The Sims 4 pregnancy guide, trying for a baby, and giving birth

The Sims 4 offers a captivating life simulation experience, particularly when it comes to the intricacies of pregnancy. While players can choose various gameplay styles, many find the journey of having Sims start families to be an engaging aspect of the game. This guide will walk you through the steps and considerations for getting your Sims pregnant, the pregnancy stages, and the birth process.

Who Can Get Pregnant in The Sims 4?

In The Sims 4, pregnancy is primarily experienced by Young Adult and Adult female Sims who engage in the ‘Try for Baby’ interaction with a Young Adult, Adult, or Elder male. However, the game introduces Custom Gender Settings, allowing players to customize gender roles, including pregnancy capabilities.

Understanding Custom Gender Settings

The Custom Gender Settings feature enables players to mix and match gender-specific options, including whether a Sim can “Become Pregnant” or “Get others pregnant.” While default settings allow female Sims to become pregnant and male Sims to get others pregnant, players can modify these options according to their preferences. Custom Gender Settings can be adjusted for Sims starting from the Teen life stage, but note that teens cannot access the ‘Try for Baby’ interaction.

How to Get Pregnant and ‘Try for Baby’

To initiate a pregnancy in The Sims 4, you need to use the ‘Try for Baby’ option instead of the regular WooHoo interaction. This option becomes available once the couple’s romantic relationship reaches around 40%-50% and they are in a formal relationship (Dating, Engaged, or Married).

It’s important to note that ‘Try for Baby’ will only be accessible when one Sim can “Become Pregnant” and the other can “Get others pregnant.” Either partner can initiate this interaction, which resembles a typical WooHoo scene until the fireworks signal the end of the interaction.

Important Considerations

Even Sims with the ‘Hates Children’ trait can engage in ‘Try for Baby,’ although they will receive a moodlet indicating their discomfort. Additionally, households are capped at eight members, so if a household is already full, no one can attempt to conceive until there’s available space.

Pregnancy Odds Explained

The base chance of conceiving from a ‘Try for Baby’ interaction is 80%. This means that most Sims will likely conceive on their first attempt, and multiple attempts are almost guaranteed to result in pregnancy. Various methods can increase the likelihood of having twins or triplets, ensuring that you can expand your family as desired.

Influencing Gender: How to Have a Boy or Girl

In The Sims 4, the gender of a baby is determined by chance, but specific actions can influence the odds. For example, eating certain foods and listening to specific music genres can increase the chances of having a boy or girl.

Increasing Chances of Having a Girl

• Eat Strawberries: Strawberries can often be found in various locations or purchased from produce stalls. Planting them on your lot can ensure a steady supply.
• Listen to Pop Music: This can be done via any stereo or earbuds.

Increasing Chances of Having a Boy

• Eat Carrots: Carrots can also be found in the game world or purchased from stalls.
• Listen to Alternative Music: Similar to pop music, this can be accessed through a stereo or earbuds.

Influencing Multiple Births: Twins or Triplets

The odds of multiple births are as follows: 89% chance for a single baby, 10% for twins, and 1% for triplets. While there’s no guaranteed method for ensuring multiple births, specific actions can improve your chances.

Fertility Boosts

• ‘Fertile’ Trait: This reward trait increases both the chances of conception and the likelihood of twins or triplets.
• ‘On Ley-Line’ Lot Trait: Sims conceiving on a lot with this trait have a higher chance of multiple births.
• Elixir of Fertility: Brewed using the Herbalism skill, this elixir boosts the chances of twins or triplets.
• Fertility Massage: This wellness skill action provides a boost when ‘Try for Baby’ is attempted during its effect.

The Trimester Stages of Pregnancy

Once your Sim successfully conceives, they will experience three trimesters. The first sign of pregnancy is the ‘Eating for Two’ moodlet, which appears after either taking a pregnancy test or waiting 24 hours post-conception.

Each trimester lasts a specific amount of time, during which your Sim’s physical needs will change. They will gain weight, experience morning sickness, and eventually enter labor as their pregnancy progresses.

Giving Birth in The Sims 4

When the ‘Pregnant: In Labour’ moodlet appears, your Sim has about three in-game hours until delivery. There are two main options for giving birth: at home or at the hospital.

Home Birth

In a home birth, once the Sim is in labor, they can either wait for three in-game hours or select the ‘Have Baby’ option to speed up the process. A bassinet will automatically be provided for the newborn.

Hospital Birth

If the Get to Work expansion pack is installed, Sims can choose to go to the hospital. They will need to check in at the front desk, and a doctor will assist with the delivery. Hospital births yield a unique Birth Certificate item for decoration.

Adoption in The Sims 4

If pregnancy is not appealing, Sims can opt for adoption. Any Young Adult or older Sim can start the adoption process through their phone. Adoption costs §1,000, and the child will appear on the lot once the process is complete.

Other Ways to Get Pregnant

Occult Pregnancies

Occult Sims, such as aliens, vampires, and werewolves, can experience unique pregnancy scenarios. For instance, male Sims can become pregnant through alien abduction, while vampires have increased chances of producing vampire offspring.

Hybrid Pregnancies

While different types of Occult Sims can have children together, there are no hybrid offspring. The child will either inherit traits from one parent or the other, not a mixture of both.

Pregnancy and Baby Cheats

For those looking to modify their gameplay, several cheats can enhance the pregnancy experience. Players can speed up pregnancy, force the number of offspring, or skip directly to labor with specific commands.