How Do You Know You're Ready?

I'm so confused. A part of me wants a baby but another part is worried about having to change my entire way of life.

How do you guys know that you're ready for a baby? Please don't say you feel it 'cus you've always want to be a mother all your life.

I'm turning 34 later this year and I don't feel that way. The thought of caring for another little person 24/7 scares me! DH feels the same although we love our nieces and nephews!

Re: How Do You Know You're Ready?

When we began making fools out of ourselves everytime we saw a baby in public. When I started to feel as if I was missing something in my life. Yes I am scared about my whole life changing... but everyone tells me it is the best change ever.. I am still scared though. But I really Really want a baby.

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We just knew, it wasnt planned or anything, when I went off BCP we knew the chance of getting PG was higher (although yet to happen ) that we could get PG, we are finacially as ready as we are ever going to get. I think if you wait until you have all the money stuff covered you will never be ready. Its just something that will have to be good for you!! Yeah things change but its life, like when you graduate HS you worry you wont still have you friends, you get over it and make new ones. Life is full of changes this is just one of the better ones IMO.

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I have been trying to get PG for 2 years. I have had some losses and an ectopic pregnancy. I STILL Felt that way at times.(Many times when drunk!) It is scary to know that a part of you will become totally selfless. I think you have to decide which is the stronger feeling. For me, it is wanting a baby.

Re: How Do You Know You're Ready?

Message edited 1/30/2009 9:45:54 AM.

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i am literally days away from giving birth and there are minutes that go by when i still don't feel ready!!!! i don't think you ever are ready or know you are ready for certain. the changes that are coming up are very scary to me of course. i mean almost every part of my life is about to change in at any second! i think the major deciding factor that changed my mind was that for me i realized there's got to more to my life than just DH and my work..i love both but knew that for me i needed something else. to me, family is EVERYTHING and the thought of not having my own family scared me more than the changes involved. i hope that when i am old & gray i will have holidays and birthdays to share with my kids the way my parents share with us. to me, it seems more scary to be totally alone later in life....i don't know, this is just my answer to it. it really is a big decision!

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I don't think there is ever a "right" time to be ready...for me, I've always wanted to be a mom...and DH has been bitten by the baby bug big time...we have been together for a long time and now that we are married and have a house he is just ready for the next step...I'm just struggling with deciding to try soon or wait till after grad school...
A lot of my friends have babies and everytime i'm around them, i think..I so want this...so it might be sooner rather than later
We are not TTC yet...but I have a feeling it will be soon.

Good Luck with your decision!

Re: How Do You Know You're Ready?

Thanks everyone.

I'm relieved to hear some of your replies. For some reason I thought that you'll get some kinda revelation when you're ready.

This may sound weird but I think I'm ready to have a baby too, but I'm worried about having a baby who will be too demanding. My DH's immediate family has abit of history of ADHD and dyslexia and we're afraid our child may
have those genes as well.

If that's the case I am not sure what I'll do. :(

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I believe one never knows - one is never ready.
You just have to 'get in'.

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As a brand new mother of a 3 week old - I can honestly say that you can never really be ready. You can prepare all you want, you can feel ready, but it's imposible to ever be 100% ready for parenting. You just have to want to do it, I think. And then take a leap of faith and go for it!

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Not sure if anyone is ever 100% ready
WE knew there were a few trips we wanted to take by ourselves. We went to Ireland in May and knew it would probably be our last nig trip before trying to have a family. We had talked before we got married that we would like to be married for about 2 years before we start trying (our 2 year anniversay is the 26th) Dh just transferred jobs - same industry, better company, so we are as financially sound as we can be right now

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ITA!

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I never thought I would be ready - but as I started to get older, it became more and more of a priority to me. I started to make changes in my life (mainly in my career) in order to make the transition smoother.

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I knew I wanted kids all my life but I wanted to wait 6-8 years before I even considered it. When I met DH I knew I wanted to marry Him and have HIS children a lot sooner than I had ever thought I would. I think about Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, Mother's Day and Father's day and pray that in 08 there is a little one to share it with. I walk past the den and imagine a crib. I knew it was right for me because I have never felt the urgency that I now feel. Before I met Joe it was a thought but now it is a lot more. That is how I know that it is time. Hope that helps

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I never felt 100% ready. There was always a part of me that wondered if I were doing it at the right time, if I would be able to change my life, etc.

After I held my son for the first time I knew I was ready & that we made the right decision

Good Luck