You and your partner have decided it’s time to get pregnant and you are both chomping at the bit to get going. Before you hop into bed though, you may want to consider some advice. While many of us get pregnant with little effort, others may find it is a bit more challenging. So, instead of getting frustrated when that pregnancy test comes back negative, take a look at the following tips which can help you get pregnant more quickly.
Timing Is Everything
While we all know that the key to conceiving is connecting a sperm with an egg, few of us stop to think about the timing. In reality there is only a few days each month where you have the potential to get pregnant, so finding out what those are will let you focus on connecting those two important genetic messengers. Consider the rest of the month practice.
The best way to figure out when you are ovulating is to use the Natural Family Planning method. This uses a combination of tracking your menstrual cycle, basal temperature and cervical mucus. By putting these three factors together you will get a pretty accurate picture of when you are most likely to get pregnant.
Eat Right
According to the American National Infertility Associate approximately 12% of infertility cases are a result of women weighing too little or not enough. Even if your weight is within normal limits, you can still increase your chances of conceiving by improving your diet. Here are some tips:
- Eat more fruits and veggies to reduce calories and increase the important nutrients in your body
- Cut out alcohol – it reduces fertility and can harm the baby
- Cut down on caffeine – three cups of coffee a day max
- Diet effectively and safely
Take Time To Chill
When you are trying to get pregnant it is easy to get caught up in all the planning, temperature taking and monitoring. All of this madness can certainly add some stress to your day, which can work against you. Stress can have an effect on fertility, so you need to take time out of your hectic attempting-to-get-pregnant schedule to relax. Here are some tips:
- Learn the basics of meditation, and try to practice it regularly.
- Take a yoga or tai chi class and continue throughout your pregnancy.
- Use a muscle relaxation technique by tightening and loosening each muscle in succession, starting from your toes to your head.
If you are still having difficulty relaxing you may want to consider some other techniques such as aromatherapy, massage or even acupuncture.
Get Moving
Exercise not only makes you look and feel great, it can also help you get pregnant faster. The fact that about 30% of a women’s estrogen comes from fat cells means that your fertility relies on having a near normal fat level. Too much or too little fat can drastically affect your ability to produce estrogen and thus affect your fertility.
Introducing regular exercise to your daily routine can burn fat and give you more energy, as well as toning your heart and get you in top condition to make a baby. Start with a regular walk every day, and try to increase your pace and distance. Aim for 30 minutes of exercise 4-5 days per week.
Positioning Can Help
Generally if you and your partner are both fertile it shouldn’t make a difference what sexual position you use to get pregnant. However, this doesn’t mean that certain position don’t provide an advantage. The best positions for getting pregnant are those where gravity can help the sperm get to the cervix, ie: woman on the bottom. Elevating the hips after intercourse can also assist sperm in getting to their destination. The missionary position and a side-by-side position are both considered your best bet for getting pregnant.
Try to avoid positions where the woman is on top, sitting or standing and this means the sperm has to work against gravity. This doesn’t mean that you are doomed to the missionary position until you get pregnant; just make sure that you make use of it during your fertile days of the month.
Patience
Keep in mind that you are creating a life here, not trying to win a race. Take it easy and enjoy the process of getting pregnant. Make it special and before you know it you will be in the realm of morning sickness and multiple bathroom trips, also known as pregnant heaven.
