How exciting that you are wanting to get pregnant! I hope all goes well, but know that every woman’s journey through motherhood is different so embrace your story, give it all you have and love yourself. Yes, we are all different, but we can come together, relate on so many levels and give support to those around us. My desire is to hopefully share helpful information that you can benefit from.
To be able to give your body the best chance of getting pregnant and having a healthy pregnancy, there are some things you need to be aware of.
- With the help of a provider if needed, stop using birth control
- This should be an obvious step, but birth control helps to prevent pregnancies so it’s a good idea to safely stop using birth control to greatly improve your chances of becoming pregnant.
- Scheduling a preconception visit with your provider can be very beneficial
- During the visit you can discuss your family and health history, past pregnancies, etc. and give you guidance on steps you can take to help you get pregnant.
- Talk to your provider about the medications and supplements you are taking to ensure they are safe for pregnancy
- There are certain medications and supplements that can impair ovulation and make it harder to conceive. Your doctor will be able to tell you what is okay to take and what isn’t and if there are better alternatives to still meet your health needs.
- Have a healthy lifestyle
- Completely easier said than done, but so incredibly important to try for every day. TODAY and NOW is the best time to try and make better health choices and get into better habits so your body is in a good position to get pregnant. Not only is it beneficial to have a healthy lifestyle before pregnancy, but it will also benefit you during pregnancy in helping you and baby stay healthy and happy.
- Eating right and trying to maintain a good weight–the food you eat is the main source of energy and nutrients for you and the future baby.
- Regular exercise–moderate exercise is recommended for preconception and throughout pregnancy. Before starting something new though, it’s best to talk to your provider. You might also try cutting back on the overly vigorous exercise which could hurt fertility especially if you haven’t been doing it for very long.
- Start taking prenatal vitamins with folic acid–the vitamins contain all the recommended vitamins and minerals a mother’s body needs before and during pregnancy and helps the future baby receive what’s needed as well to grow and develop properly.
- Quit using unhealthy substances as well as your partner–there can be serious and long-lasting effects on the baby if unhealthy substances are present like smoking, drinking alcohol and using illegal drugs or prescription medicines.
- Completely easier said than done, but so incredibly important to try for every day. TODAY and NOW is the best time to try and make better health choices and get into better habits so your body is in a good position to get pregnant. Not only is it beneficial to have a healthy lifestyle before pregnancy, but it will also benefit you during pregnancy in helping you and baby stay healthy and happy.
- Know your menstrual cycle
- You can technically get pregnant anytime during your cycle, but better chances are around the time of ovulation. How do you know when you’re the most fertile?
- chart your cycle
- use an ovulation predictor kit
- monitor your cervical mucus
- track your basal body temperature–combining this and another method above is more helpful than trying this alone
- You can technically get pregnant anytime during your cycle, but better chances are around the time of ovulation. How do you know when you’re the most fertile?
- Aim to have sex every other day during the fertile window
- If it’s hard to track ovulation, you can try to have sex three to four times a week soon after you stop your period. Don’t make it a chore though and take this time to better connect with your partner on all levels (emotionally, etc.).
- Try to eliminate stress
- It can hinder your chances of getting pregnant so find coping strategies to keep your stress levels as low as possible whether that be meditation, exercising, going out with friends, putting your feet up, talking to a friend or whatever healthy solution that works best for you personally.
Trying to conceive can be wonderful and amazing, but it can also cause anxiety so give yourself grace, talk with your partner and provider as well as make the most out of what life has in store for you. It’s hard when expectations are not being met or you get discouraged so I invite you to talk to someone and get the help that’s needed instead of bottling emotions and spending precious time feeling negative when you can see positives.
You are wonderful!