Welcome to The Conscious Conception Show! I’m Sue Ritchie, and today I want to explore an idea that often surprises people—parenting doesn’t start at birth. It starts before conception.
When we think about preparing for a baby, our focus often goes straight to the physical side: eating well, taking supplements, or considering fertility treatments. But what about preparing emotionally, mentally, and relationally? The truth is, the way we care for ourselves before pregnancy profoundly shapes the parents we become—and the environment our children grow into.
That’s why I invited Camilla Miller, a master parenting coach, qualified teacher, author, and mum of two, to join me for a powerful conversation. Together, we unpacked how emotional health, family patterns, and intentional preparation play a role in parenting long before a child is even conceived.
Emotional Health Matters Before Conception
Camilla shared her journey of realizing that parenting isn’t just about managing children’s behavior—it’s about understanding relationships, human dynamics, and your own inner world. For her, that realization came when her daughter’s strong-willed nature exposed gaps in the traditional “discipline tools” she was taught to use.
She discovered the Language of Listening coaching model, which reshaped her entire approach. Instead of parenting from control, she learned to parent with connection, respect, and awareness. And this is exactly why emotional health matters so much before conception—because unresolved trauma, perfectionism, or people-pleasing tendencies don’t just disappear when a baby arrives. They often show up louder.
Breaking Cycles and Building Awareness
Like many parents, I myself noticed patterns from my upbringing that I didn’t want to repeat—such as criticism and perfectionism. But even with the best intentions, some of those subconscious habits still slipped into my parenting.
Camilla explained this beautifully: when we don’t want to repeat what our parents did, we often swing too far in the other direction—becoming overly permissive. Neither extreme works. What’s needed are new tools and awareness to help us parent effectively and with balance.
Preparing as a Couple
One of the most practical parts of our discussion was about alignment with your partner before the baby arrives. Conversations about values, discipline, household roles, and lifestyle changes are essential. Parenthood is one of the biggest transitions you’ll ever face, and going into it prepared makes a world of difference.
For example, how will your daily routines shift? How will you support each other through sleepless nights, changing priorities, or the loss of certain freedoms? These conversations may not feel urgent before a baby comes along—but they are crucial.
Parenting with Intention, Not Just Reaction
Parenthood is full of unpredictable moments, especially in the early days when exhaustion runs high. But intentional preparation helps you move from reaction to response. It equips you to meet challenges with calm, clarity, and connection instead of stress and conflict.
Camilla put it perfectly—when we parent with awareness and intention, we enjoy the journey far more instead of just surviving it.
Final Thoughts
If you’re preparing for conception—or even just beginning to think about it—remember this: you’re already shaping the kind of parent you will become. By investing in your emotional well-being, healing old patterns, and aligning with your partner, you’re not just preparing for pregnancy—you’re preparing for a joyful, connected family life.
Parenting really does start before conception. And the good news is, you don’t have to do it alone.
