The time has finally come – you and your partner have decided to bring a child into the world. It’s one of the most beautiful and exciting choices you could make.
However, it can take some women longer to get pregnant. To help make the process a little smoother, there are certain steps you can take to promote a healthy pregnancy.
- Consult With The Professionals
For some people, it’s a simple matter of biology that allows two people to create and raise a healthy baby. Other times, it takes the work of the professionals.
If you’re planning on having a baby and feel there may be some obstacles standing in your way, consult with an obstetrician first. They can do the necessary tests to determine what’s best for you and your spouse.
You could also do some research online for other professionals by typing into the search engine “find a doula, midwife, or lactation specialist near me” to better acclimate yourself with those who can help throughout your pregnancy.
- Record Your Menstrual Cycle and Monitor Ovulation
Your menstrual cycle is the number one indicator of the most opportune times to conceive. By tracking your cycles on a calendar, you’ll know when you’re ovulating. In a regular cycle, this usually happens 12 to 16 days before your next period.
However, you may have an irregular cycle due to other conditions. You can get over-the-counter ovulation kits to help you with this. Otherwise, you may want to consult with your doctor about your irregular periods to address any underlying issues.
- Track Basal Body Temperature
A month before you start trying to conceive, you’ll want to begin tracking your basal body temperature daily.
Start by recording your temperature first thing in the morning at the same time every day. Right before you ovulate, your basal body temperature will decrease slightly to around 97 degrees.
24 hours after you ovulate, your temperature will increase and remain at that level for a few days. This allows you to get a 12 to a 24-hour window when your egg is most fertile and provides the most effective results.
- Focus On Realigning Your Lifestyle
You may have to make some alterations to your current lifestyle. For a better chance of conceiving, you will want to refrain from drinking, smoking, or participating in any recreational drug use.
However, your lifestyle also is about your mental health as much as your physical health. Living or working in a stressful environment can negatively impact your fertility.
When you reduce stress, you can increase the flow of blood to your reproductive organs which allows them to better do their jobs.
- Change Your Diet
If you’re currently eating high processed foods or those that are high in sugar, it may be time to rethink your diet. Certain foods are beneficial to promoting fertility in women.
Foods that are too high in protein, such as processed animal meats, can do more harm to your fertility than if you were to replace them with plant-based proteins such as beans or tofu.
Fatty fish like salmon and oysters are high in omega-3 and zinc, which is excellent for promoting fertility.
- Go Over Your Medications
Certain medications can inhibit fertility or impact a child’s health during pregnancy. It’s important to consult with your doctor before trying to conceive about any medications or vitamins you may take regularly.
It’s important to create a treatment plan during this time with a medical professional you can trust, as not taking certain medications could have adverse effects on your health.
- Take Folic Acid
Folic acid is a B-vitamin that promotes the growth of our hair, skin, and nails. It’s also the vitamin that helps the growth of babies in the same way.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that all women should start taking 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid daily for at least one month before they start trying to conceive.
This can also help to reduce the risk of your child developing various issues such as cleft lip or neural tube defects (NTDs).
Summary
Trying to conceive might look like more work than you bargained for at first glance. But it’s just as much medical as it is lifestyle. Take a look at the things you do daily. You might need to decrease your stress levels or readjust your diet.
If you’re still struggling, don’t hesitate to contact the medical professionals who can help you on this journey to building a family.