5 Ways to Prepare for Parenthood

1. Quit unhealthy habits.

Whether it be smoking, drugs, excessive drinking, or even overeating, your kids will pick up on your bad habits.

If you want them to lead a healthy lifestyle, now is the time for you and your husband to start practicing what you hope to preach to your children.

On top of not wanting to pass on bad habits to your children, smoking, drug use, drinking, and unhealthy food choices can also contribute to poor sperm quality if you are trying to conceive. Sperm health and sperm quality actually begin to decline around the age of 25

These are also habits that you will want to avoid in order to achieve optimal health during your pregnancy.

 

2. Exercise together.

Kids take up a lot of energy. (That might just be the understatement of the year!)

I am so thankful that I was exercising regularly before I became pregnant with my first child.

Regular exercise will ensure you are prepared to keep up with your kids!

3. Take vitamins and supplements–even during the pre-conception period.

I began taking pre-natal vitamins as soon as we found out I was pregnant with our first child.

I later had a doctor tell me that all women of childbearing age should be taking pre-natal vitamins because you never know when you might conceive.

Even though we are not currently trying to conceive (and may never have another baby), I continue to take prenatal vitamins on a daily basis. I want my body to be ready if we were to get pregnant!

 

There are now even pre-conception supplements available for men!

I recently learned about Proxeed Plus, which is a male fertility supplement. Taken twice-a-day, it comes in packets of powder that dissolves into water, smoothies, etc.

Taking a male pre-conception supplement like this is a simple way to support male reproductive health and sperm quality by providing the nutrients needed for developing sperm. For ^ǂoptimal results it is recommended to take Proxeed Plus for at least six (6) months, but should be taken as long as needed to maintain sperm quality, an essential factor in a couple’s fertility.^ǂ

4. Get a dog.

Although we do not currently own a dog, we did have one for several years before becoming parents. The saying goes that dogs prepare you for parenthood, and I would say that it’s true!

Although it is very different, caring for an animal does truly help prepare you for caring for another human. 

5. Volunteer to babysit other peoples’ children.

Whether it be volunteering once a month in the church nursery or watching the children of your friends so they can take a date night, both will prepare you and your husband a little more for parenthood.

And once you are parents, I guarantee you will be on the lookout for other young couples to help take care of your children as well!