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Fertility, ovulation tests, pregnancy tests, insurances, home preparations, ultrasounds, and doctor's appointments. Planning a family can be great fun, but also brings with it a hefty to-do list. Whether you're thinking about having your first baby or are looking to give older children a sibling, there's a lot to think about before getting pregnant. From making sure your home is ready to being covered financially, it's important to do some thinking before jumping in to adding to your family. If you're considering a new addition to your family, read on for some family planning tips.
Timing is everything
Let's face it: Not all babies are planned. Sometimes, a surprise comes along and the best any parents can do is wing it. If you're in the situation where you have the luxury of formulating a plan, you're already steps ahead of many already anticipating a new addition to their families.
If you already know you're ready for pregnancy, are stable financially, and have a great support system, the first thing to do is start tracking your menstrual cycle and learning about your body. Learn when it's likely that ovulation will occur, and then use the best ovulation test throughout your fertile window. For some women, planning a pregnancy, right down to the birth month is important. Maybe you're a teacher with summers off, and you're hoping for a spring baby to be home longer when the baby's young. An ovulation test will help you know the best time for intercourse to increase your odds of getting a positive pregnancy test. Before you know it, you'll have a positive result in that test strip window.
Good coverage will matter down the road
There's nothing like peace of mind when it comes to planning a family. For many parents, this peace of mind comes with life insurance. From a lump sum death benefit to payouts for educational expenses for minor children, life insurance policies come with a number of options that make sense for growing families. When calling for a life insurance quote, ask about the type of life insurance that would make sense for your family as well as additional coverages. Because different people have different needs when it comes to life insurance, it's important to ask questions to give yourself the best chance of financial security if something goes wrong for you or your partner.
After considering universal life insurance, think about other coverages, too. Your health insurance company, car insurance, and homeowner or renters policies are all meant to protect you and your family, and it's a good idea to be sure you have the best option coverage for you. While going through coverages now might not seem like the most important thing on your list, you won't have as much free time when your new family member comes around. Taking care of insurance policies now will mean more free time later.
Household prep will pay off
Between bouncing between first morning urine checks, false negatives, and monitoring your ovulation window, you'll want to think about getting your home in shape for your upcoming addition as well. Covid-19 and the global pandemic have taught us that our homes are more important than ever. Thinking about ways you'll raise your child from the comfort of your own home may mean changes before delivery day. From child-proofing the house to putting in that playground or sandbox in the backyard, start thinking ahead when it comes to readying your home.
In the end, there's no such thing as a perfect plan when it comes to families. Mistakes will happen, issues will come up, and you might even experience doubts along the way. When this happens, remind yourself why you wanted to add to your family in the first place and remind yourself that tomorrow's another day. Most of all, trust your instincts. In the meantime, congratulations on your decision to add to your family!