Parental Playground

Trying to Conceive - General

Before TTC prospective mothers and fathers should take the following into actions consideration.

Prospective Mother
• Avoid drinking any alcohol
• Reduce consumption of caffeine (e.g., coffee, some sodas, chocolate) - it can affect the fetal heart rate
• Don't bleach your teeth (until after you finish nursing baby)
• Consider possible names for your child (why not check out our Naming Nirvana forum?)
  
• Learn CPR (especially CPR for infants)
• Learn to swim - so you can save your child if he/she falls into deep water and so you can teach your child to swim
• Regularly: Ensure you get enough folic acid (e.g., take supplements, drink orange juice)
• See a doctor to ensure you're in good enough health to get pregnant and that you have no risk factors for a problem pregnancy
• Get dental work taken care of
• Take blood test for HIV
  • If you test positive for HIV:
  • Consider not trying to get pregnant, or, strongly consider taking AZT - partly to reduce risk to fetus

Prospective Father - Avoid the Following
• Wearing jockey shorts (wear boxer briefs instead) - to increase sperm count
• Riding bikes - to increase sperm count
• Avoid using hot tubs, spa's, jacuzzi's, etc.

Prospective Parents
• Review goals, financial situation, etc.
• Ensure you have health insurance which covers pregnancy and birth - some insurance providers consider pregnancy to be a pre-existing condition and some have a waiting period
• Determine how much maternity/paternity leave you're eligible for and whether you'll be paid for any of it
• Determine what your options are regarding taking sick leave, vacation time and/or maternity/paternity leave and decide in what order to use them