9 Steps to Take Before Conceiving

There are many things to do and consider before trying to conceive. When we were thinking about trying to conceive our first (who is now almost three) I asked my sister, friends, etc. what they recommended. Doing what they suggested made for a better pregnancy and experience. I now have two children and have learned a few other tips on how to better prepare for pregnancy.

Here are 9 things I highly suggest doing before trying to conceive.

1. Save your time off at work. If you are working a job with a certain amount of time off, save it. If you happen to get a lot of ‘morning sickness’ you will want to have some time off work set aside for especially bad days. Don’t use up all your time off for that calendar year before conceiving.

2. Get in the best physical shape possible. I began running and working out in the mornings to make a push for me to get really strong before pregnancy with my son. This was beneficial. When trying to conceive again, I focused on strengthening my back and legs. Having strong muscles helps you carry the baby easier.

3. Start taking a prenatal vitamin and calcium supplement. A good prenatal vitamin will help your body have the nutrition it needs when you conceive. You don’t need to take in extra calcium when you are pregnant, but you need to take in enough calcium every day to meet your daily requirements of 1000 mg. Most prenatal vitamins actually lack in calcium. So take the best Calcium with Vitamin D supplement I’ve found which is (Viactiv^® ) before and while pregnant.

By taking two Viactiv^® Calcium Soft Chews daily you will meet the nutrition requirement for calcium. Plus they taste awesome. I love the caramel or chocolate flavors.

4. Save and learn to budget. It is very important to save and budget before having a baby because children are expensive. Here’s how I saved over $10,500 on our first child.

5. Start doing research. Knowing what to expect in the first trimester of pregnancy can help you to be mentally and emotionally prepared. Here are many common and even very unique side effects of many experiences in the first months of pregnancy. Keep studying throughout pregnancy to be prepared for labor, postpartum, etc. Even if this isn’t your first child, brushing up on the different stages of pregnancy, how to introduce a new baby into the family, etc. can empower you.

6. Get your medical insurance ‘up to par.’ I write in great depth in this post about how to save thousands of pregnancy-related medical expenses. To save the most, read and do the steps mentioned BEFORE conceiving.

7. Go to the dentist and doctor. Dental work is difficult to get done while pregnant. Further, pregnancy can drain calcium from your teeth which is why taking Viactiv^®Calcium Soft Chews is very important as well. I wish I would have listened and visited the dentist and taken more calcium before and while pregnant with my first. I think I had a cavity that became really bad. The cavity plus not taking enough calcium caused my tooth (a molar) to hollow out and to actually chip off during pregnancy!! So it is important to take care of your teeth before conceiving and take calcium before, during, and after pregnancy to strengthen your teeth. It doesn’t hurt to go to a doctor and have a wellness check as well.

8. Talk to your husband about expectations. You should both be on board and ready to journey this parenting road together. Have as brief or as in-depth a conversation as needed to establish that you are both committed to this life-long and serious decision of growing your family. That said, it is okay to be nervous about the unknown. I will try to assure you by saying that the joy and love you will feel for and from your child(ren) make up for all of the sacrifices.

9. Read up on birth control. You are probably wondering why I’m mentioning birth control in this article. The reason is, some birth control allows you to conceive the cycle after completing it. Others suggest you wait one or two cycles before trying. Read up on the current form you are using and make plans to stick to doctors’ suggestions. Not only can this increase the chances of conception, but the suggestions are also for the safety of the baby.

Well, there you have the 9 Steps to Take Before Conceiving.