TIPS ON GETTING PREGNANT...

 

Ditch the Pill

 

Yes, the first thing is to forget about contraception. You may notice certain irregularities in your cycle and may take a few months for your cycle to return to normal. But many women are fertile the first month after they stop taking the Pill. The same holds true for the contraceptive patch and ring.

 

Stock up on Folic Acid

 

Folic Acid is a naturally occurring B vitamin that helps a baby's neural tube, the part of a developing baby that becomes the brain and spinal cord, develop properly. It must be taken before and during early pregnancy when the neural tube is developing. The best way to get enough folic acid is to take a multivitamin with 400 micrograms of folic acid in it and eat a healthy diet. Most multivitamins have this amount but check the label to be sure. You also get folic acid in your diet, but it's hard to get enough every day through food alone.

 

Quit Smoking, Drinking and Drugs now

 

Smoking or taking drugs greatly diminishes your chances of getting pregnant and can lead to miscarriages, premature birth, and low-birth weight babies. Plus, research suggests that smoking can affect your fertility and lower your partner's sperm count. In fact, studies have shown that even second-hand smoke may affect your chances of getting pregnant. It also recommended that women should avoid alcohol when trying for pregnancy.

 

Eat a Healthy Diet

 

Make sure you eat a healthy diet, plenty of fresh vegetables & fruit daily. Both you and your partner should eat a healthy diet for at least three months prior to pregnancy. The best advice is to choose wholegrain high fibre foods (such as bread, with seeds, brown rice and pasta), eat more fruit and vegetables including lentils and beans, avoid saturated 'bad' fats such as fried foods, pastry, biscuits, pies and cakes, eat more unsaturated 'good' fats such as avocados, nuts, oily fish and seeds and avoid sugary food and drink, such as sweets, biscuits, cakes and fizzy drinks.

 

Cut down on Caffeine

 

Research shows that too much caffeine can reduce your ability to absorb iron and increase your risk or stillbirth. Avoid coffee, tea and colas or switch to decaf to increase your chances of getting pregnant. If you are a complete caffeine junkie, then the safe limit would be a cup a day. Try switching to a milkshake which will boost your calcium as well and assist in conception.

 

Get you Weight in check

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Healthy weight women have an easier time getting pregnant than overweight or underweight women. Studies show that women whose body mass index (BMI) is below 20 or above 30  have a harder time getting pregnant, so it's a good idea to try to get yourself into the 20 to 30 range before you start trying.

 

Timing is Everything

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You will have little chance of getting pregnant if you had sex on the wrong days and missed the most fertile ones. Figure out your ovulation days with our ovulation calendar to increase your chances of conception.Read our articles on Ovulation and Signs of Ovulation to assist you in knowing your fertile period. Ovulation predictor kits can also help you figure when you're ovulating by detecting hormones in your urine that signal ovulation is about to occur.

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Mind Control

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Women who suffer from depression are twice as likely to have problems with fertility as women who don't. Get a mental health check if you notice signs of depression. Also, try stress management techniques, such as Yoga and Meditation, which research suggests can also help in getting pregnant.

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Buy something Sexy

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Some experts say that if a woman is highly aroused while she is having sex, the sperm has a better chance of fertilising her egg. Others say it makes absolutely no difference. It definitely won't hurt and may even help in boosting your libido and killing that awkward feeling of having sex for pregnancy.

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Positioning Yourself

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Many experts suspect that the missionary position (man on top) provides the best opportunity for getting pregnant, though no definitive studies have been done on this question. This position allows for the deepest penetration which deposits sperm closer to the cervix. For additional effectiveness, the woman can try elevating her hips with a pillow, so her cervix is exposed to the maximum amount of semen. Other positions could be rear entry and laying side-by-side. Avoid woman on top, or leaning positions, which discourage the flow of semen to the uterus.

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Increase the Odds

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Make your vaginal environment as sperm friendly as possible. Avoid vaginal sprays and scented tampons, artificial lubricants, and douching. Not only can they cause infections, they may wash away cervical mucus or create a hostile environment for the sperm. If you find that your cervical mucus is not as conducive of getting pregnant as it should be, you may want to try a specific type of lubricant. Pre-seed lubricant is the sperm friendly choice of many people trying to get pregnant. After intercourse, elevate your hips on a pillow for about fifteen minutes.

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For your Man

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Ask your partner to chuck all briefs and opt for boxers instead for a healthy sperm count. Also, having sex in the morning would help since the semen has the highest number of sperm then.

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And Finally...

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Getting pregnant isn't always very easy. Very few couples conceive on the first try. In fact, even if everything is absolutely in perfect working order, you only have a 20-25% chance of conception each month. If you are under 30, and haven't conceived in 12 months, you should make an appointment to see your doctoras there could be some issues at play which are preventing you from getting pregnant. If you are over 35, and havent succeeded in getting pregnant in six months, make an appointment to see your doctor, as infertility issues become more prevalent the older you get. If you are over 40, then do not delay in getting medical help.