What Every New Couple Should Know About Family Planning

Starting a journey together as a couple is an exciting and transformative phase of life. Amid the whirlwind of love and shared dreams, one essential topic often deserves more attention: family planning. 

Family planning empowers couples to take control of their reproductive choices, ensuring they’re emotionally, financially, and physically prepared for parenthood or other life paths. In this article, we’ll uncover three critical aspects of family planning that every new couple should know. Let’s dive in. 

#1. Why is Family Planning Even Important?

At its core, family planning is about making informed choices about when, how, and if to grow a family. What’s more, you also ensure that these decisions align with your personal, emotional, and financial readiness. One major reason family planning matters is its role in reducing stress, particularly financial stress.

Raising children comes with significant costs, from childcare and education to healthcare. Planning ahead allows couples to save, budget, and prepare, reducing financial strain in the long term. 

According to research from the Brookings Institution, as featured on Investopedia, it costs $310,605 to raise a child from birth to the age of eighteen. Given inflation and the rising cost of living, that figure is only expected to keep increasing. 

Having financial foresight helps create a stable environment for future children, which is important if you want to meet their needs without compromise.

#2. Which Contraceptives Should You Use?

It may come as a surprise to hear that nearly half of all pregnancies are unintended. That’s about 121 million children every year. This data comes from a UNFPA report and is a ‘wakeup call,’ according to Executive Director Natalia Kanem.  

In other words, proper contraceptive use is critical not just for your family but for society at large. 

There are several options available to you, but the safest is probably natural family planning. The rhythm method is one of the oldest and most common natural contraceptives. WebMD explains that you want to avoid unprotected sex between the 8th and 19th days of the menstrual cycle.

If you do go the contraceptive route, just be careful about what you choose. According to W.H.O., condoms are the only contraceptive method that prevents both pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. So, condoms are safe, but some other widely used options come with growing evidence of serious health concerns. Just look at the Depo-Provera lawsuit cases that are being filed against Pfizer.

TruLaw points out that women who took this contraceptive, especially for a prolonged period, have seen a 5.6-fold increase in meningioma (brain tumors). Similarly, hormonal methods, birth control pills, patches, and injections offer flexibility and control over timing, but they all require consistent use. 

These methods do have their own side effects, so make sure you put the effort into researching each one first.

#3. Decision Making is a Key Part of Family Planning

At its heart, family planning is as much about making decisions as it is about managing timelines, resources, and relationships. 

Every choice, from when to start a family to how many children to have, requires thoughtful deliberation between partners.

One of the first decisions in family planning is establishing shared goals. Your decision-making should also extend to external considerations, such as career flexibility, housing, and support systems. For instance, deciding where to live may hinge on factors like access to quality schools, proximity to family for support, and cost of living. 

These choices shape not only your immediate future but also the environment in which your family will grow. You also have to remember that decision-making in family planning isn’t a one-time process but an ongoing dialogue. Life circumstances will evolve, and being flexible and adaptive in revisiting decisions ensures that your plans remain relevant and achievable.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is taking contraceptives harmful?

While most contraceptives are safe for general use, they may have side effects like hormonal changes or increased risk of certain health conditions, depending on the method chosen. It’s essential to consult a healthcare provider to weigh the benefits and risks based on your health history and lifestyle.

2. Which method is best for family planning?

The best family planning method depends on personal goals, health conditions, and preferences. Natural family planning and barrier methods like condoms offer unique benefits with minimal to no risks to your health. You should still research multiple options to ensure you choose the most effective and suitable approach for your needs.

3. What are the factors affecting decision-making in family planning?

Decision-making in family planning is influenced by financial readiness, career goals, health, cultural values, and personal timing preferences. Similarly, open communication between partners and expert guidance is crucial for navigating these factors and making informed, shared decisions that align with long-term goals.

Long story short, family planning might not be the most glamorous topic to discuss as a new couple, but it’s one of the most meaningful. This is a journey where you’ll be creating a roadmap that honors your dreams, priorities and love for each other. If you feel overwhelmed by it, don’t be. Think of it like planning the ultimate road trip—pack the essentials, check the map, and enjoy the ride.