Planning ahead
More than half of all pregnancies in the U.S. are unplanned. Talk to your partner about if and when you want to have a baby. It’s okay if you want to have a baby—it’s also okay if you don’t.
Here are some questions to consider about when you’re thinking about having a baby:
- Why do you want to have a baby?
- How will having a baby affect work or school for you and your partner?
- Do you have religious or cultural traditions that will affect your preconception and postpartum decisions?
- What type of birth control method are you and your partnering using? *Don’t forget to talk to your provider about stopping your birth control if you do want to get pregnant.
- Is your body ready to have a baby? Are there health conditions you need to talk to your provider about?
- Are you financially ready?
If you and your partner want to have a baby now or sometime in the future, it’s important to gather your family health history and to make a reproductive life plan.
Be open and honest with each other. And remember, it’s okay to change your mind!
