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Reproductive life plan

 

Q: The National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities recommends that everyone should have a reproductive life plan. What does this really mean?

A: A reproductive life plan is a set of personal goals about having (or not having) children. It also states how to achieve those goals. Everyone needs to make a reproductive plan based on personal values and resources. Here are some examples:
 
  • “I’m not ready to have children now. I’ll make sure I don’t get pregnant. Either I won’t have heterosexual sex, or I’ll correctly use effective contraception.”
  • “I’ll want to have children when my relationship feels secure and I’ve saved enough money. I won’t become pregnant until then. After that, I’ll visit my doctor to discuss preconception health. I’ll try to get pregnant when I’m in good health.”
  • “I’d like to be a father after I finish school and have a job to support a family. While I work toward those goals, I’ll talk to my wife about her goals for starting a family. I’ll make sure we correctly use an effective method of contraception every time we have sex until we’re ready to have a baby.”
  • “I’d like to have two children, and space my pregnancies by at least two years. I’ll visit my healthcare provider to discuss preconception health now. I’ll start trying to get pregnant as soon as I’m healthy. Once I have a baby, I’ll get advice from a health professional on birth control. I don’t want to have a second baby before I’m ready.”
  • “I will let pregnancy happen whenever it happens. Because I don’t know when that will be, I’ll make sure I’m in optimal health for pregnancy at all times.”
There are many kinds of reproductive life plans. What’s important is that you think about when and under what conditions you want to become pregnant. Then make sure your actions support these goals. Healthcare providers and counselors can help you understand the clinical and lifestyle options that are best for you.
— National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities
Information approved by Dr. David Bishop and Dr. Joy Wiens, The Women’s Clinic of Vancouver

 

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Roberto_Adriana_EstebanAdriana García and Roberto Jimenez were overjoyed when they discovered they were going to become first-time parents. They wanted to do everything right, which included signing up for Kaiser Permanente’s Preparation for Birth Class and checking out the Family Birth Center at Southwest Washington Medical Center. They even created an online blog so friends and family in Mexico could track the pregnancy and share their good wishes with the couple.

After taking the prenatal class, Adriana and Roberto created their birthing plan; making important decisions about how they wanted to deliver their baby. When the due date neared, they were going to stay at home as long as possible before going to the hospital … listening to music, talking to baby and enjoying the experience. Read the full story >

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