Getting Pregnant Tips

by Lexie
(Colorado, CA)

I usually get pregnant while on vacation!

Information on getting pregnant can be hard to find, and trying to conceive can be tricky business. I want to share with you some invaluable fertility tips and tools that I've discovered while learning how to conceive naturally. I used this information to help me get pregnant more quickly.

My getting pregnant tips:
Many women are baffled and even devastated by how difficult it has been to get pregnant or carry a pregnancy to term. Believe me - I've been there! Let's walk down this rocky road of infertility together and get some answers!

I am not a doctor, or even a nurse. I'm simply a very happy mom who waited longer than expected to conceive my beautiful child. I've spent many long hours searching for answers and trying different methods in order to conceive. I've been through struggles wondering if I could conceive at all and difficulties in my marriage because of this. I've been through the heart-break of two miscarriages. But I've also been through the incredible joy of hearing my son's heart beat for the first time, feeling him kick, and then holding my healthy baby boy in my arms. Information on getting pregnant can be hard to find.

So what are the key things I’ve learned? Healthy diet, tracking ovulation, and the timing of sex all play an important role. A visit to an OBGYN is a good first step in any effort to get pregnant. The doctor will assess any health issues you may be having, prescribe prenatal vitamins, and check for obstacles such as infections or sexually transmitted diseases.

The doctor can also recommend a method for tracking ovulation which will help to improve the chances of successful conception. Learn how to tracking ovulation and document your results on a fertility chart. Many women keen on learning how to get pregnant rely on a BBT (basal body temperature) chart to track cycles, which is not always successful. A fertility chart may identify the most fertile days based on monthly temperature spikes. However, if your ovulation is irregular it is difficult to anticipate likely days for successfully getting pregnant. The chart does not predict ovulation-it registers a temperature spike 24 to 48 hours later-aiding prediction of ovulation in the next cycle.

I found a fertility monitor to be a more reliable tool. It was both easier to use and quite accurate. My monitor tracked luteinizing hormone (LH), which increases 24 to 48 hours prior to ovulation. Release of the egg is triggered by the LH surge. Urine and saliva-based fertility monitors both identify and track ovulation, even days in advance.

Women who have frequent sex, even when they may not be ovulating, have a better chance to get pregnant. They won't be missing opportunities if their cycle is irregular that month. Because sperm last longer than eggs (usually 3 to 5 days), the best time to have sex is before ovulation.

More getting pregnant tips:
Another note to keep in mind is that relaxed and enjoyable sex using the missionary position will allow the sperm to be drawn up into the uterus. Remaining in a prone position after sex is also helpful-the goal is to keep sperm in the vagina longer in order to increase the chances of getting pregnant.

Everyone trying to get pregnant should know that a healthy diet is an important factor for successful reproduction. A woman's body needs a balanced diet of fruit, whole grains, dairy products, vegetables and lean meats to get the needed allowance of vitamins and minerals for conception. Additionally, zinc is important for men and women who want to maintain healthy reproductive systems; 15 mg a day contributes to semen production in men and ovulation in women (Oysters contain high levels of zinc).

Other important vitamins for women include folic acid, calcium, and any prescribed prenatal vitamins.

Things that must be stopped before getting pregnant include: smoking, drinking and/or using drugs. Because these habits affect not only fertility, but also an unborn child, stop them before getting pregnant.

High levels of caffeine, including chocolate, lower the body's ability to absorb calcium and iron and may reduce fertility by 27 percent. Removing artificial sweeteners is also recommended.

Successful conception is possible for the majority of women without any issues. However, an important element to keep in mind is that the process must not be rushed as stress can be counterproductive. Just keep healthy, enjoy sex and you should get pregnant in no time at all. If after a year you have still not conceived, don't panic as it can take longer for some women.

I hope these tips for getting pregnant help other women have the little baby they are yearning for!