Nak mengandung kerrrrr... ? Part 2/2

11)Call your health insurance company
------------------------------------------------------------

It may be more than nine months before you have to think about a hospital bill, but you should consider the cost of having a baby now. The best place to start is with a phone call to your health insurance company.

Take a close look at what kind of prenatal coverage they offer and think about switching now if you aren't satisfied. If you have a particular doctor or midwife in mind, find out if she's in your plan or how much it would cost to go out of network.

Find out what your deductibles are for prenatal visits and delivery, and ask what tests and procedures your insurance covers. If you have a high deductible, you may want to put a little aside now so you won't be slammed with exorbitant bills when the baby arrives.

Keep in mind that without insurance, a typical vaginal delivery can cost more than $7,000 and a cesarean section can cost more than $11,000. And don't forget to check on coverage for your baby — neonatal intensive care can cost $2,000 to $3,000 per day.

If you're one of the millions of women without health insurance, contact your local health department to see if it offers programs to help pregnant women get the coverage they need.

12)Make an appointment with a financial adviser

------------------------------------------------------------

Shelling out $20 for cute designer baby booties is just the start of what you'll be spending on your little one in years to come. According to a 2005 report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, families making $43,200 to $72,600 a year will spend $190,980 to raise a child from birth through age 17.

Find out how much you're likely to spend with our Cost of Raising a Child Calculator. But never fear: By investing just $50 or $100 a month now, you can have a nice nest egg by the time your child heads off to college. Talk to a financial adviser about how to start saving.

13)Get in touch with your mental health (Im happy....:) )
------------------------------------------------------------

Women who suffer from depression are twice as likely to have problems with fertility as women who don't, according to Alice Domar, a psychologist and founder and director of the Domar Center for Complementary Healthcare and an assistant professor of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive biology at Harvard Medical School. As she points out, "If someone is clinically depressed, she can barely take care of herself, much less a baby. From an evolutionary point of view, it makes sense that it's hard to get pregnant when you're depressed."

Domar suggests that all women, but especially those with a personal or family history of depression, do a mental health check before they get pregnant. If you notice signs of depression, such as a loss of interest and pleasure in things that you used to enjoy, a change in appetite, a change in sleep pattern, a loss of energy, or feelings of hopelessness and worthlessness, ask your practitioner for a referral to a therapist or psychiatrist for a consultation.

If medication becomes necessary, a psychiatrist can help you find an antidepressant that's safe to take while you're trying to conceive and during your pregnancy. You also may want to try stress management techniques, such as yoga and meditation, which research suggests can help depressed women conceive.

14)Avoid infections (So far sihat walafiat... :))
------------------------------------------------------------

It's important to steer clear of infections when you're trying to get pregnant, especially those that could harm your baby-to-be.

You'll want to stay away from certain foods such as unpasteurized soft cheeses and other dairy products, packaged luncheon and deli meats, and raw and undercooked fish and poultry. These foods can harbor dangerous bacteria that cause listeriosis, a food-borne illness that can lead to miscarriage or stillbirth. You should also avoid unpasteurized juices because they can contain bacteria such as salmonella or E. coli. Raw fish, especially shellfish, can contain harmful microorganisms.

Be sure to wash your hands frequently when preparing meals, and make sure your fridge is set between 35 and 40 degrees Fahrenheit (2 and 4 degrees Celsius) and your freezer is at or below 0 degrees F (-18 degrees C) to keep cold foods from going bad.

Finally, it's a good idea to wear gloves when digging in the garden or sandbox, and to get someone else to change the litter box to avoid contracting toxoplasmosis, another infection that can be dangerous for a developing baby.

15)Eliminate environmental dangers (Hmmm...)
------------------------------------------------------------

Some jobs can be hazardous to you and your unborn children. If you're routinely exposed to chemicals or radiation, you'll need to make some changes before you conceive.

Also, keep in mind that some cleaning products, pesticides, solvents, and lead in drinking water from old pipes can be dangerous for a developing baby. Talk to your doctor or midwife about your daily routine, and see if you can come up with ways to avoid or eliminate hazards in your home and workplace.

16)Think your decision through (Im more than ready!! )
------------------------------------------------------------

Having a child is a lifetime commitment. Before you decide to make a baby, it's important that you and your partner consider what you're in for and whether you're ready to take on this responsibility. Some key questions to consider:

• Are you both equally committed to becoming parents?
• If you have religious differences, have you discussed how they will affect your child?
• Have you thought through how you'll handle childcare responsibilities and balancing work and family?
• Are you prepared to parent a special-needs child if you have one?
• Are you ready to give up sleeping in on Sundays? And to line up a babysitter every single time you want to go out without the baby?

17)Tell a friend
------------------------------------------------------------

While this is an incredibly exciting time, it also can be stressful and emotional. Confide in a friend besides your partner about the leap you're about to make. It'll be great to have a support system in place once the morning sickness and wild hormones kick in. And it's always fun to have another person to daydream with about your baby-to-be.

If you're reluctant to tell someone you know personally about your decision, visit our Trying to Conceive forums, where you can share stories and advice, and receive support from other women who're trying to get pregnant.

18)Buy something sexy (butikrahsia.com)
------------------------------------------------------------

Some experts say that if a woman is highly aroused while she's having sex, the sperm has a better chance of fertilizing her egg. Others say it makes absolutely no difference.

The jury may be out, but why not set the mood for baby-making with some sexy new lingerie? Or illuminate a room with soft candlelight. Or bring home some special scented massage oils. It certainly can't hurt, and it may help eliminate that clinical feeling couples sometimes complain about when they're having sex for the purpose of pregnancy.

19)Toss your birth control (Mmg xpenah amik pun...)
------------------------------------------------------------

Once you've gotten yourself into baby-making shape, you're ready to bid adieu to birth control. For some people, ditching contraception is as easy as moving the condoms or diaphragm to the back of the dresser drawer. But going off hormonal contraception can require a bit more planning.

If you've been using the Pill, for example, it's a good idea to finish your current pack to avoid irregular bleeding. It may take a few months for your cycle to return to normal, but many women are fertile the first month after they stop taking the Pill.

The same holds true for the contraceptive patch and ring. If you're using Depo-Provera, it can take up to a year after your last shot for you to start ovulating again, even if your period returns to normal sooner. Find out what you need to know about quitting other kinds of birth control, including birth control implants and IUDs.

When you do ditch the birth control, start a menstrual diary to help you keep track of your cycle. Use a regular calendar and mark when your period starts and ends, or simply circle each day you experience bleeding. This will help your practitioner determine your due date and schedule any tests you may have during your first trimester.

20)Take a (safe) ride on the wild side (weehooo!!)
------------------------------------------------------------

This is it — your last "wahooo!" before pregnant-hood. Soak in the hot tub, although your partner should avoid taking a dip because the heat can affect sperm production. Take one last horseback riding lesson. Ride a roller coaster.

Now's your chance to throw your hands in the air and whoop it up. There's little chance you'll be doing it again anytime soon. And besides, a roller coaster is the perfect metaphor for parenthood!