Tips For Getting Pregnant

After much research, I have compiled a list of simple tips for help getting pregnant. If you have something to add, please respond and I can expand the list.

Visit Your Doctor
Before you start trying to conceive you should schedule a pelvic exam. Your doctor will give you a pap smear as well as check for an abonormalities in a regular exam of the uterus and ovaries. Tell them you are planning on getting pregnant and ask them about a prescription for prenatal vitamins.

Start Taking Prenatal Vitamins
The FDA recommends that all women attempting pregnancy take folic acid supplements for decreasing chances of birth defects. In particular, it helps with certain conditions involving the spinal chord and brain. Start taking a prenatal vitamin right away.

Limit Caffeine
Having a cup of coffee every day is perfectly safe. But larger amounts of caffeine can reduce your ability to absorb iron and increase your risk of stillbirth.

Stop Smoking, Drinking, and Using Drugs
Study after study has shown that the health effects of smoking are dramatic on your and your baby. If you keep smoking, you are at a greater risk for miscarriage, premature birth, and underweight babies. It also diminishes your chance of getting pregnant in the first place. Smoking affects both fertility and sperm count.

Figure Out Your Body's Schedule
There are a maximum of five days during the month when sex can result in a baby. Once released, the egg typically lives for 12 to 24 hours. Sperm can survive inside the fallopian tubes for up to five days. A lot of people assume that women automatically ovulate on day 14 of their cycle. This is not true. Women can ovulate as early as day 6 and as late as day 30 or later.

Light The Fires of Romance!
Some research suggests that if a woman is highly aroused, it increases her chance for fertilization. If this is not actually the case, it certainly increases the frequency of sex. Spend extra time nurturing your relationship and making your partner feel sexy.

What The Man Can Do
A man's sperm count is highest in the morning, so try sunrise sex. Also, you can ask your partner to ditch the briefs and stick to boxers. These are small things, but every bit helps.

How Long Will It Take?
Very few couples get pregnant during their first month of trying. Studies have shown that you have just over a 20% chance of getting pregnant every month. If you have not gotten pregnant within 12 months, consult your doctor to see if there are any issues preventing you from getting pregnant.

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David
Co-Founder of DailyHealth.net

I don't believe you need a prescription for prenatal vitamins. I've seen them on the shelves at the grocery store.

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--Elizabeth

Co-Founder DailyHealth.net and DiabetesDaily.com

Nope. No Prescription. In fact a really good multi vitamin will work just fine. Also it doesn't hurt to take an extra supplement of Vitamin B Complex and Calcium in addition to the multivitamin. This is very key to the development of the baby even PRE conception.

David are you looking for any homeopathic ideas on pre-conception?

I'm sure that any advice you have would be useful to someone. If you have any, share away!

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David
Co-Founder of DailyHealth.net

I have heard a lot of great things about Red Raspberry Leaf Extract.

I tried it out while we were in pre-conception mode. Personally it didn't work for me, but we had issues that natural supplements could not fix. I took the liquid supplement and drank the tea. With the liquid I mixed it with water so it didn't taste so bitter. You can get the liquid supplement from a health food store.

Here is a link I found explaining the benefits of Red Raspberry Leaf. Although it didn't work for me maybe it will work for someone else?

Also remember ALWAYS ask your doc before you start an all natural plan...


Pregnancy week by week - pregnancy calendar - pregnancy stages trimesters - parenting websites - mum dad baby maternity - Birthnet Australia

Thanks for the tip, LeAnn. I will ask my brother who is a natruopathic doctor and see if there are any other supplements he would suggest in addition.

Please consult a doctor before trying anything out... as LeAnn stated above :)

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--Elizabeth

Co-Founder DailyHealth.net and DiabetesDaily.com

you don't need a prescription for prenatal vitamins

it's a very good suggestion that every mom-to-be is taking materna or some sort of prenatal vitamins

the risk of defects from low folic acid is just too high of a risk to take a chance with

and you CAN eat too much spinach in an attempt to get the folic acid in veggies :)

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kate

In school we learned that you need to be taking folic acid even before you get pregnant to have a high enough level. So its something worth to start taking now, just in case.

The prenatal vitamins on the shelf are not the same as the ones you would get by presciption, I think it would be best for every woman to talk to thier OB/GYN about which of the two would be best for them.


Sader

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For pre-conception reasons OTC should be just fine. Just because something is "Prescription Strength" though doesn't necessarily mean it is the best. I don't take "Prenatal" vitamins. I take Shak-Lee vitamins. A Multi Vitamin + Iron, Calcium and Vitamin B Complex. Basically they are seriously high quality vitamins. Sure they are more expensive than a prescription but I feel my body and the baby gets more out of the vitamin when I take those. I took the same thing with my first son.
I guess it all comes down to personal Preference. There are so many options.
Heck, I have even heard of women not taking vitamins but changing their diet to accommodate the baby's needs. Personally I think that is crazy but to each his own I guess.

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LeAnn