to process the news properly. Remember that there’s plenty of useful advice and guidance available to support pregnant couples and new parents, so make sure you take advantage of these valuable resources.