While you might have spent the majority of your twenties preventing an unexpected pregnancy, once you’re ready for a baby, most women expect it to happen right away! The reality is that for a healthy young couple, it can take up to a year to get pregnant. Women over the age of 35 should try for 6-months naturally before seeking assistance.
Regardless of whether or not you’re trying to have a baby during a specific season or month, or just conceive as quickly as possible, here are 10 tips that may help you get pregnant faster…
Track Your Ovulation Cycle
To considerably increase your chances of becoming pregnant, it’s all about knowing when you ovulate. After all, you are most fertile during your menstrual cycle right after your ovary releases an egg. This is the target period in which you want to have sex out of each cycle when sex can actually lead to pregnancy. There are a number of online tools to help you pinpoint when you’ll ovulate next. You can also seek help for your doctor to ensure you’re optimizing your chances of conception.
Have Sex Regularly
Ovulation aside, waiting to have sex only when you ovulate will not promote pregnancy either. It may make sense to wait for your partner to build up sperm count, but actually waiting long periods between sex will result in a buildup of dead sperm in your partner’ semen, which won’t get you pregnant.
Avoid Alcoholic Beverages
Alcohol affects both men and women in the negative when it comes to conception. For women trying to get pregnant, alcohol lowers the estrogen hormone that promotes optimal ovulation. While men attempting to get their partner pregnant, excess drinking can lower your sperm count.
Prevent Gum Decay and Disease
I bet you didn’t equate your oral health with your chances of getting pregnant. However, periodontitis, or gum disease, can actually cause difficulties when it comes to getting pregnant and remaining healthy while pregnant (i.e., miscarriages and early deliveries). That’s why maintaining good oral health by brushing and flossing, as well as going for an annual dental checkup will promote a healthy conception, pregnancy, and delivery.
Skip the Caffeine
You know that coffee is a stimulant that when consumed in excess can stress out the body. And trust me; stress creates a bad environment for pregnancy. That’s why sticking to 1 or 2-cups (8-ounces) of coffee a day and no more is wise while skipping the afternoon soda, energy drinks, and chocoholic cravings altogether.
Keep Stress at Bay
In addition to stressful stimulants, like coffee and soda, overall work, financial, and life stresses can also make normal ovulation difficult for women and result in lower sperm counts for men. It’s in your best interest, and the interest of your unborn child, to keep stress levels low by incorporating some relaxation methods into your life (i.e., yoga, mediation, regular exercise, bubble baths, massage, and relaxation CDs).
Stop Smoking
Smoking is bad for your health—period! So no surprise that it can limit a woman’s egg production and lower a man’s sperm count due to constricting oxygen flow, blood circulation, and nutrient absorption.
Avoid Hot Tubs and Saunas
Men should take heed of hot environments, particularly if they affect their nether regions. That means hot tubs, saunas, hot baths, and hot pants (aka: skinny jeans) will constrict testicle function and lower sperm count.
Consume a Healthy Diet
Certain nutrients are essential to promote ovulation and sperm count so it makes perfect sense to incorporate these vitamins and minerals into your daily diet. Consume a diet high in folic acid, zinc, calcium, and vitamins C and D to encourage healthy eggs and plentiful sperm count.
Maintain a Healthy Weight
There is a fine line between underweight and overweight, but you should try your very best to find it if you hope to get pregnant. Fluctuating weight can make pregnancy difficult due to irregular estrogen levels and egg release.
