How to Get Pregnant: Tips and Complete Guide

How to Get Pregnant Tips!

Many things affect your health and your future child's health. If you are planning to become pregnant, it helps to know that most couples conceive within a year of trying. Knowing your body and your cycle can help. These how to get pregnant tips can help improve your chances of conceiving within a few months of trying.

This is general information. Your doctor or midwife can give advice that fits your health history.

Your Complete Guide to Getting Pregnant

Top 10 Tips To Getting Pregnant

There are many things to consider when you want to get pregnant. One of the most important is knowing your menstrual cycle. Your chance of conceiving is highest when you have sex during the fertile window of your cycle. Ovulation often happens around day 14 of a 28-day cycle, but the timing varies from woman to woman and from cycle to cycle. Here are some tips that can improve your chances.

1- Get Your Self Checked Before Conception:

A checkup before conception can lower the risk of health problems for you and your baby. Your doctor can review your medicines, vaccinations and any health conditions, and give advice on diet, exercise and what to avoid.

Your doctor will also recommend folic acid. The CDC advises that anyone who could become pregnant take 400 micrograms of folic acid every day. This helps prevent neural tube defects, serious birth defects of the brain and spine such as spina bifida. These defects develop in the first weeks of pregnancy, often before a woman knows she is pregnant, so it's important to start before conceiving.

Your doctor may also suggest eating more fruits and vegetables and reaching a healthy weight. Quitting smoking before pregnancy is very important, because smoking lowers fertility and harms a developing baby.

2- Menstrual Cycle Regularity:

When we talk about how to get pregnant tips, knowing your cycle is key to getting pregnant. Each cycle has a fertile window, and your chance of becoming pregnant is highest during those days. Around ovulation, some women notice body changes, such as changes in cervical mucus.

In the most fertile days, cervical mucus often becomes clear, slippery and stretchy, like raw egg whites. The first day of your period is day 1 of the cycle. The fertile window is usually the six days ending on the day of ovulation. In a 28-day cycle, ovulation is often around day 14, so the most fertile days are roughly days 9 to 14. Ovulation predictor kits and tracking your cycle can help pinpoint your window.

3- Staying in Bed after Sexual Intercourse:

Many people believe that lying in bed with the legs up after sex improves the chance of pregnancy. Evidence doesn't support this. The American Society for Reproductive Medicine notes that sperm reach the fallopian tubes within minutes, whatever position you're in. It also found no evidence that lying still afterward helps.

You can rest afterward if you like, but it isn't necessary.

4- Time Sex for Your Fertile Window:

Having sex every one to two days during the fertile window gives the highest pregnancy rates. You don't need to have sex more often than that. Long periods without sex can lower sperm quality, so regular sex throughout the cycle is fine too. Some lubricants can harm sperm, so ask your doctor about fertility-friendly options if you need one.

5- Wear Loose-Fitting Underwear (for Men):

Sperm production is sensitive to heat. Some men choose looser underwear and avoid hot tubs and saunas while trying to conceive. The evidence on tight clothing is limited, but these changes are harmless.

6- How Certain Sexual Positions Help You Getting Pregnant?

Many people believe certain positions improve the chances of getting pregnant. This is a myth: sexual position has no proven effect on conception. Sperm that enter the vagina reach the cervix and travel up through the uterus to the fallopian tubes within minutes.

7- Don’t Stress Out Too Much:

Trying to conceive can be stressful, especially if it takes longer than expected. Researchers aren't sure exactly how stress affects fertility. Still, managing stress with sleep, exercise, relaxation or counseling is good for your overall health.

8- Exercise Regularly:

Regular moderate exercise, such as 30 minutes on most days, helps you reach a healthy weight and reduces stress. Avoid extremes, though: very intense, strenuous exercise can disrupt ovulation and menstrual cycles in some women. Being much heavier or lighter than a healthy weight can also affect fertility.

9- Healthy Eating Habits:

Eat a balanced diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean protein. A healthy diet supports a healthy weight and overall health before pregnancy. Limit caffeine, as heavy caffeine use is linked to lower fertility.

10- Smoking Cessation:

Quitting smoking is very important. Smoking is linked to reduced fertility and to pregnancy problems. Heavy drinking also reduces fertility, and alcohol during pregnancy can cause lifelong birth defects. Avoid both while trying to conceive. These are birth defects caused by exposure, not inherited genetic diseases of childhood.

When to See a Doctor

If you are under 35 and haven't conceived after 12 months of regular unprotected sex, see a doctor. If you are 35 or older, see a doctor after 6 months. Talk to a doctor sooner if your periods are irregular or absent or you have a known health condition that affects fertility.

HP Thoughts: Continue to our second article: Pregnancy Symptoms Week 2.

Sources

• Optimizing Natural Fertility, American Society for Reproductive Medicine
• About Folic Acid, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Trying to conceive, Office on Women's Health (HHS)