When you decide that you want to have a baby, it is typical to want to start immediately. You have likely been practicing how to have a baby for quite a while, and now it is time to move from dress rehearsal to opening night. (That sounds dirtier on the page than it did in my head. Sorry about that.)

Before you start lighting the candles and cranking up the Boyz II Men, here are some items to consider in making sure that your body is primed for welcoming a new tenant. In the meantime, you can keep practicing.

If you are in your 20s ...

● Stop your bad habits. The ones that you already know are bad for you: binge drinking, social smoking, poor nutrition. (1)

● Check your blood pressure. If you have a history of high blood pressure, you are at greater risk for preeclampsia. (1)

● Sort through your finances. There are many benefits to being a young parent, but often your career is not as far along as it would be in the case of an older parent. Start saving before you have another mouth to feed.

● Get your fertility tested. Doing this can be as simple as peeing on a stick to test your follicle-stimulating hormone. Even if you aren’t yet ready to conceive, this may be information you want to know now. If infertility is a true concern, don’t trust store-bought tests as they’re not always accurate.  Ask your doctor for a test he recommends. (2)

If you are in your 30s ...

● Get your body in prime condition. If you have any aches and pains already, pregnancy will likely exacerbate them. (1)

● Exercise. Making walking and movement a regular part of your life now will not only make your pregnancy easier, but also the delivery. (3)

● Consider freezing your eggs if you are in your early 30s. This may give you more options if you plan on having more than one pregnancy. (2)

● Tweak your drinking habits. Coffee in the morning, wine in the evening? Start looking for alternative beverages.

If you are in your 40s ...

● Talk with your doctor about irregular periods, STIs or polycystic ovary syndrome. These can impede your ability to conceive. (4)

● Ask about your medications. Even herbal medicines may not be recommended for the period you are trying to conceive.

● Be open to the possibility of twins.  If you conceive naturally, there is an increase chance (!) of this happening over the age of 40. (4)

● Know that every woman has a unique fertility journey. You are probably only hearing doom-and-gloom stories at this stage, but the number of women who give birth to healthy babies in their 40s is on the rise.

All age groups should start with a prenatal vitamin with folic acid. Book an appointment with your doctor to tweak your health habits and update any vaccinations as well. (5) 

It’s time to toss your birth control, and have fun!

The Stork® OTC is one over-the-counter, non-invasive product that may help. Using cervical cap insemination, The Stork® OTC captures sperm and delivers a sperm score concentration to the cervix that is 3.23 times higher than that which occurs via natural intercourse, according to their clinical study.

To learn more, visit: http://www.storkotc.com/