Six things you and your partner should discuss before getting pregnant

Planning your pregnancy is probably one of the best decisions you could ever make. It’s crucial to take time to ask yourselves important questions before bringing a child into this world. 

This step allows your baby to grow up in a healthy environment and it takes away some of the traumatizing stress that comes with unplanned situations.

While you still have the chance, discuss these six things before proceeding with your plans. 

i. Why do you want kids?

People usually have different reasons for wanting kids. It might be something you’ve wanted for a long time or maybe it’s a way of compensating for a lost childhood. You should create a judgment free zone between you and your partner so that you can understand each other on a deeper level. This also determines whether it’s the right time to have a baby or not.

ii. Are you financially ready?

The topic of finances is usually the elephant in the room for couples. Let’s be honest here, the cost of living is rising every day and this might pose a challenge. Discuss how you’ll handle those costs and whether you need more time to save before having a baby. You should also check whether you’re on the same page in case you feel like you won’t be able to handle mom duties while working at the same time once the baby is here.

iii. Are you emotionally prepared?

Parenting is no joke, that’s for sure. Although it’s sometimes easier for some more than others, you can’t avoid the ups and downs of raising a child. This is the perfect time to talk about how you’ll handle some unexpected challenges and it’s also a good way of being honest about parenting fears you may have.

iv. How will having a baby affect your relationship?

Something many don’t prepare for enough is the changes in your relationship as a couple. We often assume that everything will run smoothly only to find rude surprises. You need to ensure you both accept that nothing will be exactly the same ever again when you have kids. But that doesn’t mean you can’t plan and find ways to prioritize your relationship.

v. How will you handle parenting duties?

This can make or break your parenting dreams. Talk about the expectations you both have as far as parenting duties are concerned. It’s better to plan early for those late-night diaper changes and who will be responsible for some of those tasks before it happens. There will be fewer arguments when it comes to this because you’ve already planned it all out. Maybe you could also budget for a nanny if that’s the route you’ll decide to take.

vi. What are your parenting styles?

There’s nothing wrong with not having the exact same views on parenting styles. But it’s still important to coordinate your options on this because it’s often a huge source of conflict between couples. Find out how your beliefs differ on areas like religion and everything else to do with raising your child when the time is right.

While you still have time to plan and decide, ensure you’re both on the same page and fully ready to welcome the new member into the family. Although there may never be a right time to get pregnant, it doesn’t hurt to dot your i’s and cross your t’s.