Have you and your partner recently made the monumental decision that you are both ready to have a child? Making the decision is both exciting and terrifying, as you aren’t yet fully aware of what you’re signing up for as you prepare to enter into parenthood together. Of course, in order to get to the point of holding that little bundle of joy in your arms, you first need to get pregnant. While it would be great to have it happen on the first try after making your decision, the reality of the situation is that it’s not always that easy.
In some cases, it can take a lot longer to conceive than you expected, which can lead to frustration, stress, and even anger. According to statistics, normal healthy women between the ages of 25-35 have just a 20% chance of getting pregnant in each of their cycles. Once you pass the age of 35, the odds will start to decline rather quickly. By the time you hit the age of 42 there is just a 2-4% chance of getting pregnant on each cycle.
So, before you get too caught up in the statistics and odds, there are some things you could be doing that may help increase the chances of you getting pregnant. Let’s take a closer look.
Speak to Your Doctor First
A great place to start is by visiting your doctor before you even start trying to conceive. Your doctor can perform what is known as a preconception check-up. What this does is help to identify any medical issues that may cause problems. If there are problems, then the doctor can work with you to help remedy them first, which can make conception easier.
Also, the doctor will likely suggest that you start taking a prenatal vitamin in order to prepare your body. These vitamins contain folic acid which helps to protect against a variety of birth defects. Since these birth defects happen in the early stages, having that folic acid already in your body beforehand can be very helpful.
Start Tracking Your Cycles
It can be really difficult to just get pregnant by fluke, which is why it’s also important to start tracking your cycle. There are all kinds of ways you can do this, such as charting things out on a calendar, using an app, or making use of smart technology like the Ava bracelet. The Ava bracelet can be especially handy as this is a wearable fertility tracker that works by tracking your basal body temperature. While you could certainly get the same results by waking up each morning and taking your temperature with a thermometer, the bracelet is much easier.
The bracelet will not only track your fertility but it will let you know the early signs of your fertile period during that cycle, and when that period will end. It also offers insight into other details as well. You can read Ava bracelet reviews online to learn more details.
Give Thought to What You’re Eating and Drinking
As you work to make sure your body is healthy and strong, it’s a good idea to also be aware of what you’re eating and drinking. Focus on eating a well-balanced diet that contains all the essential nutrients and vitamins. This should include dairy, whole grains, lean protein, vegetables, fruit, and healthy forms of fat. It’s also a good idea to cut back on eating fish with a high mercury count.
If you’re a coffee drinker, this could be the time to start cutting back. It has been shown that those women who drink 500 milligrams of caffeine or more per day show a decrease in their fertility. What this means is that you want to keep it to a maximum of two cups of coffee per day.
Don’t Put Too Much Stress and Pressure on Yourself
All too often women end up putting stress and pressure on themselves over how long it is taking to get pregnant. This will only make the situation worse, and can lower the odds of it actually happening. Instead try to take things one day at a time, and don’t get too worried about it.
A Great Time to Give Up Smoking
If you happen to be a smoker, this is also the ideal time to give up the habit. Ideally you want to kick smoking to the curb before you start trying to get pregnant. Smoking actually increases the speed in which a woman loses eggs, so in other words, smoking makes it harder for you to get pregnant at all.
Your Position After Intercourse Can Matter
While you may be familiar with all the myths circulating about what positions help you to get pregnant during intercourse, the fact is that these aren’t based on any truth. However, the position you take after intercourse can have an effect on your chances of conception.
After intercourse, it is recommended that you lay in bed for 10-15 minutes. You can just lie flat though, there is no need to elevate your legs. It’s also important that you refrain from going to the bathroom for 15 minutes after intercourse.
Do Your Best to Maintain a Healthy Body Weight
Your health can have a huge impact on your ability to conceive. What this means is that you want to be sure you’re making healthy lifestyle choices. Maintaining a healthy body rate can help increase your odds of conception. This means you don’t want to be overweight or underweight.
In your quest to maintain a healthy body rate, regular exercise can be beneficial. However, you don’t want to overdo it and take part in strenuous workouts. These types of hard-core workouts can actually mess up your body’s ovulation.
Give It Time and Stay Positive
The very best tip for women trying to conceive is to try their best to be patient and keep a positive attitude. Remember, it’s normal for it to take time and not have success on that first try.
