Trying to get pregnant?
Trying to get pregnant?
Starting your family is a huge decision and one that shouldn’t be entered into lightly. You’ve likely thought about how many kids you want and once you finally decide to make that leap into trying to get pregnant, it’s scary and exciting at the same time. But if you’ve been trying for month after month with no positive pregnancy tests, your hopes are likely dwindling and you’re probably feeling sad, frustrated, and maybe even hopeless. But take heart – hope isn’t lost. We’ve compiled some tips and answers that will hopefully help you in your journey to parenthood.
What can you do to increase your chances in getting pregnant?
1) Keeping healthy is the most important. If you’re fighting excess weight, start an exercise routine and stick to it. Shedding those extra pounds is not only good for your overall health, but can also help you get pregnant more easily. Being overweight also increases your risk of miscarriage and other complications during pregnancy.
2) Knowing when you ovulate is the next step. For some women, they can tell when they’re ovulating. For others, it’s impossible to know. Ovulation predictor kits can help and so can taking your temperature every morning, as your basal body temperature will likely decline as you get closer to ovulation. Having sex every other day around the time of ovulation is recommended to increase your chances of conception.
Is stress a factor in getting pregnant?
Stress may or may not play a part in getting pregnant. If you’re severely stressed, there’s a chance ovulation could be affected, but the key here is to stay relaxed, maintain a healthy lifestyle, eat well, and have fun with the process.
How long should you try to get pregnant before consulting a fertility specialist?
Doctors generally don’t worry about infertility until you’ve been having consistent, unprotected intercourse for a year or more with no results. If you’re over 35, however, doctors will investigate infertility after 6 months of trying to get pregnant. There are many fertility specialists out there that can help you through the process, with many alternative methods that may be right for you.
When you want to have a family, waiting is the hardest part. It’s hard to be patient when you’ve finally decided that you want a family. But remember to keep it fun – enjoy the love that you and your partner have for each other and remember that when parenthood happens – whether it be through pregnancy, adoption, or another means, parenthood will be the most rewarding journey you’ll ever embark on.
