Plan ahead before starting a family
FedHealth advises people to plan carefully before starting with a family as this is a big responsibility.
If you are feeling a tug in your body or sporting a goofy smile each time you see children playing or a parent walking big-hand-in-little-hand with their toddler, chances are you are thinking about starting your own family.
Cute little baby shoes and images of tiny sticky hands around your neck can reduce even the strongest of us to mush but, starting a family is a big responsibility and not a decision to be taken lightly.
“Starting a family is possibly one of the most rewarding decisions you will ever make, but you need to consider the reality that raising a child is going to make huge demands on your time and your bank balance,” says Peter Jordan, Principal Officer of FedHealth.
The panicked, wide-eyed and sleep-deprived eyes of new parents are a constant reminder to us that raising a family is not easy. How then does one know if and when you are ready to start this enormous commitment and adventure?
Here are five questions to ask yourself before you take that big step.
• Am I mature enough? – Are you an adult, not only in terms of physical maturity, but are you emotionally, intellectually and spiritually mature enough to raise a child?
• Am I able to take care of myself? – If you are still dependent on others to take care of you it is a good idea to wait until you feel confident and capable enough to take care of yourself and your baby.
• Am I in a stable relationship? – While there are many successful single mothers and fathers, your best bet for success, happiness and wellbeing is love, compassion and support from a partner who is committed to both you and your family.
• Am I prepared to take time off work? – This is an important question, especially for career women. Juggling a family and a career is not easy and in the early days you will need to be around for your baby.
• Am I financially fit? – This is another big question. It takes more than love to raise a baby or child. Try to estimate the cost of baby supplies, clothes and furniture as well as other things you may need such as day care.
Peter also advises that most importantly would-be parents should thoroughly investigate what their medical schemes cover regarding the cost of starting a family. You need to ensure that you are on a medical option on your medical scheme that provides adequate cover for both your pregnancy and birth and remember you need to be a member of a medical aid before you actually fall pregnant.
“Quite often expectant parents focus on the pre-birth and birth cover and forget to enquire about other costs such as those associated with post natal care and the costs once the baby arrives. Immunisation benefits, for example, are worth investigating,” says Peter.
“Children require immunisation vaccines from birth to 12 years of age and these can be a costly affair unless covered by the plan.”
Peter reminds new parents to register their baby with a medical scheme as soon after birth as possible.
“This ensures that your baby is covered too. Generally you will have 30 days to register a newborn baby. FedHealth, for example, does not charge for the month in which a baby is born,” says Peter.
“Taking the time while you are planning your family to investigate what will be at your disposal after the arrival of your child will be well worth it. We encourage all expectant parents to ask questions and educate themselves on what support is available to them.”
