Five Tips to consider before getting pregnant

So me and the hubby have decided to plan for baby number three. For me at first I was kind of nervous because of what baby number two did to me with the weight gain, and the fact that my son is eighteen months. My daughter and son are eight years apart and I will not lie I love the gap. After talking it through with each other, our daughter, and family doctor we agree now was the time. Here are some steps that helped me conceive baby number three for us.


1. Talk about it. For me sharing with those close to me made it easy for me to be okay with my decision to have another baby so close. I had friends, and other who had been through this process; this has been helping me to prepare. You have to ask questions there are no right or wrong questions when it comes to bringing a life into this world. If you have children already, talk about how that is working for your immediate family now. Can you handle it? You want to be spiritually, financially, physically, and mentally prepared to take on this new challenge.


2. Get back in shape. This is a topic that many women overlook when you get pregnant your body has to prepare to give birth. Those nine months are crucial for baby's development but for you to be able to physically prepared to naturally give birth. With my son I was depressed and let myself go, and as a result I have struggled to get this weight off. When I decided to go back to the gym I found out that I was not going to be as effective if I didn't eat right while working out. Your diet is key to weight loss (losing fat but gaining muscle). You will need your upper and lower body muscles to work for you. Working out is going to make you fertile anyway ladies.


3. Learning your body. This is something I have really start to master I know my period like clock work. I even know some of my friends cycles; menstrual synchrony is real ladies. Most women are ovulating when they are the horniest, breast are tender, headaches manifest. That is why most times your mate knows your period is coming because mood swings are attached as well. The average woman menstral cycle is 28-32 days.


4. Preparation Tools. This is key. Doctors recommend you take prenatal vitamins three months prior to conception. This protects baby from development complications such as Spina bifida. You need 400 mg of folic take folic acid.
With Ovulation prediction it is important to know your cycle length. (You determine this by calculating the first day of your period until your first day of your next period) if your period varies or you just got off contraception give it the three months it should give you an idea. In my case my first of my last period was August 23. I have 32 day length cycle so according the ovulation calculator I used (https://www.babycenter.com/ovulation-calculator) it told me my fertile days were between September 5-10. This is where the ovulation test strips come in, if you are not sure how great your spouses sperm count is DO NOT have sex that whole week like crazy because you will lower your chances of getting pregnant. When taken correctly, ovulation tests are approximately 99% accurate in detecting the LH surge that precedes ovulation. Ovulation generally occurs a day or two after the LH surge. So make them next three days ladies count to increase the probability of you getting pregnant.
Disclaimer: You can get a positive LH surge and not ovulate some women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome have these cases.


Fun Fact: You can find out with a urine pregnancy test ten days from conception.

​5. Being whole. When having a baby it is important for both parties to be mentally, financially, and spiritually whole. You don't want until your pregnant to get it together. There may be some generational things on your bloodline that you need deliverance or counseling from. You may not pay bills well right now you can't afford that at the cost of diapers and formula in this day and age. You want to make sure you and your spouses family values are the same so you both are a united front. Remember this baby is a gift and you have been entrusted by God to influence and plant good seed into them, creating a legacy you can be proud of.