Trying for a baby can be an exciting and stressful time for couples! Many people think that getting pregnant should be easy. However, some couples try for up to a year before successfully conceiving. Although getting your period each month can be disheartening when you’re trying to conceive, don’t despair.
Remember, it can be totally normal for things to take longer than expected. In the meantime, there are some simple lifestyle changes you can that can boost fertility and increase your chances of having a healthy pregnancy when the time finally comes!
Eat a Nutritious Diet
One of the basic rules of conception and pregnancy is that, if you are healthy and nourished, your baby will be too. After all, what are the chances of getting pregnant if your body is struggling to fuel itself? This doesn’t just apply when you are pregnant, it also applies when you are trying.
Eating a healthy diet that is rich in iron, protein, and vitamins will increase your energy, boost your mood, and make you more likely to conceive naturally. Lack of iron and vitamin deficiencies can lead to conditions like anaemia which can prevent ovulation and lead to decreased fertility. Stick to a diet rich in sources of lean protein, oily fish, and slow-burning, nutritious carbs to avoid this.
Manage Stress
Combatting stress is easier said than done when you’re desperately trying to conceive and are worried about fertility. Despite this, reducing stress can be a game-changer if you’re wondering how to increase your chances of getting pregnant.
Studies have established that stress can interfere with women’s ovulation cycles and alter hormone profiles that help with getting pregnant. Stress can also kill your libido and put a strain on your relationship. Meditation, gentle exercise, and remembering to make time to relax with your partner are great ways to beat stress.
Stick to a Healthy Weight
If you’re over or underweight, your chances of getting pregnant significantly decrease. Excess body weight is associated with conditions like PCOS, which can cause infertility, while too little body fat can block fertility hormones and prevent ovulation. Want to know how to increase chances of getting pregnant? Calculate your BMI using an online BMI calculator and discover whether you are in a healthy weight category.
Remember, this doesn’t just apply to women. Men who are overweight may have lower testosterone which can negatively affect sperm count and reduce fertility. If you or your partner are struggling to reach and maintain a healthy weight, speak to your doctor about lifestyle changes.
Track Ovulation
Understanding your body and getting familiar with your menstruation cycle are key factors when you’re concerned with getting pregnant. Most women ovulate about halfway through their menstrual cycle (around 14 days from the first day of your period) and are at peak fertility during this phase.
Your chances of getting pregnant during ovulation are drastically higher than at other times of the month. You can use an ovulation or chances of getting pregnant calculator to work out when this time is likely to be for you. Schedule some alone time with your partner during this time and enjoy! You’ll be searching for the top baby items for new moms before you know it.
Take Prenatal Vitamins
One of the best tips for getting pregnant is to take a prenatal vitamin even before you conceive. Prenatal vitamins can help you with iron levels and give your body a dose of folic acid, which is vital to your baby’s development and helps protect against birth defects. Pregnant women should aim to get above 400 micrograms of folic acid per day. Prenatal vitamins can also boost vitamin B and D levels, both of which have been shown to improve fertility.
Give Up Smoking and Alcohol
We all know that smoking during pregnancy has negative side-effects and can damage your baby’s health, but did you know that smoking can also decrease chances of getting pregnant? Women who smoked had higher rates of infertility overall than those who did not.
Smokers also had increased rates of problems in early pregnancy, like miscarriage or ectopic conception. Even if you’re not pregnant yet, it’s best to cut out smoking before you conceive to give yourself the best chance of a healthy pregnancy. The same is true for alcohol. Although alcohol in moderate quantities shouldn’t interfere with fertility, it’s best to lay off if you’re trying to get pregnant.
Seek Professional Help
If you have an otherwise healthy lifestyle and are still not pregnant after a year, it might be time to speak to your doctor or healthcare professional. Although it may take some couples longer than a year to conceive, its best to speak to your doctor to set your mind at rest.
You may find that making these small lifestyle tweaks makes a big difference to your health and how you approach getting pregnant. We hope that these tips for getting pregnant have helped you and given you some ideas on how to proceed if you want to become a parent!
Final Call:
Did you struggle with getting pregnant? What were some of your worries and concerns? Are there any lifestyle changes you would recommend that helped you with fertility or conception? Let our readers know in the comment section!
Author’s Bio
Amalia Liberman is a wife and a mother of two as well as a novelist and writer, the author has been featured in Women’s Health magazine and also written different articles in lifestyle magazines. Her passions lead her to search out knowledge with all her searching and she doesn’t mind sharing her findings.