Planning

You’ve decided. You’re ready to add another player to your team – you’re ready to have a baby! When planning for pregnancy, taking the time to prepare your body for creating another one is an important step. It also takes patience, more patience, and did we mention patience? Every woman is different and what works for some might not work for others, so don’t worry if it doesn’t happen right away. Just relax and start trying.

Where do I start?

The earlier you see an OB/GYN, a doctor specializing in pregnancy, the better prenatal care your team can provide. Your doctor will establish a medical history, talk about testing options, make sure you are up-to-date with vaccines, and assess risk factors like advanced maternal age, lifestyle choices or underlying conditions.

Here are some guiding steps that will help you as you are trying to conceive:

1. Begin Prenatal Counseling: Locate an OB/GYN near you 
2. Get Your Body Ready: It’s never too early to start forming healthy eating and lifestyle habits. Refraining from drinking, smoking and using recreational drugs while maintaining a balanced diet and remaining active will help get your body ready.
3. Track Your Ovulation: You’re only fertile for a certain amount of time during your monthly cycle. By determining when you are ovulating, you can predict when you’re most likely to be able to conceive.