As of 2008, there were nearly 74 million children in the United States, according to statistics at childstats.gov, and roughly 67 percent of them live with two parents married to each other. Creating a family can be left up to nature, or it can be planned using several different family-planning methods. Natural family planning uses a woman's fertility cycle to prevent pregnancy or a couple can choose to use birth control until they wish to conceive a child. There are many benefits to planning when to add a child to your family.
Financial Readiness
Planning when to add to your family can be delayed until you feel financially ready to raise a child. Although it's unlikely that you'd save the hundreds of thousands of dollars it costs to raise a child through age 17, you will be able to wait, for instance, until you have a stable job. In addition, family planning allows couples to space their children to lessen the financial burden of college.
Fertility Issues
Family planning will bring any fertility problems to light quickly if it is difficult to conceive once you are trying based on the woman's cycle. Twenty-five percent of couples will conceive on a first cycle and more than half have conceived after six months, according to amazingpregnancy.com. If you are not pregnant after a year of trying, it's a good idea to get evaluated by your health care provider.
Health Benefits
Pregnancies that occur too close together can be harmful to both the mother's and the baby's health, according to the World Health Organization, which records more than 500,000 maternal deaths throughout the world each year. While health care in the United States has significantly lowered maternal death, doctors still advise waiting between pregnancy. A study in "Conception" cited in "BusinessWeek" reported that babies conceived within six months of their siblings births had a 41 percent greater chance of premature birth. Other problems cited included low birth weight and birth defects.
Choosing Your Family Size
Family planning allows you to choose the size of your family based on your financial situation as well as your age and patience level. While there are always surprises with multiples, deciding how many children to have in your family gives you control over your financial future and theirs.
