Tips For Getting Pregnant: 11 Things To Consider
Everyone — from your mother-in-law to that nosy co-worker — probably has shared some surefire tips for getting pregnant. But science-based methods are far more likely to get you to that magical expectant state than turning cartwheels or putting coins under your pillow! Learn more scientific tips to hasten pregnancy here.
11 Useful Tips For Getting Pregnant
1. Learn the Signs of Ovulation
Every woman’s body is a little bit different. That means that the signs of ovulation can also vary from woman to woman. Sometimes those signals can be quite subtle. But because this is the most fertile time of your menstrual cycle, it’s crucial to pay attention. Your discharge may change from thick and opaque to thin and clear. Or you may go from having vaginal dryness to feeling more moisture.
Some women feel an ovarian twinge now and then that feels different than menstrual cramps. Your mood may also become more energetic, and your dreams more creative. And, of course, you’re more likely to be “in the mood” at this time of your cycle, which seems to be Mother Nature’s way of helping move things along!
2. Enlist Technology
Along with recognizing ovulation signals that you can see and feel, modern tech tracks the changes that you can’t. A number of products are on the market to help you pinpoint when you’re at your most fertile. The “granddaddy” of them all is a basal thermometer. It’s like a traditional thermometer, except it registers your temperature even more precisely. It gives you your body temp to 1/100th of a degree.
After about a month of tracking your temperature, you’ll know when a slight rise indicates that you’re ovulating. In addition to basal thermometers, ovulation prediction kits are becoming more popular. These kits test either your saliva or your urine. The instructions vary from kit to kit, so make sure to follow them precisely to best determine when you’ve reached a fertile interval.
3. Go for a Checkup
It helps to identify, and perhaps treat, potential roadblocks to conception before you start trying to have a baby. Getting to a certain age, developing uterine fibroids, having scar tissue in your reproductive tract, or reaching an unhealthy weight can all contribute to lowered fertility. If there is a procedure or hormone therapy that might help, your doctor will let you know.
4. Kick the Habit(s)
Now is the time to cut out cigarettes and alcohol, if you currently indulge. You already know that using these substances dramatically increases your chances of having a child with birth defects, brain damage or growth problems. For that reason, you probably planned to quit as soon as you get pregnant. But aside from the fact that you might indulge in the several weeks before confirming pregnancy, both habits can also interfere with your ability to conceive.
Smoking tends to keep underweight women from putting on the pounds they need to increase fertility. Smoking also robs the body of vital nutrients. It can also cause you physical stress when you have to go too long without a fix. That kind of stress can interfere with conception. One way to share the misery of quitting is by making your partner quit with you. Smoking pot and cigarettes have been shown to lower sperm count, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).
Alcohol also lowers the odds of getting pregnant, notes the ACOG. And it doesn’t have to be heavy drinking. Even that nightly glass of wine can make conception less likely. Both moderate and heavy drinking are linked to infertility.
5. Open That Window!
Discuss your “fertility window” with your gynecologist, if you’re still not sure when you’re ovulating. There is a six-day span in a woman’s menstrual cycle when it’s most apt to get pregnant. Those peak fertility days are the five before your ovulation day, and the day itself. Both before and after those days, your odds decrease rapidly.
It’s not always practical for couples to have sex every day during that six-day interval. But there’s good news for busy couples. Studies show that women who had sex every other day during her fertility window were almost as likely to get pregnant as those who did the deed every day. The similar results are due to the fact that sperm are viable for up to five days in a woman’s reproductive tract. So even if you don’t have sex two days before ovulation (the day with the highest odds of conception), having sex the previous day can still get you pregnant, because of the long “shelf life’ of sperm.
6. Choose Bedroom “Aids” Carefully
It’s natural to need a little help getting in the mood when you’re “marching” through the fertility window. But use caution if a lubricant is part of your time together. Most lubricants on the market are water-based, which can slow sperm. Fortunately, products exist that are made to be “sperm friendly” for couples trying to conceive. One such fertility-friendly lubricant to look for is called Pre-Seed.
7. Enjoy the Afterglow
You don’t have to get in any convoluted positions after sex in order to get pregnant. Yet research does show that not moving around much afterwards can aid conception. That includes not using the restroom for about 15 minutes after sex, if you can stand to wait. In either case, it’s a great excuse to make your partner be the one who runs to the kitchen for snacks!
8. Keep Your Cool
Whether it’s the hormone cortisone or some other yet-to-be-determined cause, stress does appear to interfere with conception. Do what it takes to stay as calm as possible while you’re trying to conceive. Obsessing about conception is obviously one sure sign of tension. But other elements in your life can also cause nervousness and irritation. Massage, meditation and just cutting back are all great stress-busters. If you have young children in the house, splurge on a babysitter and hit the town for date night.
9. Don’t Overwork Your Workout
Exercise is another great stress-buster, as well as good way to build endurance to see you through pregnancy. But if you’re a hard-core runner, biker, swimmer — basically, any kind of athlete who needs to work out more than an hour a day — you might need to cut back. It’s possible for a female athlete to end up altering her menstrual cycle to the point of not getting her period. When that happens, ovulation is also halted. If you’re getting your period regularly, you probably don’t have to worry. But do keep track of your cycle to make sure the interval between periods hasn’t changed.
10. Keep Your Eye on That BMI
Being too thin can wreak havoc on your ability to conceive. Whether your extra-slim state comes from working out, dieting, or a high metabolism, do what you can to ease up, and put on a few pounds. A body mass index of below 19 can halt ovulation.
On the other end of the spectrum, a body mass higher than 35 is likely to cause an overproduction of estrogen. Too much of this hormone interferes with ovulation. (In case you’re wondering, being underweight is more likely to cause fertility problems than being overweight.) Ask your doctor about a healthy eating plan, as well as ways to get more active.
If you’re not in the sweet spot of between 19 and 35 BMI, do what you can to gain or lose the weight you need to hit that target.
11. Other Tips for a Healthy Pregnancy
Other tips for getting pregnant include taking supplements to increase fertility. However, taking supplements before pregnancy may not make you any more fertile. On the other hand, it does allow the nutrients to get into your system before conception so that you can begin nourishing your baby from the very earliest stages of pregnancy.
Folic acid, a B vitamin, is the most important nutrient because it helps prevent birth defects. Either take a seperate supplement or a multivitamin containing folic acid. Just be sure you’re getting 400 mcg a day. (Foods rich in folic acid include legumes like dried beans and nuts, citrus fruits, and leafy greens like spinach and kale.)
In addition, make sure you’re eating foods rich in calcium and iron. These foods help support baby’s growth, while also helping your body cope with the stress on your bones and your energy to carry all the extra weight around. Dairy products are great calcium sources, while meat and leafy green provide iron. If you’re having trouble eating much, ask your OB/GYN about multivitamins or supplements.
Are you a bit along in age but still want to have a baby? Here are some tips for getting pregnant when you’re over 35 from The Doctors.
You’re probably sick of hearing that pregnancy happens once you stop worrying about it. In fact, it’s one of the most annoying tips for getting pregnant. In fact, trying to put your desire to have a baby completely out of your mind can be virtually impossible. Fortunately, you probably won’t need to! Making a few adjustments to your lifestyle can give you the advantages you need in order to get pregnant, once you and your partner are ready.
Do you know of other tips for getting pregnant that we can add to this list? Let us know in the comments section below!
