Get ready for pregnancy

• Having a healthy baby someday starts well before pregnancy.
• You and your partner should start making healthy choices now.
• Eating right and getting fit are some ways to get healthy.

share |e-mail |print

What you need to know
Being a parent is a full-time job. 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. Only you can decide if you're emotionally ready for a baby.

What you can do
To help you find out if you're emotionally ready for a baby, ask yourself these 10 questions:

• Why do you want to have a baby?
• Are you and your partner ready for the changes that having a baby can have on your relationship?
• If you’re not in a relationship, are you prepared to raise a child alone?
• How will a baby affect your education or career plans?
• Have you and your partner talked about how you'll handle any religious or ethnic differences when raising 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 have less free time for yourself?
• Can you see yourself enjoying your time as a parent?
• What do you want for your baby's childhood that may've been missing from your childhood?

For more information
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
CDC Show Your Love Campaign

Last reviewed March 2007