Hello!

21 Comment

The few months leading up to trying for a baby is just as important as the pregnancy itself – and it should be. Bringing a little human into the world takes a whole lot of planning! So we’re taking a deep dive into getting all of your ducks in a row before you start trying.

From finances to health, holidays and lifestyle, here’s everything you need to do before you actually start trying for a baby.

1. Have A Health Checkup

Both you and your partner should make an appointment with your doctor to chat about your health, and have some tests, about three to six months before you begin trying.

It’s also the perfect time to chat to your doctor about any other issues you may be having, for example if you have any gynaecological conditions that need monitoring, or if you’re on any medications.

A visit to your dentist also needs to be on the cards – pregnancy can play havoc with your gums and teeth, so it’s best to make sure any dental work is up to date.

2. Chat About Your Family Medical History

4

While you’re getting all of your health checks, it’s the perfect time for you and your partner to talk about any family medical issues that may impact fertility, pregnancy or your future children. This discussion may have to extend to you and your partner’s parents, so you can get a full picture.

 3. Start Prenatal Vitamins

5

Your body will undergo some incredible changes and challenges during pregnancy. Starting a prenatal multivitamin at least one month before you start trying for a baby can help build up the levels of nutrients you’re going to need to grow a little human!

Elevit Pre-conception & Pregnancy Multivitamin is a once-a-day supplement scientifically formulated to meet those increased nutritional needs during pre-conception and throughout trimester 1, 2 and 3.

Elevit is committed to reducing neural tube defects * and supporting prenatal scientific progress, which is why Elevit Pre-conception & pregnancy contains 19 micronutrients and no other prenatal vitamins contains more folic acid & iron, protecting your little one before they come into the world^.

*Taken at least one month prior to and during pregnancy may reduce the risk of neural tube defects such as spina bifida. Do not exceed the stated dose except on medical advice. If you have had a baby with a neural tube defect/spina bifida, seek specific medical advice.
Always read the label and follow the directions for use.

4. Make Healthy Lifestyle Changes

When it comes to getting your body ready for pregnancy, it helps to put your healthiest foot forward.

And there’s no better time to get into some exercise if you’ve been putting it off! Being above or below a healthy weight can make it harder to fall pregnant, so have a talk to your doctor.

5. Do A Financial Checkup

Having a baby is expensive. Going down to one wage can be stressful. So before you start trying, it’s time to go through your finances with a fine tooth comb.

Check what your paternal leave options are at your workplaces, and what government entitlements you may be able to get once the baby arrives.

If you already have private health insurance, give your policy the once over to see what you’re covered for. And if you aren’t covered, it may worth looking into it, or seeing what public health services are available in your area.

6. Track Your Cycle

3

Getting to know your cycle will play a crucial role in helping you fall pregnant, so it’s really beneficially to start tracking it in the months leading up.

But before you do, chat to your doctor about stopping the contraception you’re on. Depending on what you’re using, your doctor will recommend the best time to stop and when it’s safe to start trying. You may need to wait a couple of months just to track your cycle as it falls back into a natural rhythm.

7. Have A Heart To Heart About Parenting

This is probably one of the most overlooked conversations but it’s the most important. Parenting involves making big decisions about your children – from the type of school you want them to attend, to the kind of discipline style you want to adopt. And once your baby is on the way, it’s too late to discover you’re not on the same page.

Take the time to have an honest chat or two about how you want to parent your children, and make sure your values align.

8. Take A Fresh Look At Your Home

Babies needs lots of stuff (even though they’re little) and it only gets worse as they get older. While your home may be perfect for life as a couple, it’s time to look at it with fresh eyes.

If you don’t think it’s big enough, it may be worth renovating before you start trying for a baby (renovating with a baby is hard work!).

9. Take A Holiday!

2

Babymoons are great, but you never know how you’re going to feel once you’re pregnant. So taking a well-deserved break before you start trying is the perfect way to celebrate your time as a couple, relax and start planning for what’s ahead.

Elevit supports baby’s healthy development. Always read the label and follow directions for use.

Mouths of Mums is proudly working with Elevit to bring you this article. 

  • I think it’s important to talk about parenting styles before you get married rather than waiting until you are trying for a bub as if you both are on different pages with then than odds on there is going to be an awful lot of arguments once the kids arrive

    Reply

  • Interesting list. Definitely not something I thought of prior to having my babies, although in hindsight I wish I had

    Reply

  • No we didn’t go away when my first was due but it would have been nice to have a break before the big event. You really don’t think about it but probably should have.

    Reply

  • Fantastic list for all parents-to-be and very timely as we all know that being on holiday as we are at the moment can often fulfil that baby ambition. One other thing that should be done is to make sure both of you are on the same page with wanting a baby as well as checking what has been listed.

    Reply

  • What a great post! Have the difficult conversations before having a baby, this is mandatory if you don’t want problems later, and do a financial check. But also have fun on a trip with your partner before the real adventure starts… connecting and reflecting with your partner is important to align in how to raise a child.

    Reply

  • I definitely recommend reading the book called it starts with the egg. And also getting a through blood check at the Drs. I ended up having low amh and a thyroid issue and by reading this book it helped me get and stay pregnant with a beautiful rainbow baby girl she is so sweet

    Reply

  • This is a wonderful list that I wish had been around when we were trying for a baby. It might have made things a lot easier to fall pregnant. Unfortunately after dozens of miscarriages we found out I wasn’t able to have any children. We adopted 2 boys who are loved like they were born to us.

    Reply

  • This is a great list! It’s definitely important to make sure that you are ready because it’s a huge life change. Sometimes I now wonder if we should have done a little more travelling before having a family. Not that I would change anything now of course! But definitely make sure you and your partner are both on the same page!

    Reply

  • have a dirty weekend away just the 2 of you enjoying each other

    Reply

  • This is incredibly sensible. the Dad should also consider things like his diet.

    Reply

  • All great advice – as a parent of two one thing I would add is, do your best to remember you and the other parent are on the same team – things will get tense as your babies have competing priorities and will stretch you further than you ever thought possible.
    At the end of the day, my partner and I try to reconnect with one another and remember to hug.


    • I agree; it is so essential for partners to stay connected and to share quality time together and always remember the reasons for them being a couple. We always organise special times out together and also find new and exciting experiences. It is so essential to always work on a relationship.

    Reply

  • Thank you for sharing an important article with the community. The list of things to do all make good sense and it is so important to talk about parenting style. It is so important to take care of the body but equally important to be on the same page when it comes to parenting.

    Reply

  • Excellent advice, and I would add: Relax! If you are stressed you have less chance of becoming pregnant.

    Reply

  • These are some great tips, especially when you’re in specific are planning a baby. Many of these points we started looking at once we were pregnant as in our case the pregnancies weren’t planned as such and we simply went with the flow. Once we discovered we were pregnant with our first we did indeed book a holiday to Tunesia and enjoyed a lovely last trip without children.


    • I pregnancy was planned and I still didn’t think to do all of these things. There are some great tips and the one that really stands out for me is taking a holiday and get your finances sorted as you just don’t realise how expensive it is having kids until you have them.

    Reply

  • Some great topics there. You certainly should consider so many things, especially the health ones, checkups and prenatal vitamins. You can also overthink it. You don’t need all the latest and greatest items. So many used baby things can be purchased that are just like new.

    Reply

  • I wish I took a holiday before having my daughter lol. I recommend Definitely talking to your partner about parenting styles as it is so very common that couples don’t really discuss this or don’t go into it enough and end up with different styles to parenting which can cause a lot of strain once the baby arrives.

    Reply

  • I shouldve taken that holiday!

    Reply

  • The only thing I would add is that you can talk about how you want to parent till you’re blue in the face – and you’re still going to be surprised by situations you hadn’t thought of!

    Reply

  • I absolutely love this list! We went through all these topics before trying. The other very important, but Debbie downer Topic we discussed was an advanced health directive instructions (my husband works in healthcare and unfortunately has seen the stress of what not being prepared can cause). I wanted him to know exactly what my thoughts and feelings were and make sure we were aligned.

    Reply

Post a comment

To post a review/comment please join us or login so we can allocate your points.

↥ Back to top

Thanks For Your Star Rating!

Would you like to add a written rating or just a star rating?

Write A Rating Just A Star Rating
Join