Are You Ready for Pregnancy?

One of the most important decisions you will ever make is with regards to parenthood. There are a million questions that go through your mind when you consider getting pregnant. Whether or not you wish to have a child is your personal choice, and there is no right or wrong there.

Here are a few aspects of your and your partner’s life that you could analyse to gauge how ready you are to get pregnant or raise a child.

• Physical health

You will be growing a whole human inside you. It is in no way an easy task. Do you have diabetes, blood pressure concerns, heart disease, high cholesterol, or any other medical health issues that may make your pregnancy difficult? Go over your medical history with your doctor to understand if your health concerns can influence the chances of getting pregnant.

• Emotional readiness

Taking care of a child is no child’s play. If you have been on an emotional roller coaster yourself for a long period, you may not feel prepared enough to take care of a child, which is fair enough. Do you feel okay with the idea of your whole life potentially changing? Being pregnant comes with its fair share of mood swings and mental health challenges. So, do an honest introspection of how you feel about raising a child before you embark on the journey. On the other hand, raising a child may also give profound meaning to your life.

• Financial readiness

Endless supply of diapers, medical care, education, hobby classes, and baby food can cost a lot. Even if you choose to live a minimalist lifestyle and similarly raise your child, there can be a significant increase in your monthly expenses. Think about your savings, investments, contingency funds, sources of income, and liabilities when you think about the financial inputs required to raise a healthy and happy child.

• Available support system

There is no saying truer than ‘it takes a village to raise a child.’ Consider who will stay with the child when you both go to work. Will one of you take a break from work? Will your extended family take care of the child? Will you want a nanny? While there is no one answer to who should stay with the child, one thing is for sure- the child will need someone. Their basic needs, everyday education, and social needs need to be taken care of by someone. Think about who will be able to help you in the short-term and long-term.

• Lifestyle

Do you dislike the concept of saving money? Do you need eight hours of me-time a day where you refuse to think about anyone or anything else? With a child to raise, saving money becomes important. Waking up in the middle of the night to change diapers becomes the norm. A sizeable chunk of your day may involve being a caregiver to your child.

• Career and job considerations

Now, you will tread into really tricky waters. Let’s presume you decide to quit your job to take care of the baby for their first five years. Who will make this really big adjustment? Does your job provide parental leave? Is your job appropriate flexible enough that you can rush home if your child needs you? These are some difficult questions that you will need to honestly answer to move forward with your decision to have a baby.

If you think that you are not ready to have a child or never want to get pregnant, you will need effective contraception. One of these is Mankind’s Unwanted -21 birth control pill. Here, the woman takes the active pills for 21 days, followed by her menstruation days. After that, the new pack starts. In the case of unprotected sex or protection failure such as the condom breaking in the middle of intercourse, you can take Mankind’s Unwanted-72 emergency pill within 72 hours of sex. It is India’s No. 1 Contraceptive Tablet and easy to find in stores.

At the end of the day, what matters is how ready you and your partner feel about having a child. Your happiness and peace of mind are of paramount importance, regardless of what the society or the world says.