Written By: Monica Bivas

So, you want to get pregnant this year and have no idea where to start for a faster and perfect pregnancy? On this blog I will guide you on the steps that you should be taking when trying to conceive naturally, and the options you have if you need help from science to conceive.

Planning your pregnancy

Once you are ready to start a family, it is important to do some pre-checks and take some measurements to have a healthy pregnancy. Here are some steps that you should be taking before starting to conceive:

1. Get a preconception checkup

Before you officially start trying, get a checkup. Ask your doctor about prenatal vitamins that have folic acid, which helps protect against some birth defects, such as spina bifida. Folic acid works during the early stages of pregnancy, so that’s why it’s important to make sure you are getting enough folic acid even before you get pregnant.

2. Get to know your cycle

It is important to get to know your cycle, how much do you know about your menstrual cycle? The ovulation phase is the best time to have intercourse, usually happens about 10 to 16 days before the start of your next period, so it helps to know your cycle length before you start trying to get pregnant.

The following signs can also help you know when you ovulate:

• Cervical mucus changes

Your cervical mucus changes during the menstrual cycle, during ovulation it usually becomes thin and slippery when you are most fertile.

• Temperature

Taking note of your body temperature, each morning when you wake up, is a good way to find out about your menstrual cycle. Your temperature rises by about 0.2°C when ovulation has taken place.

• Using ovulation predictor kits

Ovulation Kits work by detecting a hormone in your urine that increases when ovulation is about to take place. And a fertility tracking app can provide you with the necessary information to determine your most fertile days.

3. Live a healthy life

In order to have a healthy pregnancy, it is important to keep a healthy lifestyle.

You can take a few steps to improve your fertility, namely through nutrition. Although there is no magic diet or food to boost your chances of conception, a nutritious and well-balanced diet can support your overall health, including reproductive health. Moreover, there are a few other natural strategies one can implement to improve their chances of conception.

Stop smoking and reduce alcohol intake, to increase your chances of getting pregnant and having a healthy pregnancy. Smoking can affect estrogen levels and ovulation.

4. Don’t stress about it

Avoid getting stressed over not getting pregnant as fast as you wished, as stress can interfere with your fertility. Although there’s no indication of infertility being caused by stress alone, it does affect a woman’s ability to get pregnant. In fact, women struggling with depression are twice as likely to experience infertility, and women with anxiety can take longer to get pregnant.

How long does it take to get pregnant?

Most couples will get pregnant within a year if they have regular sex and don’t use contraception. But people become less fertile as they get older, and this combined with other medical conditions can affect your ability to conceive within a year.

Having regular sex, can be 2 to 3 times a month and during your ovulation phase. But try not to worry about the perfect timing to have intercourse, this will only make you and your partner stressed and might take longer to conceive. It is important to take things naturally, give it time and focus on your health and your relationship, instead of being focused on the perfect timing for having sex.

When to see a fertility clinic?

If you are over 35 years old and have not been able to become pregnant after six months of regularly having sex without using birth control, both you and your partner should consider having an infertility evaluation.

If you are under 35 years old and have not become pregnant within a year of trying to conceive, it is recommended to consult a fertility specialist.

I’m here to support and guide you, whether You are:

Whether you are trying to conceive naturally or through fertility treatment, I am here to support you on your fertility journey. Through Empathy, compassion, kindness and genuine understanding (as I have been there), I will make sure you are not alone in this journey, and I’ll be your fellow fertility warrior, guiding you through it.

Love and Joy,

Monica Bivas

www.monicabivas.com

Instagram @monicabivas