So …You Want to Get Pregnant?
You have decided it’s time to start your family…. HOW EXCITING!!! You’re daydreaming about all the lovely things you will experience with your new bundle of joy… from pushing your pram through the park in summer to cosy nights in at Christmas time. You are very excited and so you should be.
Getting pregnant seems pretty straight forward, you have sex and then get pregnant then have your baby…. right? Unfortunately, it isn’t always as straightforward as that and there are many things to consider when trying for a baby.
First Things First – Stop your birth control
It’s time to come off any birth control. Some women are fertile as soon as they stop taking birth control where as other women take a little longer to return to normal. A good sign that you are ovulating is when your periods return to a normal cycle. You can monitor your periods in your own calendar or there are many apps available to help you. If you do not have a period for 3 months visit your doctor. This does not mean that anything is wrong, it is just important to get checked out and make sure everything is ok.
Timing
If you and your partner have sex a lot that’s great and an excellent start to having a baby, because no sex means no baby, however timing is key when trying for a baby. How do you know you are doing it on the days that matter? It is extremely important to find out when you are ovulating especially if you want to conceive as quickly as possible. There are a few ways to try and calculate your ovulation dates. You can our ovulation calculator to predict when you are at your most fertile. Another often quicker option that many ladies swear by is the home-ovulation predictor kits.
Get Your Vitamins
Before trying to conceive it is highly recommended to start taking the correct pre-natal vitamins. The vitamins help with boosting your chances of fertility and help towards a healthy baby.
Look After Dad
Do not forget it doesn’t just take one mummy on her own to get pregnant, it takes a daddy too. It is also very important that your partner is being as healthy as possible to ensure his swimmers have the best chance of reaching that egg.
Previous pregnancy’s
If you have had previous pregnancy’s resulting in miscarriages, premature births or any complications, it is worth speaking to your doctor before trying to get pregnant to see if there is anything they could recommend or if there is anything to be aware of.
Do not Panic
It can take a while to get pregnant and just because you have not got pregnant in the first few months does not mean there is something wrong with you. It is important not to worry and to relax. Stress can make it more difficult to conceive so just enjoy trying to make a baby with your partner and the rest will follow..
So What Affects Your Fertility?
Abnormalities of the Uterus
There are many different abnormalities of the uterus including; endometriosis, polycystic ovarian syndrome, fibroids and scarring of the uterus these can all affect fertility however although your chances could be lower when trying to get pregnant It does not make it impossible and I know a lot of people that have gone on to conceive naturally. It is important to speak to your GP when you decide you want to start trying for a baby so that the can offer you the correct advise.
Smoking
Smoking is not only bad for you but it can affect fertility for men and women. A recent medical study showed that up to 13% of infertility in women is caused by smoking. It also reduces a male’s sperm count.
Weight Issues
Weight plays a huge impact on fertility. Being overweight can cause the body to produce too much estrogen which can affect the reproductive system and being underweight can stop ovulation all together. If you are concerned about your weight visit your doctor and they will advise you of a healthy weight target for you to reach.
Illnesses left untreated
Some illnesses left untreated can affect fertility for example; kidney disease, celiac disease, thyroid disease and sickle cell anaemia in men. If you think that you could have any of the listed illnesses it is important to speak with your GP so the appropriate tests can be carried out.
Age
As you get older your chances of conceiving reduce dramatically. A healthy 30-year-old has around 20 – 25 per cent chance of conceiving each month. Although the number may seem low, over the year it means that there is a 75- 85 per cent chance of getting pregnant.
Irregular Cycles
If your cycles are irregular it is more difficult to pinpoint when ovulation is taking place.
Carla is the founder of MyBump2Baby. Carla has a huge passion for linking together small businesses and growing families. Carla’s humorous, non-filtered honesty has won the hearts of thousands of parents throughout the UK.
She has previously written for the Metro and made appearances on BBC News, BBC 5 live, LBC etc. Carla is a finalist for Blogger of the Year award with Simply Ladies inc. Carla is also the host of the popular Fifty Shades of Motherhood podcast and The MyBump2Baby Expert podcast.
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