Pre-Conception Thoughts

[cintinative]

I was told by my gynecologist to go off the pill three months before trying to conceive and use alternative birth control (condom or such) during that time. Also start your prenatal vitamin at least a couple months before. I was on a prescription prenatal from my gynecologist. If you live near a Meijer, certain prenatal vitamins are free there. It's worth checking out.

Incidentally, we waited the three months and got pregnant in the first month of trying. It's hard to say how long it will take anyone to get pregnant though. We're all so very different. Blessings to you!

[MrsPinecone]

Store brand prenatals are fine. I took CVS for years and many people say that Target ones don't upset their systems in any way.

[abond0017]

Store brand prenatals are fine. I took CVS for years and many people say that Target ones don't upset their systems in any way.

I don't think you necessarily need prescription vitamins. But I would be careful with store brands. Some vitamins don't absorb well or at all...because they are not regulated in that respect.

Centrums seem to have issues, and I would be willing to bet most dollar store or Walmart vitamins are of a very poor quality as well.

I have even bought expensive GNC brand vitamins that didn't dissolve AT ALL.

Look for a stamp of certification from a 3rd party somewhere on the bottle. Like from the USP, NSF, or another company that tests the qualities of supplements.

You can usually find lists of approved supplements on each company's website so you know what brand to look for and buy.

I have become fond of Nature Made vitamins...that is the prenatal I take. They are fairly cheap and a lot of them carry a certification.

[wendylv5]

regardless if you can get pregnant right away after taking the pill,, I don't think that is the point. You need to be off of the pill for at least 3 months before you start trying. Give your body time to get ride of all the chemicals that are in the pill. Chemicals can cause birth defects. If you conceive in June/July the due date of the baby will be Feb/March, that is still considered winter in Jersey ;) for a spring baby you should push it back a couple of months. There are alot of places online that you can go to for ovulation schedules and due dates, they even advise you on when to conceive for a boy or a girl.

Good Luck!

[atcwag]

regardless if you can get pregnant right away after taking the pill,, I don't think that is the point. You need to be off of the pill for at least 3 months before you start trying. Give your body time to get ride of all the chemicals that are in the pill. Chemicals can cause birth defects. If you conceive in June/July the due date of the baby will be Feb/March, that is still considered winter in Jersey ;) for a spring baby you should push it back a couple of months. There are alot of places online that you can go to for ovulation schedules and due dates, they even advise you on when to conceive for a boy or a girl.

Good Luck!

I have done a lot of online research and also talked to 3 OB/GYNs that all have said that getting safe even the first month after getting off the pill is safe. I'm not saying that I want to get pregnant that fast, but I don't think I'm putting the baby at risk. I have had to go off of the pill for a month or 2 a few times over the years for various reasons and my cycle has always been like clockwork and no weird side effects or anything out of the ordinary. I absolutely don't know everything (why I'm here), but I haven't really seen or heard any up to date information on needing to get chemicals "out of your system". I know that was the old theory when the BCPs were of much higher hormone levels, but the new research shows that the hormones are out of your system once you have your period after finishing a pack. The only "issue" with a 1st month conception is that it's harder to determine due date (so I've been told). Again, I wouldn't choose month 1 as time of conception, but I'm also not going to be celibate for 3 months.

[CW&M Mom]

I have done a lot of online research and also talked to 3 OB/GYNs that all have said that getting safe even the first month after getting off the pill is safe. I'm not saying that I want to get pregnant that fast, but I don't think I'm putting the baby at risk. I have had to go off of the pill for a month or 2 a few times over the years for various reasons and my cycle has always been like clockwork and no weird side effects or anything out of the ordinary. I absolutely don't know everything (why I'm here), but I haven't really seen or heard any up to date information on needing to get chemicals "out of your system". I know that was the old theory when the BCPs were of much higher hormone levels, but the new research shows that the hormones are out of your system once you have your period after finishing a pack. The only "issue" with a 1st month conception is that it's harder to determine due date (so I've been told). Again, I wouldn't choose month 1 as time of conception, but I'm also not going to be celibate for 3 months.

um agreed.

These chemicals are progestin and estrogen...chemicals that woman have in their body anyways

My DD was pretty much conceived by accident within less then a month off of the pill..and she has no birth defects and came on time..and is my healthiest baby.

My other two were preemies have other health issues..and were conceived long after the pill was gone.

[434Teresa]

I know I am going to get beat up for this but her I go anyway.

You may have to give up that job altogether if you have a baby so be ready to do that. A job that has a lot of travel is not a good job for a mom or dad to have. I am sure there will many other things you will have to give up also. So please make sure you are ready to do just that for the best of the child. To many people dont stop to think about how much a baby will change their way of life and let me tell you its a 99.9% change. No more sleep sometimes it feels like days at a time,the way you and your hubby are with each will change(some for the better others not),your job will be effected at some point (the womens from day one), no more fast stops at the store,no me time (if you do its so far apart you forget the last time you had it) and there is lots more changes. I know your hubby says he will help and he will some but be ready to do most of the childcare yourself. If your day is 5am to 10pm now it will be 4am to 12am then.
I have a hubby that helps but I still do most all the stuff and it gets hard and old at times. I have 4 kids and I love them all but its a really hard life to chose. You think when they are 2 you will be so happy when they are 12 LOL no you wont,, then 16 so they can run earrans for you LOL no you wont for that age is worse then age 2....

Just saying its really hard and it does change EVERYTHING (even your body in ways you cant even think of right now). So really really know this is what you want no second thoughts on your or his part in anyway...........

[atcwag]

Um...thanks, I think?!? Believe me, DH and I have discussed all of this and we know that our lives will change. No more selfish decisions just because we "can" and above all, our children will be our #1 priority at all times. I work with kids 7-12 grade, so I know first hand the deplorable conditions that some of these kids come from and the lack of support that kids receive in a less than mediocre home environment. In addition, DH is estranged from his brother because of the way he treats his children and just lack of "adult" ability as well. DH and I have been together for 10 years, so we know each other rather well. I disagree with you that I will have to give my job up. To me, that comment kind of came out of left field. I love my job and the travel is daily travel, overnights maybe once a year. Every single one of my co-workers that are in the same position as me have children and get by just fine. We won't be financially able for me to stop working (believe me, I would love to be a SAH mom for a while, but...). I'm a little bit flabbergasted by your comments. Fortunately, not every situation is the same and mine may be very different from yours. I work a modified 2nd shift and DH works first shift, so he WILL be doing afternoon/evening childcare on his own.

Thank you for your comments, but i think they came a bit unwarranted. I'm married, we've been together 10 years, both have college degrees, own our own home, and have full-time careers. I am by no means saying you need to have all these things to bring a child into the world, but for us, it brings a stable environment that we are very proud of.

In other news, can't wait until Christmas for MIL to "beat us up" again about why she's not getting a Grandchild for Christmas.

I know I am going to get beat up for this but her I go anyway.

You may have to give up that job altogether if you have a baby so be ready to do that. A job that has a lot of travel is not a good job for a mom or dad to have. I am sure there will many other things you will have to give up also. So please make sure you are ready to do just that for the best of the child. To many people dont stop to think about how much a baby will change their way of life and let me tell you its a 99.9% change. No more sleep sometimes it feels like days at a time,the way you and your hubby are with each will change(some for the better others not),your job will be effected at some point (the womens from day one), no more fast stops at the store,no me time (if you do its so far apart you forget the last time you had it) and there is lots more changes. I know your hubby says he will help and he will some but be ready to do most of the childcare yourself. If your day is 5am to 10pm now it will be 4am to 12am then.
I have a hubby that helps but I still do most all the stuff and it gets hard and old at times. I have 4 kids and I love them all but its a really hard life to chose. You think when they are 2 you will be so happy when they are 12 LOL no you wont,, then 16 so they can run earrans for you LOL no you wont for that age is worse then age 2....

Just saying its really hard and it does change EVERYTHING (even your body in ways you cant even think of right now). So really really know this is what you want no second thoughts on your or his part in anyway...........

[434Teresa]

I worked 2nd shift for years with their(my older boys) dad at home with them at night..so been there done that also.(was married 12 years and then some)..
2nd sift with kid/kids at home with dad is still not easy at all to do, it was really worse than when I went to days and got up at 4am to go to work and worked 10 hour days.


I did not mean to up set you only to let you know that a baby will make mojor changes in your life. I also did not mean that you did not know your hubby just that a baby will change the way you act to each other even if you dont mean or want it to, it just does. I have been with my hubby now 11 years and he is a wonderful man but things can change in the blink of a eye.

You are right tho things are different for each of us. I hope all gose well for you.