Summarize the following:
Before you decide whether you want a child, take a look to see if you're healthy enough to have a child. If you have a chronic condition, be it physical or mental, ask yourself, "How might this impact my child as I get older?" Meet with your doctor. Let them know, "I am considering having a child, and I want to know if my health might have any long term impacts on my ability to parent." Women must also be aware that certain biological factors may impact how likely they are to get pregnant, as well as how likely they are to carry the pregnancy to term. Ask your doctor for a preconception visit to evaluate any potential complications that may come up during your pregnancy. If you have a history of anxiety, depression, or other mental health complications, meet with a mental health professional and let them know, "I want to have a child. What impact could my mental health struggles have on me as a parent?" You don't need the whole quarter of a million in the bank before you have your kid, but you should make sure that you are able to meet your child's foreseeable financial needs for the near future. First, make sure you can afford the time off work. If paid parental leave is not a part of your benefits program, make sure you can afford reduced income for the amount of time you or your partner will take off after the child is born. Look at healthcare costs. Once you decide to have a baby, you and your partner are going to have to start paying for the expectant mother's medical care, which may range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars depending upon insurance programs and care received. You are also going to have to take care of any medical complications the child may experience after birth, and add the child on as a new insurance dependent. Consider how much it will cost to supply a new baby. Cribs, baby clothes, car seats, and other objects all come with a price, and items like diapers and baby food represent a recurrent expense that may add tens to hundreds a month in expense. Look into the cost of daycare as well. This may be necessary if you cannot afford to let one partner stay home with the baby while the other partner is at work. If you plan on being a working parent, now is the time to think about where your career is going. Meet with your boss to discuss current and near future plans for your company and your position, and ask yourself: Does your job require long hours or a lot of travel? Are you working on a major project that might require excess time or attention? Would having a child result in excess childcare costs due to career obligations? Does your company offer paid parental leave or other benefits for new parents? The bulk of raising a child falls on the parents or guardians, but a good support system will benefit both the parents and the child in the long run. Look at your friends, family, and colleagues and ask yourself if you see them having a positive impact on your child's life. Look for people who are not only willing to offer emotional understanding, but who will actually help with matters such as babysitting and housekeeping in order to ease the transition into parenthood. If you do not have an integrated support system already established, ask yourself if you have the financial means to hire support staff such as nannies or housekeepers.
Get a check-up. Check your bank account. Meet with your boss. Evaluate your support system.