So, you’re trying to conceive, yet there is a whole boatload, actually a whole ocean of information and tips out there. I hear you, it’s overwhelming! Trying to get pregnant is not something that just “happens” and sometimes a little more planning is involved.
But where do you even start? Well, let me tell you,
Trying to conceive might just be simpler and easier than you thought. So, grab a cup of your favorite drink, relax, and let your brain be filled with all of the wonderful things to know about trying to conceive.
*Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.
Everything You Should Know About Trying to Conceive
- How to prepare your body for pregnancy
- Ovulation and fertility
- What are my odds of pregnancy?
- Factors that affect pregnancy
- Am I pregnant or not?
How to Prepare Your Body for Pregnancy
Pregnancy definitely takes its toll on the human body, so preparing it for the big task ahead is the BEST thing you can do while trying to conceive. But don’t worry, it’s not a whole extensive list with a million different things to do.
We like to keep it real simple here.
Be Physically Healthy
Being physically healthy will bump up your fertility chances to the next level. Make sure you are not overly stressed, have time to relax, and take care of your body physically as well.
I know, I know, everybody always tells you this “take care of yourself”, but it is actually so so important!
Self-care may mean going for a daily jog, or simply taking a few minutes in the morning to stretch and do some yoga. You know what your body needs to feel fit and healthy, so providing your body with that will make it a lot happier.
And a happier body means happier hormones. And what do happy hormones mean? Greater chances to conceive!
Plus, being fit and healthy when you do conceive has been proven to lead to a happier and healthier pregnancy with less complications. Double win!
Examine your Medications
If you are taking medications, make sure they are pregnancy safe. Some medications may interfere with the chances of fertility, so just checking with your doctor about your medications and whether you should stop taking them when trying to conceive or not would be something to do soon!
Stop Unhealthy Habits
There are a few unhealthy habits that you should consider dropping before even getting pregnant. These are not seen as “pregnancy-safe” and should be stopped once you are pregnant anyways.
So why not stop them now and increase your fertility chances as well?
This includes smoking. Smoking ages a woman’s uterus faster, causing fertility problems as the eggs are dropping faster. Even second-hand smoking and recreational drugs such as Marijuana take a toll on a woman’s fertility.
Drinking any form of alcohol should also be stopped when trying to conceive. Drinking regularly actually decreases your fertility chances. So, it is safest for you and for your baby to avoid alcohol when trying to get pregnant.
And when you do get pregnant, no amount of alcohol is safe anyways, so giving your body and little baby a good start from the beginning is the best thing to do!
Read More:
–A Super Late Period or a Miscarriage?
–How to Get Pregnant Fast: 8 Proven Ways
–Everything You Want To Know About The First Trimester
Eat the Right Foods
Eating the right foods that nourish your body will give your body the best chance on getting pregnant. I know, as if you didn’t figure eating healthier would be on here.
But let me tell you a little story.
Your body is just like a garden. A gardener will always prepare the soil before planting. He will nourish it, fertilize it, and take care of it. The better the soil, the better the little seeds grow.
It’s the same way with our body. The better nutrition we put into it, the better outcome we will have. So, make sure to eat a well-balanced diet and include many nutrient-rich foods!
Not sure what to eat? Here is a helpful guide in eating the right foods for your body during pregnancy to give it the best chances of conceiving as possible!
Stop Taking Birth Control
This one may seem obvious, but the effects of birth control can make a big difference to your chances to getting pregnant. When you stop taking birth control, it may take a while before your menstrual cycle regulates itself and you are fertile again.
So, it’s best to check with your doctor about dropping the pill and how soon you can expect to be fertile again.
Start Taking Prenatal Vitamins
Preparing your body for pregnancy also includes your hormones, and hormones, vitamins and minerals are often interconnected.
So, to give your body the best chances of fertility and conception, start taking prenatal vitamins when trying to conceive.
Its best to now try out different brands and kinds of vitamins (pills or gummies) and find one your body is agreeable with, so you won’t have to do it during pregnancy itself.
But are prenatal vitamins actually important?
“The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urges women to take 400 mcg of folic acid every day for at least one month before getting pregnant to help prevent birth defects.”
Folic Acid is found in prenatal vitamins and helps prevent birth defects in a baby’s spine and brain, which starts developing around weeks 3 to 4, usually before most women know they are pregnant. So, it’s best to get a head start and give your little one everything they need right from the get-go!
Feeling nauseous from prenatal vitamins? Trying a different brand may help. These are the ones I used and loved from amazon.
Tracking your Ovulation and When to Have Sex
In general, all women should keep track of their period, when it comes, and for how long it stays. This can give you a great idea of whether your periods are regular or irregular, which could greatly impact when you ovulate.
Using a tracker on paper, or even tracking on an app (which I prefer) is a great way to monitor your menstrual cycle.
Once you know your cycle length (the number of days from day 1 of your period to day 1 of your next period) and whether you are irregular or not, you can determine your ovulation days.
When will I ovulate?
If your cycles are regular, you will typically ovulate two weeks before your period starts. If they are irregular, you will most likely ovulate 12 to 16 days before your next period.
After a woman releases an egg, she is only fertile for the next 12 to 24 hours. But don’t worry about the short time span. A man’s sperm can survive in the woman for up to 5 days. So, knowing roughly when you ovulate can really help.
Taking at-home ovulation tests will also help you pinpoint exactly when you are fertile. If you are trying to conceive, I really recommend picking up a big package from your local drug store or ordering this value pack from amazon.
What’s next?
Once you know when you are fertile, you know what to do.
Having sex every other day during your fertile window will increase your chances greatly. And no, you do not have to do it as often as possible. Studies actually showed that every other day is more than enough, and not any less effective as going to town the entire week.
Want more tips on how to boost your fertility? Check out our post on how to get pregnant faster and boost your fertility naturally!
What are my Chances of Pregnancy?
Your fertility, your partners fertility, and many other different factors all come into play when you are trying to conceive. So being aware of these, and thus having realistic expectations is the best thing you can do for your sanity during this trying time.
Factors that Affect Trying To Conceive
Age
Your age can have a bigger impact on your fertility than you thought as fertility declines with age.
The average healthy 30-year-old has a 20% chance of getting pregnant each month. By the time she is 40, this rate will have dropped to 5%.
Health
Smoking can lead to decreased fertility not only in women, but also in men. This means regular smokers are less likely to get pregnant than people who don’t smoke, as 13% of infertility in women is caused by smoking.
Also having diseases or conditions such as thyroidism, endometriosis, or other conditions that affect the uterus or hormonal balance can really throw off a women’s fertility. So, if you have a condition, make sure to talk to your health practitioner when trying to conceive.
Having an STI (sexually transmitted infections) can also lead to changes to a woman’s uterus and reproductive system, this reducing her fertility chances.
So being healthy does play a big role when trying to conceive.
Weight
Your weight can also play a big role in your fertility. Women who are overweight or higher on the BMI scale produce too much estrogen, which throws off her menstrual cycle and fertility.
But being underweight can also cause problems. As women who are underweight can also experience infertility as their bodies shut down ovulation all together.
So being healthy and fit can really increase your fertility chances when trying to conceive.
Menstrual cycles
Having irregular menstrual cycles can make it difficult to know when you are fertile, thus not knowing when you could get pregnant.
Irregular cycles can come from several different things, such as PCOS or even hormonal imbalance. Being aware of this, if this is what you experience, can help you try out different times of the month, as your ovulation may be different than the average woman.
Again, having the knowledge is key!
Autoimmune disorders
Having autoimmune disorders, such as Lupus, can also make it difficult for women to become pregnant. So, make sure to get professional help and advice if you are suffering from any disorder when trying to conceive.
Am I Pregnant?
Have you been trying to conceive and thinking you may be pregnant? Well let’s hope you see that positive line soon!
However, being aware that false positives exist and that pregnancy tests can show incorrect results is also necessary for a woman’s sanity, we wouldn’t want to announce a non-valid pregnancy, right?
So, to stop you from worrying and searching through entire google, I created a quick little quiz to help you figure out if you may be pregnant, or it’s all just in your head.
So just fill it out below and have your answer sent right to your inbox, how handy hey?
Did you have unprotected sex recently?
How old are you?
Did you miss your period?
Have you been bleeding or spotting lately?
Spotting is a few drops of blood, or even blood when you wipe. Spotting will not fill up a bad, where as bleeding will.
How tired are you lately?
Have you been feeling sick?
Do you need to pee more?
Have you experienced any of these symptoms: Sore breasts, slight cramping, increased vaginal discharge, increased sense of smell?
Have you been moodier and more emotional lately?
Trying to conceive can be a walk in the park for some, while for others it takes a whole lot of planning and preparations. But every journey is beautiful, not matter how long it takes or what it took to get you there.
Wishing you all the best on your trying to conceive journey!
Until next time,
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It is amazing how much information there is on conceiving. This is a fantastic post with so many great things to think about! We as woman have such a huge job in carrying a baby.
Glad you enjoyed the post! There sure is a lot to know about starting the trying to conceive journey, hope it was helpful!
Celina
Great information thanks