Preparing for Pregnancy: A Personal Journey Through Hope, Healing, and Readiness

Deciding to grow your family is a deeply personal milestone—one that stirs excitement, hope, vulnerability, and a thousand questions. For some, the path to pregnancy is straightforward. For others, like me, it's winding and layered with challenges, such as navigating life with endometriosis.

Endometriosis shaped much of my journey. It meant years of pain, months of uncertainty, and moments where I questioned if pregnancy would ever be possible. Even though, I’ve had tree successful pregnancies and now three beautiful kids, each time my journey to motherhood made me incredibly intentional about preparing my body and mind for the next chapter. Whether you’re facing a similar diagnosis or simply seeking guidance, I hope this post helps you feel seen, supported, and empowered as you take the first steps toward parenthood.

Here’s what helped me prepare—physically, emotionally, and spiritually—for the possibility of pregnancy:

1. Start with a Preconception Appointment

Before trying to conceive, I met with my midwife. We discussed my medical history, the impact of endometriosis on fertility, and ways to support my body naturally. This kind of appointment can be incredibly grounding—especially if you’re navigating chronic conditions or fertility questions. Your provider can guide you through necessary lab work, adjust medications, and recommend lifestyle or supplement changes tailored just for you. Even hearing about tracking your menstruation and ovulation can serve as a reminder of something so simple yet often overlooked.

2. Nurture Your Body with Intention

After years of managing pain and inflammation, I became deeply attuned to how my body felt with different foods, movements, and stress levels. Eating a nourishing, anti-inflammatory diet—rich in vegetables and fruit, healthy fats and high-quality meats, and whole grains—made a difference. I also found gentle, consistent movement like walking, yoga, and strength training helped me feel strong and grounded. Avoiding alcohol and prioritizing sleep and hydration became my priorities. Think of this time as building a soft, strong nest—for both your body and spirit.

3. Begin Prenatal Supplements Early

My provider recommended starting prenatal vitamins well before trying to conceive, including folic acid, vitamin D, and additional antioxidants to support cellular health. If you’ve experienced reproductive challenges, your needs may be unique—don’t be afraid to ask for personalized supplement recommendations. I highly recommend the book” It Starts With the Egg” by Rebecca Fett and her supplementation list depending on your needs. One of the key supplements for me was CoQ10 that I had taken for months before conception.

4. Get to Know Your Cycle

For me, tracking my cycle helped demystify a process that once felt out of my control. Whether through a simple journal or a fertility tracking app, understanding your rhythms (and signs like cervical mucus or basal body temperature) can be powerful. If you have irregular cycles or conditions like endometriosis, this knowledge becomes even more important. Kits that help track ovulation can be also very useful. Occasionally, it’s ok to take a break from tracking, especially when you feel overwhelmed and can’t enjoy your relationship.

5. Prioritize Your Mental and Emotional Health

Preparing for pregnancy isn’t just physical—it’s deeply emotional. I carried anxiety, grief, and hope all at once. Finding moments of calm through mindfulness, meditation, journaling, and even therapy helped me process everything I was feeling. You are allowed to hold both joy and fear, hope and uncertainty. Making space for those emotions is part of the preparation too. It’s also great to find your support system, either a fertility group or simply a woman circle, where you can share your everyday thoughts and feeling. For me another amazing tool was yoga. Before my second pregnancy, I enjoyed fertility specific yoga, which focused on deeply fluid movements. However, before my last conception, I continued classes at my yoga studio, since I already new how to modify my practice.

6. Get Real About Finances

Babies bring love—and bills. Creating a budget (even a simple one) helped me feel more prepared. I looked at prenatal care, delivery costs, and what our insurance would cover, then we planned maternity leave and childcare after going back to work. If you’re on this path with a partner, this is a great time to align on financial goals and responsibilities.

7. Stay Connected with Your Partner

Open, honest conversations with my partner brought us closer. We talked about fears, expectations, boundaries, and how we’d support each other in the months to come. Preparing emotionally as a team helped me feel more grounded—and less alone. No matter if this is your first child or you have older kids, the physical and emotional support you will get from your partner while trying to conceive, throughout the pregnancy and during birth and postpartum is irreplaceable.

8. Lean into Support—Like Fertility Doulas

I wish more people knew about fertility doulas. These compassionate professionals offer support to anyone trying to conceive—whether naturally or with assistance like IUI or IVF. If your journey feels overwhelming, a fertility doula can be a steady hand and a trusted guide.

Preparing for pregnancy can be beautiful—but also complex and emotional, especially if you’ve faced hurdles like endometriosis or infertility. Wherever you are on this journey, please know: your experience is valid, your body is worthy, and you are not alone. Give yourself grace. Ask for help. Celebrate the small wins. And above all, trust that you’re already doing something powerful—by simply showing up with intention, care, and love.