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Pregnancy Symptoms
11/29/2008 - by Anne Marie Nielson
How To Get
Pregnant
Congratulations! How wonderful it is that you've
decided it is time to have a baby! There are many things you
can do to optimize your chances of having a healthy pregnancy
and baby.
For Women…
Before you begin trying to conceive, you need to stop your
current method of birth control. If you are using natural
family planning (NFP), you can begin the next cycle if you are
in good health. If you take hormonal birth control like the
pill, you will need to stop taking it at the end of your
current cycle. Some women can get pregnant right away after
stopping, others take several months before they conceive. If
you take a method that lasts for several months, like
Depo-Provera, it will take nine or ten months after you've had
your last injection for your body to return to normal. If you
have an IUD, you should make an appointment with your doctor to
have it removed.
Try to manage your weight. Women who are either underweight or
overweight have more problems conceiving than women who are
close to their ideal weight.
For Men…
High temperatures can lower sperm production, so try to keep
cool down there. Boxers allow more ventilation than briefs, so
you may want to give them a try. Stay away from saunas, hot
tubs and prolonged sitting if you can.
For Both…
Eat healthy, nutritious food. Stop eating at the local fast
food joint because it is more convenient… all those calories
are not useful for successful babymaking.
Stop smoking. Smoking lowers sperm counts and makes it harder
for women to conceive.
Reduce your stress. Take a walk every day or meditate. Learn
to let go of your stress. Besides being helpful with stress
reduction, a little exercise every day helps enhance your
health, too.
Just say no. Recreational drug use is not good for conception
or sperm production.
Take vitamins. Women should be taking a folate supplement while
men can use a boost of zinc, vitamin C and E to help their
sperm be more mobile and healthy.
Some couples may want to pay a visit to the doctor's office to
make sure they are in good health before they begin trying.
Some couples may find genetic issues they may need to be aware
of.
Next, you need to learn about your cycle. It is amazing how
many people don't realize how their own cycles work until they
discover they aren't getting pregnant as fast as they would
like. While it is true that it is possible to get pregnant from
only having sex once, the odds are definitely against that.
Women are not fertile every day of their cycle. There is about
six days out of the month that a woman is fertile. These
include the five days preceding ovulation and the day of
ovulation itself.
Most sources will tell you a woman's cycle is about 28 days,
and they suggest ovulation takes place on day 14. That can be
true, but many women have cycles that are either shorter or
longer. Some have irregular cycles. Each of these situations
may change the day of ovulation, as can stress, travel, lack of
sleep and other things going on in our lives.
By learning a little about your cycle and charting a few basic
facts every day on a calendar or on software, you can greatly
increase your odds of successfully getting pregnant.
Tracking Your Temperature
The first thing you want to chart every morning is your
temperature. Use a basal body thermometer… you can find one in
any pharmacy for about $10. First thing in the morning, take
your temperature before you do anything. You'll want to begin
on the first day of your period. Your temperature should be
taken at the same time every morning, after at least three
hours of uninterrupted sleep. When you ovulate, you should see
your temperature rise significantly. Your temps will remain
higher until it is time for your period to start, when it will
drop due to a change in hormones. You can write these notes on
a calendar, on a printed chart.
Most women have noticed that their underwear gets a bit damp
on some days. This is one of the big reasons we get commercials
for panty liners! The reason for the dampness is your cervical
mucus changes throughout your cycle. Some days are drier than
others. Knowing how to interpret this can help you pinpoint
when ovulation is about to happen.
Every time you use the bathroom, you can check your cervical
fluid. This is as easy as looking at the toilet paper after you
wipe, or you can run your finger across your vaginal opening if
you are not sure. It is common to find nothing for a few days
after your period has ended. When you do start to see fluid, it
will be thick and sticky, like rubber cement. It will be either
white or cream colored. As the days go by, the cervical fluid
will become thinner and wetter. Soon it will look more like a
cream-colored lotion. From here it may get even more watery and
clear. Finally, before ovulation, it gets thick, stretchy and
slippery. If you look at it, it looks a lot like raw egg white.
This cervical fluid actually helps the sperm reach your cervix.
If you use feminine hygiene products like douche or spray, it
can alter your cervical fluid and possibly hinder your attempts
to conceive. Make a note of what type of fluid you detect every
day until after you ovulate.
Cervical Changes
Your cervix also changes during your cycle. The closer to
ovulation you get, the softer your cervix will feel. If you are
comfortable with doing so, you can touch your cervix to
determine if it is soft, wet and high. The opening will be
larger near ovulation as well.
What Else You Can Do
Using the missionary position will help the sperm get close to
your cervix, making their trip much shorter. Don't use any
artificial lubricants during sex… most are not sperm-friendly.
Have sex frequently in the days leading up to ovulation to
increase your chances of conception. Even when you are not
fertile, having sex can keep everything in working order. By
skipping sex for longer than a week, a couple may actually get
less fertile.
Be patient. Not everyone gets pregnant on the first cycle.
After a year of trying (or 6 months if you are over 35), you
may want to see a fertility expert.
At From Pregnancy To Baby, we
try to provide you with all of the latest information about
going through your pregnancy from your first trimester to the
first years of your new babies life. We also provide the
highest quality books and products to help you through that
time.
Source:
http://www.frompregnancytobaby.com/how-to-get-pregnant.html
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