Questions You Must Ask About Your Readiness For A Child

Motherhood is not easy. Before, during, and after childbirth, it is a big ask, to phrase it lightly. It will result in physiological, social, and economic changes for you and if they are involved, your partner. While no-one is ever really 100% prepared to have their first child, we don’t often address the ways in which we can, indeed, gauge our readiness. Here, we’re going to look at what questions we can ask about how ready we are for a child, as far as we can know.




What kind of relationship are you in?

If you’re planning on raising a child with a partner, then you need to take a closer look at whether that relationship seems like it’s ready for the commitment that raising a little being entails. A baby needs a happy, stable environment as best as possible and having a child will not solve any relationship problems that might have been keeping you arguing lately. If anything, a child can stress a relationship, so it must be strong to be able to handle the added pressure. That said, you can raise a child without a partner, as many have, but it’s important to not underestimate the challenge that this can be. You’re going to want a strong support structure no matter what.

Are you ready for the physical changes and challenges?

As much as you might have heard your friends and family members complain about them, the changes that can happen to your body during pregnancy can be something of a surprise, to say the least. The stretch marks alone can be a lot more comprehensive than you might expect, appearing in more places than just the usual. Changes to breast size, foot size, fat distribution, muscle distribution and more are all normal parts of pregnancy. To put it simply, you have to be ready to see an entirely different person in the mirror after you go through the process of growing and birthing a child.

Have you talked to your doctor about it?

Aside from undergoing a range of changes, your body is also going to have to be able to cope with considerable stress during pregnancy. It’s not an understatement to say that it can be quite dangerous for women who aren’t in the best of health. Modern medicine has made it a lot safer than it has ever been, but that doesn’t mean that it is, or will ever be, completely risk-free. It’s wise to talk to your doctor and gynecologist before trying to get pregnant. Not only can you make sure you’re not being affected by any health conditions that could interfere with the pregnancy, but you can learn about things like genetic screening and prenatal vitamins way in advance.




Can you commit to a healthy lifestyle?

No one is beholden to anyone else to the point that they can make them live more healthily. However, when it comes to raising children, there’s no denying that there is a moral imperative to not only live healthily for your kids but also to teach healthy habits to your kids. This includes habits such as teaching them good oral health, helping them get active and stay active from an early age, and making sure that everyone in the family is eating the right stuff. If you have particularly unhealthy habits, such as smoking or drinking too much, then you also need to consider how this affects your health in the long-run. Losing your independence early due to chronic illness will affect any kids you have, as well.

Were you planning to have a baby?

Of course, not all pregnancies are planned. In fact, as many as half of all pregnancies are unplanned. This doesn’t have to be a deciding factor, of course. There are plenty of happy families that can start with an unintended pregnancy. However, if your pregnancy is unplanned and you’re not certain what to do, it is important to be aware of the fact that options like an abortion clinic and service exist, at the very least. Talk with your partner or anyone else who is likely to play a key role in your life going forward, and make sure that you’re not getting into a parental relationship without having given it some real thought.

Are your finances ready?

We’re not going to explore any line of thought suggesting that a family should have a certain amount of money ready before they should be able to raise a child. There’s no cut-off point for how much money is necessary to provide for a child. However, it is important to have a stable income and enough financial room to be able to afford all of the things that a child is going to need. The needs depend on your family circumstances, as well. All children need food, clothes, and a place to sleep, but not all children need childcare if there’s someone in the family who can take care of them throughout the day.





What does it mean for you to be a good parent?

This is something that is genuinely worth taking the time to think about, it’s not a question that you should simply skim over. You might have ideas on what a good childhood should look like, but you have to think about the work that will have to go into providing such a childhood. You will also have to acknowledge that there will be times that it is tough and that you are effectively bringing into the world someone who has the potential to make you experience emotions beyond what you will feel for anyone else. Plenty of mothers have wonderful relationships with their children, and even they will have to go through some hard times as a parent.

As mentioned, there’s no way to truly confirm that you are 100% ready for a child, and you may have some trouble approximating whether or not it’s the right choice for you. However, thinking about the questions above can help you settle the question for now.

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