Before you get pregnant, there are a couple of things that you should give some serious thought to in order to make your life run a bit more smoothly once you decide to begin trying to conceive. Here are some of the basics: Health Insurance Before you even think about getting pregnant be sure that you do a health insurance check up. For example, be sure of what exactly your insurance covers and whom. Is your practitioner on the list? Which facilities do they allow you to go to? Do they cover well baby care? Do they cover midwives and birth centers? What would your co-pay be? Do they cover high risk prenatal care? Do they have any special prenatal programs? Since you have the ability to change insurances typically only once a year, do your planning ahead of time rather than getting stuck with poor coverage or getting stuck not being able to see the care providers you'd like to see. Finances Of course, money plays an issue when thinking about babies. You will need to consider the costs of having a baby from health insurance co-payments to day care or a reduction in income. Are you housing and car situations good or will you need an upgrade? And let's not forget diapers, car seats and all the things babies need. Health The obvious thing on this list is getting a preconceptional health check up. What may not be obvious is that you both need to have a check up. More and more we're learning that dad's health does indeed effect the baby's health. Be specific when visiting your practitioner. Tell them straight up that you are trying to get pregnant. This will ensure that you get the best advice. They will screen you for chronic conditions as well as do a routine physical. This is also a great time to discuss birth control and when and how to discontinue it. Family Leave Policies Before getting pregnant is the best time to find out about family leave policies. You can get this information in your company's handbook or from your human resources office. Since there are a lot of companies who provide both maternity leave and paternity leave, you should both look into this policy. You will also want to know how the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) works for you. In addition to talking about straight time off after the baby, this is also a good time to ask about bed-rest policies should you have a complicated pregnancy as well as taking time off for a sick baby or pediatrician appointments and prenatal care. Life Insurance & Wills While no one wants to think about death just when you're planning a new life, but the truth is I'd be remiss not to mention it. Ensuring that you have a decent life insurance policy either through work or privately is a must when kids are involved. This allows your family to ensure that they are well cared for should something happen to you. A will is also a necessity. If you and/or your spouse were to pass on, you'd want to spell out your wishes for your baby/child in the future, including who you would want to care for them.

在你怀孕之前，为了你以后的生活能稍微顺一点，有一些事情你应该好好想一想。以下是最基本的那些： 健康保险 在开始考虑怀孕之前，你就应该应该检查一下你的健康保险。比如说，弄清楚到底你的保险包含对谁以及对哪些项目的保障。你的医生是否在名单上，他们允许你去哪些机构接受治疗，是否包括婴儿护理，是否包括助产士和生产中心，你的自付额是多少，是否包括高危产前护理，是否有特别的产前规划等等。由于一般每年只有一次更改保险的机会，你得提前计划，免得到时缺乏足够保险保障或是得不到需要的医疗护理。 财务 当然，钱是考虑生孩子问题时的一个重要因素。从健康保险的自付额到照料费用或是收入减少额，你都得考虑到生一个孩子的成本。你的房子和车够宽敞吗？需不需要升级？更别提尿布，汽车的婴儿座椅以及其他孩子需要的东西。 健康 这个清单上显而易见的一个项目是你得作一个有预见性的健康检查。而不那么显而易见的项目是：你们俩都得做检查。我们越来越了解到父亲的健康对孩子确实是有影响的。见医生的时候要有针对性一些，直接说你打算要怀孕。这能保证你得到最好的建议。他们会从例行检查到慢性症状给你查个透。这时候也可以谈谈节育以及停止节育的事情。 产假政策 怀孕前是搞清楚产假政策的最好时机。你能从你公司手册上或者人力资源办公室得到这些信息。由于有很多公司男女都能休产假，所以你们俩都该去关注一下这个政策。除了谈产后休假之外，你还得问问遇上复杂性怀孕的卧床休息政策、孩子生病时候的休假、儿童医师指定还有产前护理。 人寿保险和遗嘱 虽然在准备新生命的时候谁都不愿去想到死亡，但我还是不得不提。当事关孩子的时候，你必须得保证自己有一份像样的人寿保障，无论是通过工作获得的还是私下自己投保的。这能保证万一你发生什么的时候你的家人能有依靠。遗嘱也是必需的。要是你或者你的配偶去世了，你们总希望对将来孩子由谁来照顾等事情提前有个交代。