Once you've made the decision to start trying for a baby, you want it to happen straight away. Waiting is often the last thing you want to do. Although conception will happen in its own time, there are some things you can do to help increase your chances of getting pregnancy naturally.
Stop Your Birth Control Ahead of Time
If you are on birth control and you have made the decision to start trying for a family, you should stop birth control a few months ahead of time. After you have been using birth control for a little while, it might take your body a couple of cycles to start ovulating properly again. During this time, it is important to start getting to know your cycle so that you can plan your pregnancy in advance.
Get to Know Your Cycle
How much do you really know about your body? Understanding your cycle properly is one of the best ways to get pregnant easily. If you know how to monitor your cycle you will learn when you are at your most fertile and, therefore, you'll be able to try for a baby when your fertility is at its highest. If you're unsure when you ovulate and how your cycle works, apps such as Flo are great for getting to know your cycle.
Vitamins and Supplements
One of the reasons many people follow a fertility diet plan when they are trying to get pregnant is to improve their chances of successful conception. If you're trying to have a baby, it is important to maintain a healthy lifestyle and to follow a balanced diet. A healthy intake of Vitamins and minerals (recommended by your doctor) will give your body what it needs to grow a baby.
Work Towards a Healthy Body Mass Index (BMI)
Eating well pre-pregnancy is a great way to work towards a healthy body mass index (BMI). Maintaining a balanced diet and regular exercise is important because having a healthy BMI means you are more likely to conceive naturally. If you have a BMI that is too high or a BMI that is too low, your fertility could be affected. So, if you are trying for a baby, it is important to work towards a healthy BMI.
Don't Worry About Sex Positions
Myths about the best positions for getting pregnant are incredibly common, but they are just myths. There is no scientific evidence that the missionary position is better for conception than any other. It is rare that a woman's cervix is in an unusual position that requires a certain position during intercourse in order to encourage successful conception.
Have Regular Unprotected Sex
When you're trying to get pregnant, the temptation is often to have sex every day. However, this does not necessarily increase your chances of getting pregnant. In general, the experts advise having sex every other night around the time of ovulation as sperm can live in your body for up to 5 days, in which time it has plenty of opportunity to fertilise the egg. So, to increase your chances of successful conception, have unprotected sex regularly when you are ovulating and when you're not.
Reduce the Stress in Your Life
This is the advice no one really wants to read as it's a lot harder to make happen in reality. However, it is important to destress as much as you can when you're trying for a baby because stress can actually interfere with ovulation. So, the more relaxed you are, the better! Some people enjoy acupuncture or meditation, while those who are able to take a week off and go away on holiday. Whatever you can do to de-tress, take the steps today and increase your chances of pregnancy.
Take a Prenatal Vitamin
Speak to your doctor before taking medications. However, most professionals will recommend that women trying to conceive start taking a prenatal vitamin before conceiving. Prenatal vitamins help increase the body's intake of folic acid and the B Vitamin, both of which are important for conception and preventing birth defects in a baby's brain and spine. Folic acid is also another supplement important for women to take when trying to conceive as it helps encourage healthy baby development.
Eat a Healthy balanced Diet
When you are trying to conceive, one of the best things you can do for your body is eat a healthy balanced diet. Eating a variety of healthy foods helps prepare your body for pregnancy, providing all-important nutrients such as calcium, protein, and iron your body needs for a healthy pregnancy.
Reduce Strenuous Workouts
Regular physical activity that gets your heart pumping is important for maintaining a healthy body weight and keeping active can also help prepare your body for the demands of pregnancy and birth. However, getting too much exercise can do more harm than good and particularly strenuous exercise could interfere with ovulation. Women who exercise excessively often experience disturbances in their menstrual cycles and can find it more difficult to get pregnant.
The best solution is to get 30 minutes of mild exercise a day. For example, a brisk walk or a gentle swim are both great forms of exercise that aren't too strenuous on the body when you are trying to conceive.
Know When to Seek Fertility Support
Around 85% of couples who try for a baby will conceive naturally within the first year of trying. However, for some couples it may be more difficult. If you have been trying for a while, without success, it is important to seek support from a fertility clinic. Whether you conceive naturally or with the help of fertility treatments, it is important to follow the advice listed above to ensure your body is as healthy as it can be to support new life.
