Check out our expert advice on getting pregnant and budgeting for a baby. Find all the info you need when you're trying to conceive and figure out your schedule with our ovulation calculator.

Most couples don't just wake up one day and think, "Let's start a family now!" As much as some might wish their partners were that impulsive and enthusiastic, it's better to put some thought into this baby thing. Here's your to-do list.

Talk
Make sure you're reasonably settled, financially stable, getting along well (a kid won't help a faltering relationship), and 100 percent (not 99 percent) certain you both want this change in your lives.

Get Ready Physically
If you haven't had an annual exam in years, schedule one. Then book a pelvic exam and update your immunizations. Also ask your doctor about vitamins and supplements (folic acid) you should be taking.

Uncover Your Genes
Depending on your background, your doc may refer you to a genetic counselor who will run a battery of tests to see if you carry genetic disorders like Tay-Sachs, cystic fibrosis, or sickle cell anemia.

Tune up Your Teeth
All of the extra blood flow and estrogen in the body can lead to more plaque production and bleeding gums, so get a cleaning before you get pregnant and make sure your smile is in its optimal condition.

See a Financial Planner
Or give yourself a financial checkup. According to a 2002 report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, it costs about $250,000 to raise a child to age 18.

Learn Your Cycle
Start tracking your cycles now so you know when (or about when) you ovulate. Most cycles are 28 days (making day 14 the best time to conceive), but this varies from woman to woman.

Make a Baby Budget
Save yourself a lot of stress by setting up your budget now for when the baby is born. Diapers aren't cheap!

Look into Disability and Life Insurance
Disability must be purchased before you become pregnant if you want it to cover your birth and postpartum time. Because most policies require several months before you're eligible, buy it in advance.

Find out About Family Leave
Have you been at your current job long enough to be covered by the Federal Family Leave Act? Every employer has its own policies on top of the law regarding how much maternity leave is paid (or partially subsidized).

Go to Jamaica!
Fly to France! Sail into the sunset! Really enjoy being a married couple -- a family of two. Travel becomes tricky (if not limiting) with a newborn, so get to as many sites now as you can (within your budget, of course).

Relax
This shouldn't feel like work., so have fun and don't get freaked out if you don't make a baby on the first shot. If you're in your mid-30s and don't conceive after six months, check in with your ob-gyn (three months if it makes you feel better). There are many variables that decide your fertility. In fact, half of all issues couples have lie with the men.

[Nestperts] Mary Jane Minkin, MD, an ob-gyn in private practice in New Haven, Connecticut, and coauthor of A Woman's Guide to Sexual Health; Audrey Couto McClelland, coauthor of Preconception Plain & Simple; and Brette Sember, author of Your Practical Pregnancy Planner: Everything You Need to Know About the Financial and Legal Aspects of Preparing for Your New Baby

Okay, so once and for all: Can you get pregnant when you're menstruating?

Technically, you could. However, this is actually incredibly rare, since you need to be ovulating to get pregnant. While menstruating, your body is expelling the materials of a failed pregnancy -- your ovum, uterine lining, etc. That doesn't mean you still shouldn't take precautions if you aren't trying to have a baby. It's best to keep birth-control measures consistent.

However, if you've found a rare man that isn't freaked out by sex at that time of the month, lucky you! If you do decide to have sex during that time, you can do what many couples do to save muss 'n fuss: Have sex in the shower. But others simply drape some towels over the bed linens so they feel free to do whatever they want.

Nestpert: Dr. Pam Spurr, author of Make Love All Night & Talk to Him in the Morning and Naughty Tricks and Sexy Tips: A Couple's Guide to Uninhibited Sexual Pleasure

Are there any positions that increase your chances of getting pregnant?

There are lots of things you can do to improve your chances of getting pregnant. First, I'd like you to consider your overall health by eating a nutritious diet full of leafy green vegetables and fresh fruit. You should certainly not be smoking or drinking (or at least drinking very little in the run-up to getting pregnant). Try to get proper sleep and de-stress your life wherever you can. Also, ask your healthcare provider about taking a folic acid supplement. Your husband should also take measures to be in good physical health as well as not letting his testicles get overheated in tight pants, exercise shorts, and so on.

Since you don't mention any problems with fertility, I'd avoid getting overly concerned about taking your temperature or using an ovulation-predictor kit when you're first trying. Instead, make love as frequently as you want, aiming for the center of your monthly cycle. Once your husband ejaculates, you should roll onto your back (if you're not already in that position), tip your pelvis into the air, and lift your legs -- gravity will literally help his semen on their way. Think of the "bicycle" position where people cycle their legs in the air. Also, ensure you have an orgasm so that the rhythmic contractions help the semen move up toward your cervix. Good luck!

Nestpert: Dr. Pam Spurr, author of Make Love All Night & Talk to Him in the Morning and Naughty Tricks and Sexy Tips: A Couple's Guide to Uninhibited Sexual Pleasure

Should we tell people we're trying to have a baby? This is something you and your mate should sit down and discuss. There’s no right or wrong answer -- it’s just a matter of what would be best in your particular situation. Announcing that you’re trying to conceive may open the door to your sex life that you both would prefer remain closed. (Also, think about whether or not you’re ready to talk ovulation with your mother-in-law.) On the other hand, deciding to share the good news could mean that you receive lots of love and support, which may help ease any lingering jitters. Make a list of the pros and cons of telling people you’re trying to have a baby. Then look over both lists and decide what’s right for you.

What's the best thing to say to people who ask when we're having a baby?

We hear that “None of your business� doesn’t go over very well, although it's effective for getting people off your back.

If you’re trying to be polite, coyly (and vaguely) say something like, “Maybe someday� or “We’re not sure we will." They should get the point. But we've found that people who ask this question don’t realize how extremely personal this topic can be; therefore, they don’t easily get the point. So if they keep prodding, feel free to say, “It’s just a very personal and private decision, so we aren’t discussing it with people right now.� Hey, they asked. That should shut them up!