Fit for parenthood

Health really does matter when you're conceiving a baby. And your partner's health is just as important as yours. The fitter you both are at the time of conception, the better your chances of having a trouble-free pregnancy and labour, and a healthy baby. Parenthood will change your life in lots of ways, so it's a good idea to plan ahead as much as you can.

Parenthood: your changing lifestyle

Happy, healthy parents make happy, healthy children, so do your best to make sure you're fit for parenthood before getting pregnant.
Read the article
Health considerations

If you suffer from a chronic (long-term) health condition, such as diabetes mellitus, heart disease, or epilepsy, you can, of course, still have children. It's important, though, to talk things over with your doctor before you become pregnant, so you can get the best possible care and help.
Read the article
Stopping contraception

When you decide you want to get pregnant you can stop barrier methods, such as the diaphragm and sheath, at once. But if you're on the pill or you're using an intrauterine contraceptive device (IUCD), a little more advance planning is needed.
Read the article
Miriam's casebook - The importance of folic acid

Julie's first baby, Henry, was born 18 months ago and now she'd like to have a second child. She had a normal delivery with Henry and he was fine, apart from a brown hairy birthmark at the base of his spine. Her doctor explained that this kind of birthmark may be linked to spina bifida, but means...
Read the article
Understanding your desire to have a baby

Becoming a mother is a life-changing decision. The desire to have a baby results from unconscious motivations, which vary across women. Understanding your desire to have a baby is often an essential step towards being fully prepared for motherhood.
Read the article
Eating well before getting pregnant

Quite some time may elapse between the day you decide to conceive a child and the day you actually get pregnant. It’s important that you take advantage of this waiting period too.
Read the article
I want a baby but he doesn’t…

We live in a world where everything is planned, including having a baby. But it is not always as straightforward as a simple decision, and it is not uncommon for a young woman to want a baby earlier than her partner.
Read the article