Getting Pregnant

Here you will find useful information about getting pregnant. There should be something for everyone wether it is your first time trying, or you already have children. There are also some tips if you feel it's not happening as quickly as it should. However, if you think you may be infertile I have another page which should help you.
Click the building block to visit my infertility page.

Are You Ready?

The first thing anyone should think about before they decide to have a baby is are they ready. You may need to make some changes to your lifestyle and your health. Are you really ready for the changes to your life that a pregnancy and a new baby will bring? Have you really thought about your decision? You have, good. Now here are a few things you should be doing to ensure that your baby gets the best possible start in life.

• Improve your diet: Proper nutrition is essential for a healthy pregnancy and baby.

• Achieve a healthy weight: Being significantly over- or underweight can affect your ability to conceive, as well as your baby's health.

• Create (and follow!) an exercise plan: Start a programme now that you can continue through pregnancy.

• Start taking antenatal vitamins: Make sure you're getting enough folic acid and the other nutrients your baby will need.

• Stop drinking, smoking, and taking drugs: All three can impair your fertility and harm your baby.

• Eliminate environmental dangers: Your job may not be as safe as you think it is...

• Stop using contraception: Depending on what method you use, your body may need time to get back to normal before you can conceive.

• Get your finances in order: Being a parent comes with a hefty price tag — and lots of responsibility.

• Think your decision through: Be sure that parenthood is really for you.

Are You Healthy?

Your health will determine your ability to conceive and the health of your baby before and after birth. It is recommended that you visit your doctor for a full check up as soon as you decide you want to try to conceive. It is also important that you are up-to-date with your cervical smear tests. Also, you should check that you are up-to-date with your vaccines. If you take medication regularly you should check out that it is safe to take during your pregnancy.

You will also need to give up taking contraception. Here is a chart which will tell you how long after giving up each method of contraception you should start trying to conceive.

Type of Contraception	How Long to Wait
Condoms (Male and Female) & Spermicides	don't affect your fertility at all, so trying to conceive is just a matter of not using one.
Depo-Provera, injection	Some experts say that it takes an average of three or four months to conceive after you stop using Depo-Provera, but it can take as long as six to nine months for some.
Norplant, implants	This contraception wears off about three days after having the implants removed
withdrawal, the calendar method, and charting your periods or basal body temperature and cervical mucus	Just stop not trying and go for it.
Steralisation	A reversal of steralisation is considered a major operation and may not be possible if the fallopian tubes have been damaged too much. 60% of women who have the reversal go on to give birth successfully. Although there is an increased risk of ectopic pregnancy
Vasectomy	Vasectomy A vasectomy can be reversed, but post-reversal pregnancy success rates are only about 30 to 35%. There is also a less change of a successful reversal if the vasectomy was performed more than 10 years ago.
Diaphragm and cervical cap	Just stop using them
Intrauterine device (IUD)	You should have the device removed during your period and then wait until after your next period before trying to conceive as there may be some inflammation in your uterus.
The Pill	Theoretically, you should be able to start trying as soon as you stop taking the pill, but it may take a short while for your cycle to return to normal.

Trying to Conceive

How do you know when you are most fertile? This all depends on your ovulation (when one or more eggs is released from the ovary.) You must have sexual intercourse during the period spanning 72 hours before ovulation to about 24 hours afterwards. Sperm cells can live for 72 hours, but an egg survives no more than 24 hours after ovulation.(Unless fertilisation occurs.) The best way to determine your most fertile time is to pay attention to your body and spot the signs that ovulation is imminent. There are several signs you can look out for:

• Your menstrual cycle.
• Change in cervical mucas. This reflects your body's rising levels of oestrogen.
• A rise in body temperature.
• Lower abdominal discomfort.
• Tender breasts.