[Putterfly]

Okay, so it's not a Life Issue that is totally bogging me down, but it's still an issue and I could really use some help. I really want this to happen.. I WANT to be pregnant like really badly. I have felt since the day I got baptized that having a family was what I needed to do. I know I'm not married, but I still really REALLY want to have this kid!

I got a bottle of folic acid that Imma start taking today. Imma do everything I can to be healthy and whatnot. I want this to work out.. but I need some advice. What should I do to take care of my body best? I don't care if I have to do this alone or not, I just want to make the best of it.

[Pocket]

How old are you to start with? And how stable is your life?

[Saiyouri]

тнє ℓσνє σƒ мαgι¢ ιѕ вєуση∂ ƒσяgσттєη
»·,´·˙(´·˙¸ ¸˙·,)˙·,´•·˙·,¯´·˙·• •·˙·,¯´·˙·•╭☆╯•·.·´¯`·.·• •·.·´¯`·.·•´`·.(`·.¸ ¸.·´).·´`·»



☪ஐﻬ☽ The most important thing is to take care of yourself.
Make sure you go to every doctors appointment
that you make. See the doctor regularly, eat
well. Like lots of fruits and veggies to make
sure the fetus is getting good nutrition. Don't
over eat though, you don't actually have to eat
for two people, that's a myth. Plus cut coffee,
smoking out of your life. I drank coffee with
one of my kids and I noticed a difference in them.
Oh and of course take prenatal vitamins. And
get lots of rest. Being pregnant takes alot out of
you. More than people imagine. And try to have alot
of support behind you from family and friends.
You will end up falling on one of them when it
gets time to have the baby, during the pregnancy
and when you have the child. It's stressful being
a single parent. It's also stressful being a parent
with a spouse or signifiant other. Otherwise good
luck.



»·,´·˙(´·˙¸ ¸˙·,)˙·,´•·˙·,¯´·˙·• •·˙·,¯´·˙·•╭☆╯•·.·´¯`·.·• •·.·´¯`·.·•´`·.(`·.¸ ¸.·´).·´`·»
uǝʇʇoƃɹoɟ puoʎǝq sı ɔıƃɐɯ ɟo ǝʌol ǝɥʇ

[kitkitthecat]

I hope you do realize that it takes a lot of money to raise a child.

[Belial]

Do you want a child because you want to feel needed or do you want a child to raise a child?

Being a parent is hard enough with two people around to raise the kid, being a single parent means noone will watch the baby/kid if you want to up go see a movie.

As long as you are old enough, have a steady source of income, and prepared to make sacrifices until that child turns 18 then you will be a fine parent.

Mine is 11 years old, I love him dearly but its still a challenge to raise him since the wife ran off.

[AcidDrop]

it takes alot more then money to raise baby, you need space, time, pacient and a good mental state! you shouldn't rush this, you could end up regretting it

[Saiyouri]

тнє ℓσνє σƒ мαgι¢ ιѕ вєуση∂ ƒσяgσттєη
»·,´·˙(´·˙¸ ¸˙·,)˙·,´•·˙·,¯´·˙·• •·˙·,¯´·˙·•╭☆╯•·.·´¯`·.·• •·.·´¯`·.·•´`·.(`·.¸ ¸.·´).·´`·»



☪ஐﻬ☽ Acid is right. You really do need a stable mind.
Kids can take you to the edge of your
nerves. I have 4 and ripped my hair
out plenty of times with them. Of course
twin boys doesn't help ~_~

Belial is also right. Parenting is something
you really need to think long and hard
about. I thought I was ready when I had
my twins, I did everything right but
I was smacked with post partum depression.
Never saw that coming. But with family
support I was able to raise my twins
fine.

And Belila I am sorry to hear what had
happened to you. *huggles*



»·,´·˙(´·˙¸ ¸˙·,)˙·,´•·˙·,¯´·˙·• •·˙·,¯´·˙·•╭☆╯•·.·´¯`·.·• •·.·´¯`·.·•´`·.(`·.¸ ¸.·´).·´`·»
uǝʇʇoƃɹoɟ puoʎǝq sı ɔıƃɐɯ ɟo ǝʌol ǝɥʇ

[Fey]

My first question is how old are you? Are you a legally separate adult? Secondly, are you in a stable financial and familial place? Lastly, are you prepared to give the next 18+ years to the child's needs rather than your own?

I realize none of these address your questions, but bear with me, I will get to it.

The first question is to your ability to make adult choices. Contrary to popular belief being 18 doesn't give you a capability to make adult choices. The human brain doesn't develop fully until the early 20s, so we're not capable of truly 100% rational decisions until that age. If you're under that age, no matter your convictions that you WANT a family, you may not be able to make the best choices for a new life.

The second is to ability of taking care of first yourself in pregnancy and once the child is born. The average cost of raising a child is $150,000 over 18 years. This isn't including the cost of college. Nor does it cover large health emergencies or the cost of the parent. There's a saying that you can do anything if you have a combination of time, money and people. Raising a child is the same. Without two of the three though it would be nearly impossible.

The last is about mental preparedness. Because a child is a full time position. You can't be a mom only when you want to be pregnant, get happy mommy times. You have to be a mom when they're teething and screaming for days. You have to be a mom when your friends are going off to parties, or out drinking. You have to be a mom when you find out they have a life threatening disease that takes up all your time and money.

As most parents will tell you, being a parent is a full time, hard job.

Now, for your original question, if you can comfortably answer those questions to yourself, there's a number of things you can do. First, talk to an OB/GYN about prenatal nutrition, work out programs and precautions. Talk to your mother, grandmother and aunts about difficulties they may have had during their pregnancies, things often run in families. Talk to the father of the baby, other things are hereditary, and preparing yourself mentally is just as important as physically.

Once you are pregnant, follow the doctors orders, take your vitamins and get routine check ups. In this day and age they'll see anything and everything as it happens.