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Before you begin

Before you begin

So you’re thinking about having a baby – how exciting! But before you embark on your journey to parenthood there are a few things you may want to think about first.

For starters, have you and your partner thought about whether you’re really ready for a baby? We’ll help you make sure you’re making the right decision for you. And is your lifestyle pregnancy and baby friendly? If not, we can help you knock the party lifestyle on the head and get you on course for a healthy pregnancy.

We’ve also got the low-down on folic acid – how much you need to take each day and for how long. If you’re still using contraception, you can find out when to stop and any precautions you may need to take before you start trying and preparing for pregnancy.

Sadly, we can’t tell you exactly how long it’s going to take you to get pregnant – that’s in Mother Nature’s hands – but we can help get your baby-making off to a safe, healthy start.

Preparing your body for pregnancy

healthy eating during pregnancy
If you’re planning to have a baby there are some simple lifestyle changes you can make to boost your health. These may help increase your chances of conceiving and having a healthy full term pregnancy.

The perfect age gap

age gap
When is the best time to have a second child? Is there a perfect age gap that will ensure limited sibling rivalry and less stress all round?

Are you ready for a baby?

ready for children
Whether this is your first baby or your fifth, having a new little person in your family will impact on several aspects of it. You need to consider how a new baby will affect your career plans, your income, your lifestyle, the needs of the rest of your family, plans to move house and your finances.

How long does it take to get pregnant?

how long does it take to get pregnant
Many women will have spent several years trying to avoid getting pregnant. So you may assume that when you stop using contraception, you’ll get pregnant straight away. But for many, it’s not quite as simple as that.

Getting your life ready for pregnancy

maternity leave
If you’re trying for a baby or this is your first pregnancy, you’re probably finding it hard to imagine how much your life will change once you become a parent.