Having a baby is a blessing for the parents and the family, but it could be associated with a host of issues and even problems. Here you can learn how to prepare for a pregnancy, where to go for antenatal and postnatal care, and what to do if you want to adopt a child.

To assess each couple's physical readiness for parenthood, the Family Planning Association of Hong Kong offers a Pre-pregnancy Preparation Service that provides health screening for couples. The service includes an assessment of the couple's personal and family history, a physical check-up, and blood and urine tests. Semen analysis is performed for the male.

• More on the pre-pregnancy preparation service
  http://www.famplan.org.hk/fpahk/en/template1.asp?style=template1.asp&content=services/clinic/ppps.asp

From the medical point of view, a couple is considered 'subfertile' when they fail to conceive after one year of regular, unprotected sexual intercourse. A full range of public services are available to help these couples.

If you need counselling, you can visit the Maternal and Child Health Centres and Woman Health Centres of the Department of Health. You can obtain service from the Subfertility Clinics of the Family Planning Association of Hong Kong which also conducts basic investigation, and if necessary, refer you to specialists for follow-up.

You can also find consultation services for outpatients in nine Obstetrics and Gynaecology units of the Hospital Authority. Secondary care in subfertitlity such as basic investigations, diagnostic tests and therapeutic treatments are available in most of these units. Assisted Reproductive Centres in Queen Mary Hospital, Prince of Wales Hospital and Kwong Wah Hospital provide other services such as artificial insemination, microsurgery, in-vitro fertilisation and intracytoplasmic sperm injection.

• What is subfertility?
  http://www.famplan.org.hk/fpahk/en/template1.asp?style=template1.asp&content=sexual/subfert.asp
• Subfertility service and artificial insemination service, including clinics' details
  http://www.famplan.org.hk/fpahk/en/template1.asp?style=template1.asp&content=services/clinic/sub.asp

In contrast, an unplanned child may bring anxiety and distress to a family. There are various ways to cope with an unplanned pregnancy, and termination of pregnancy is certainly not the only option.

• What should I do with unplanned pregnancy?
  http://www.famplan.org.hk/fpahk/en/template1.asp?style=template1.asp&content=sexual/what.asp

As a woman, you will undergo a number of physical changes during pregnancy and regular medical checkups are essential to ensuring the health of both you and your baby. You can enjoy a comprehensive antenatal shared-care programme provided by the Maternal and Child Health Centres of the Department of Health in collaboration with the obstetrics departments of public hospitals of the Hospital Authority. The programme will monitor the progress of your entire pregnancy and delivery process. You will receive routine checkups, blood tests and health education information during your antenatal visits.

• Eligibility, fees and charges for antenatal and postnatal services from Maternal and Child Health Centres
  http://www.fhs.gov.hk/english/fee_cha/general_pub/general_pub.html
• Information about pregnancy health and obstetric services
  http://www.ha.org.hk/visitor/ha_visitor_index.asp?content_id=644&Lang=ENG
• Information about antenatal care
  http://www.fhs.gov.hk/english/health_info/class_topic/ct_woman_health/wh_antenatal.html

It generally takes six weeks for a woman's body to recover to its pre-pregnant state after delivery. It is important to take proper care of both the physical and psychological health of new mothers during this period. In the public sector, postnatal care is provided by the Maternal and Child Health Centres of the Department of Health and the obstetrics departments of public hospitals.

• Information about postnatal care and exercise
  http://www.fhs.gov.hk/english/health_info/class_topic/ct_woman_health/wh_postnatal.html
• Information about postnatal mood disorders
  http://www.fhs.gov.hk/english/health_info/class_topic/ct_woman_health/wh_psycho_ps2.html

Adoption is another means you can consider to experience the joy of parenthood. Adoption is a life-long commitment for you. It means that you take legal custody of a child and welcome him or her into your family. The Adoption Unit of the Social Welfare Department finds permanent and stable homes for children whose parents are unable or unwilling to take care of for them until they reach adulthood.

• Adoption service of the Social Welfare Department
  http://www.swd.gov.hk/en/index/site_pubsvc/page_family/sub_listofserv/id_adoptionse/index.html