What you need to know:
Being a parent is a great big, full-time job. There is no right or wrong time to have a baby—it's up to you and your partner. Before you get pregnant, think about the emotional and lifestyle issues you will face as a parent. It’s important for you and your partner to agree on most of the major issues, or begin discussing your differences, before you conceive.


What you can do:

Ask yourself these ten questions:

• Why do you want to have a baby? Have you made up your own mind? Is your partner, a parent or someone else pressuring you?
• How will a child affect your relationship with your partner? Are you both ready to become parents?
• If you’re not in a relationship, are you prepared to raise a child alone? Who will help you?
• How will a baby affect your future educational or career plans?
• Do you and your partner have religious or ethnic differences? Have you discussed how you will handle these differences and how they might affect your child?
• What will you do for child care?
• Are you prepared to parent a child who is sick or has special needs?
• Are you ready to give up sleeping in on weekend mornings? Are you ready to find child care every time you want to go out without your baby?
• Do you enjoy spending time with children? Can you see yourself as a parent?
• What did you like about your childhood? What didn’t you like? What do you want for your child?