How to Get Pregnant
How to Get Pregnant: 4 Ways to Increase Your Odds
You’ve thought about it, talked it over with your spouse half a dozen times, and just have this feeling that you’re ready to have a baby. However, getting pregnant isn’t always as easy as it sounds. Sometimes it happens on the first try, while other times it doesn’t happen until the second, the third, or even the tenth time. Luckily, there are some things you can do to try to speed up the process and help you conceive faster. Whether you’re going for your first child or are working on your third, here are some tactics to try.
1. Track Your Ovulation Period
The first factor to consider when trying to get pregnant is determining when you ovulate. Ovulation is the time period when an egg is released from your ovaries. If intercourse or intrauterine insemination is timed correctly, the egg will get fertilized by a sperm and implant in your uterus, beginning your pregnancy.
Easy enough, right? Well, the tricky part is timing your ovulation, especially if your period isn’t always consistent. Here are some ways to help you determine when your ovulation happens, so you can predict the best time to get pregnant:
- Ovulation predictor kits: For a fast and dependable way to determine when you’re ovulating, you can use ovulation predictor kits that either test your urine or saliva. The urine test indicates when your luteinizing hormone goes up, while the saliva test searches for increases in estrogen. Positive results from either of these tests indicate that an egg is about to be released and it’s time to try conceiving.
- Good-old-fashioned calendar tracking: If you’re used to a regular, 28-day cycle every single month and don’t want to pay for a predictor kit, you can try predicting your ovulation period on your own. Start by determining when you expect your period to start, then count back 14 days. This is your estimated day of ovulation. The five preceding days through your ovulation day is considered your most fertile timeframe, or when you’re most likely to get pregnant.
2. Schedule a Visit with Your OB-GYN
When you know for sure you’re ready to get pregnant, it doesn’t hurt to check in with your doctor. Not only can your OB-GYN help you figure out when you ovulate, she can also make sure your body is ready for pregnancy. Your doctor may suggest ways to get to a healthy weight for pregnancy, test you for immunity to childhood diseases, talk to you about genetic carrier testing, or work with you to manage any current health issues that could make getting pregnant a challenge.
3. Start Making Healthy Changes to Your Diet
The more you can prepare and take care of your body now, the easier it’ll be to conceive a healthy baby. On top of eating a balanced diet, start taking prenatal vitamins and get into a habit of taking 400 micrograms of folic acid at least a month before conceiving. These supplements can help prevent your baby from developing birth defects.
An avid coffee drinker? Unfortunately, your caffeine intake will need to be reduced, as well. This is because caffeine can actually slow down conception, taking you longer to get pregnant. Start cutting down the amount of coffee you drink throughout the day and get your body used to other beverages like herbal tea.
You’ll also want to avoid excessive drinking, smoking, and drug use. Not only are those habits bad for your own health, they can also lead to premature births, low-birth weight, and even miscarriage. It’s also crucial that your spouse limits his tobacco use or quits the habit all together, as smoking can lower a man’s sperm count, making it that much harder to conceive.
4. Get Off Birth Control Months in Advance
Okay, so this is a no brainer. After all, birth control is meant to prevent pregnancy, not help it happen. While true, many women don’t realize that getting off birth control doesn’t guarantee you’ll become pregnant immediately. This is because your body needs a few cycles to adjust and start ovulating normally again. If you know you’re going to want to conceive soon, stop taking birth control pills at least a couple months before you and your spouse seriously begin trying for a baby. If you’re using another form of birth control like an IUD or the Depo-Provera shot, speak with your OB-GYN about how long it may take for you to get pregnant once off those types of birth control.
King’s Daughters’ Health Obstetrician Providers
If you’re ready to get pregnant, there’s no better place to schedule a preconception appointment than King’s Daughters’ Health. Our family-centered obstetricians can answer any questions or concerns you may have and help you hit the ground running so you can conceive and have a healthy pregnancy. Contact us today to learn more about our OB-GYN team and the maternity care services we provide.