A lot leads up to the decision to get pregnant: saving, planning, dreaming up names, and best of all – practising! So, when you and your partner decide it’s finally time for your egg to meet his fleet, the last thing you want to do is wait.
For some women, conceiving can be as easy as tossing out their contraception; for others making a baby could turn into stressful, unromantic science experiment.
Yeah, human reproduction might not be as easy as you thought. First, let’s get back to the basics. According to Alan Copperman, M.D., co-director of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at the Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, you’re born with 1 to 2 million eggs at birth, and those are all eggs you’re going to have in your lifetime. By the time of your first period, your supply dwindles to 300 000. If a woman ovulates 500 times between the ages of 12 and 52, and if not all of those eggs are considered to be healthy, what you’re left with is a select few eggs that are truly viable for pregnancy. Keeping in mind that there’s only one week in your cycle during which your odds are really favourable, it could be tricky.
So, if you have been trying to conceive for a while now without any success, put some planning behind your baby making.
• Have sex frequently. It may seem like a no-brainer but given many couples’ hectic schedules; it’s easy to overlook this one. Fertility experts agree that you can cover your bases by having sex every other day. About 84% of couples will get pregnant by having regular, unprotected sex for a year.
• Know your cycle. Yeah, timing when to get busy is a little unsexy, but since you were going to have sex anyway … you might as well make it count. Women with regular 28 day cycles can count 14 days from the first day of their period to determine their ovulation date. There is a 4 to 5 day window around ovulation, starting 2 days prior to ovulation, during which a woman can conceive. Try a couple of times during this period. Also keep tabs on your vaginal discharge – when there’s more than usual and it’s similar to the consistency of egg whites, you’re probably ovulating. You could also pick up an ovulating kit from the pharmacy.
• Get started on a pre-natal vitamin which contains folic –acid. (Ideally for at least 3 months before conceiving). If you are on any medications check with your GP that they are safe during pregnancy.
• Make lifestyle changes. Get as many of the controllable variables in your favour. If you smoke, use drugs or drink alcohol heavily; and are still doing this while trying to conceive, STOP!
• Get enough sleep. Research shows that the hormone Leptin, which plays a critical role in female fertility, is reduced when the body is deprived of sleep.
• Don’t ignore your BMI. Extra weight can cause hormonal shifts that can affect ovulation and semen production. Women with a BMI of more than 29 will take longer to conceive than those whose weight falls within the normal range. Being underweight is just as bad for fertility as being overweight.
• Eat healthy foods. Cut processed foods, sugary treats and saturated fats. Include fruits, vegetables and lean proteins to your diet. Don’t overdo carbohydrates.
• Don’t increase your exercise program. Try Yoga or Pilates. No marathons until after you have a baby.
• Set the stage for super-sperm. Sperm have their best shot at fertilising an egg when they’re strong, plentiful and healthy. Get his sperm supply in fighting shape by cutting back on alcohol, avoiding tobacco and recreational drugs, and eating enough key nutrients such as zinc, folic acid, calcium, as well as vitamins C and D. Avoid saunas, hot tubs and hot baths; testicles function best a couple of degrees cooler than normal body temperature. The improvements he makes today will ensure better sperm specimens in about 3 months from now.
Fertility declines as you get older, so if you’re over 40 and struggling to get pregnant, get help from an expert right away. If you’re 35 to 40, talk to a specialist after you’ve tried for six months with no luck. And if you’re under 35, it’s probably fine to keep trying for a year before seeking assistance.
Source: www.parents.com, www.parenting.com, www.conceiveeasy.com, www.huffingtonpost.com, www.babycenter.com, www.webmd.boots.com, www.womanshealthmag.com, www.justmommies.com
DISCLAIMER: The information on this website is for educational purposes only, and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you are experiencing symptoms or need health advice, please consult a healthcare professional.
