Getting Pregnant
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Conceiving is one of the most monumental times for couples, and it can also be the most exciting and trying time. Pregnancy isn’t always an instant process and chances are only about 20% chance of getting pregnant on your first try. In other words, pregnancy isn’t easy. Here are a few tips to get you on your way if you’re ready to get pregnant:
Forget Contraception
If you’re trying to get pregnant, taking the pill and using condoms isn’t the ideal situation for a sperm to meet an egg. Depending on which type of birth control you use, you may have to wait a month or two before safely trying to conceive. If you have an IUD (intrauterine device), such as Mirena, you can generally try to conceive immediately after removal.
Ditch Smoking, Alcohol and other Drugs
No ifs, ands or buts about it. There is nothing safe about any of these. All of them affect a baby’s development in the womb, and can lead to problems such as fetal alcohol syndrome, physical and mental birth defects and stillbirth.
Start on a Healthy Diet
Cutting back on caffeine is a major step in getting pregnant. Research shows that men who drink mountain dew and highly caffeinated drinks have a decreased amount of sperm. For women, drinking caffeine is not healthy toward a (possibly) growing baby. Caffeine reduces the body’s ability to retain iron and can lead to still birth. Eating healthy and exercising regular helps when trying to conceive, too. Healthy women who are in their normal weight range usually have an advantage above overweight women trying to conceive.
Take lots of folic acid and prenatal vitamins.
Folic acid is a form of folate, which is a B vitamin that helps reduce serious birth defects such as spina bifida. Folic acid is also essential for women’s health, so experts suggest taking folic acid from a couple months to 2 years before trying to conceive.
Prenatal vitamins are essential for pregnancy because they give you, as an expectant mother, the vitamins and extra nutrients you need to share with your baby. Start taking this as soon as you start trying to conceive. These are available over the counter, and your doctor can prescribe them, too.
Know your Body
Know how many days apart your period usually is, and how long it lasts. This will help in determining when you are ovulating and the best time to have sex and conceive. Timing is everything. Sex during the three days before ovulation gives you the best chance of conception. Check your estimated ovulation dates using online or over-the-counter ovulation calculators.
Have Sex.
Lose the lube, too. Most lubricants act as barriers to sperm. If you must have a lube, find one that it sperm-friendly, or try other acts of foreplay that can “get the juices flowing”. Urinate immediately before sex to help prevent UTI’s (urinary tract infection), and stay in bed at least 30 minutes after having, because as soon as you stand up gravity will act against the sperm’s destination.
Don’t get discouraged.
Don’t be upset or think you’re infertile if you don’t get pregnant right away. If you’re under the age of 35, conceiving may take up to a year. If you haven’t gotten pregnant after a year of trying to conceive, it’s probably a good time to see an obstetrician, who may give you better tips or send you to a fertility specialist to inform you of your options.
If you’re over 35…
See a doctor before you try to conceive. Chances of serious birth defects, such as spina bifida and Down syndrome rise after you turn 35, when you’re childbearing days are coming to an end. If your doctor gives the okay to conceive, make sure you take all necessary steps your doctor tells you to decrease your chance of a high-risk pregnancy. If you haven’t conceived in over 6 months, consult your doctor again for your options.