Wednesday, 17 August 2011

Sex Positions and Tips for Getting Pregnant

Sex = babies, right? Actually, it's surprising as many people get pregnant as they do. If everything is in working order for both partners and the timing is just right, you still only have a 25% chance of egg + sperm = pregnancy. Many people believe that there are a few things you can do to improve your odds while trying.

Timing is Everything

When our mothers warned us it could happen the first time no matter when we had sex, they were mostly trying to scare us. Granted, it can happen, but the best time to get pregnant is when you're ovulating–usually somewhere between days 12 and 20 of your cycle. There's a whole science to determining when you're ovulating – you can pee on a stick, check your cervical mucus, or chart your temperature. Find out which fertility test and monitor works best for you and circle the day on your calendar.
Sex every day when you're ovulating is ideal if the sperm count is good; if not, aim for every other day instead. Men should refrain from unproductive ejaculation for 48 hours prior to the woman's fertile time.

Get an Oil Change

While sperm can be pretty hardy, it doesn't take much to slow them down. Unfortunately, using most kinds of oils, lubricants or similar products can keep sperm from getting where it wants to go.
Even if your lubricant doesn't contain a spermicide (such as nonoxynol-9), it may contain other ingredients that can be toxic to sperm. A product named ConceivEase, developed by gynecologists, is the most fertility-friendly lubricant on the market.
Some kinds of sex play need to wait until later in the month when you're not trying to have a baby. Since saliva can slow down sperm on the way to meet the eggs, oral sex should be kept to minimum when trying to conceive.

Get Natural

Natural treatments such as vitamins and herbs which are thought to restore a woman's ovulation cycles and improve a man's sperm count can also be an important aspect of helping a couple get pregnant.

Sex Positions

The issue of whether or not sex positions affect the chances of conception is controversial. There is no scientific evidence that coital poisitioning will improve your chances (ASRM). However, you may have heard that positions that deposit the sperm closest to the cervix — such as the missionary position (man on top) — are more promising than other positions. But there are no studies to back this up.

Proper timing, on the other hand, is a crucial factor. To make conception more likely, have sex a day or two before you expect to ovulate and then again on the day of ovulation.

Those who advocate optimizing sex positions to aid conception generally espouse the following:

Optimize your position

Any type of sex can result in conception, but if you're having trouble, woman on top may not be your best option. Toni Weschler, MS suggests that "if you have a tipped uterus, you may have better luck having intercourse from behind with the female on her hands and knees. Having intercourse in this position it allows the sperm better access to the cervix."

Post-coital Tilt

When you're done playing, stick a pillow under your hips and elevate them slightly for 15-20 minutes. You're increasing your odds and sperm swimming to the cervix. You don't have to put your legs in the air and you don't need an expensive "infertility pillow," either – just throw a towel over the pillow and get comfy. Again, this is more of a common sense measure that is not scientifically confirmed to produce results but it can't hurt.


Will having an orgasm help my chances of conceiving?

Some people believe that a woman who climaxes after her partner ejaculates is more likely to get pregnant, but there's no evidence to support this notion either.

The female orgasm isn't a necessary component of conception, but it is possible that uterine contractions help sperm move toward the fallopian tubes. (Such painless contractions happen involuntarily even when you're not having sex, particularly around the time of ovulation.)

Stay Out of the Water

Even if you're trying to jazz up the baby-making sex, nix the hot tub – for a couple of reasons. First, hot water decreases sperm production. And if you have sex in the water, there's a good chance that the sperm will end up swimming in the hot tub.

Was it Good for You?

Some folks believe the woman needs to have an orgasm on the theory that the contractions of her reproductive system may draw the sperm further toward the cervix and into the uterus, enhancing conception. There's no research to back that up, but it won't hurt, either. The male partner, however, should definitely ejaculate.

 

Tuesday, 16 August 2011

Natural Remedies For Getting Pregnant

How to get pregnant faster and naturally?

Increasing the chances of getting pregnant can be done in many ways. There are from natural methods to complex surgery, prescription drugs and artificial insemination.

Still, for the techniques and medicine to work it takes a healthy body to be able to respond properly. If after many attempts you still failed to get pregnant, it may be about a genetic or structural issue. A physician specialized in infertility is the one who can tell exactly what the problem is and recommend further treatment. Still, until you get to see such a specialist, you should try all the other methods. What a physician can recommend are fertility medications or even surgery. If you plan to get pregnant some time soon, there are some techniques you can try:

Reduce caffeine or give it up. There are studies which show that caffeine can be responsible for women’s infertility. Still, as reports of the studies conclude, a moderate to low consumption of caffeine does not affect the fertility in women.


Give up the smoke.If low quantities of caffeine are allowed, tobacco, however, is forbidden. Trouble in getting pregnant was shown to be directly related to smoking. Nicotine affects the general state of health, not only pregnancy. Passive smoking is not as bad as first hand smoking, though it should also be avoided. The smoking of cigarettes was shown to directly affect ovaries, the eggs and reproductive functions implicitly. A male smoker can encounter problems with the quality of sperm which can get slower swimming or have the DNA damaged, as well as erectile dysfunctions. This damage in the sperm DNA can later have bad effects on the growth of the baby and also cause later health problems.

Stress is a disregarded important factor which affects the general body’s health. Those who use specific techniques to manage their stress and reduce it increase chances to get pregnant as In Vitro Fertilization cases have shown. The hormones that stress releases in the body have an impact on the pituitary glands, hypothalamus and reproductive organs. Prolactin is the reproductive hormone which, in abnormal quantities caused by stress can impair ovulation.

Alcohol and drugs are also forbidden for women who want to get pregnant. Men are also affected by the consumption of alcohol as the quantity and quality of sperm can be seriously affected. A maximum of two drinks a day is recommended. Even more harm is caused if alcohol is associated with tobacco. The sperm mobility and mass is also decreased by the consumption of marijuana which can also lead to abnormal sperm. Erectile dysfunctions are another effect of drugs consumption.

There are also medications which have as side effect infertility in both men and women. They can either cause infertility or just reduce fertility. Such medication is the one use to treat inflammatory bowel disease, high blood pressure, gout or to suppress the immune system following an organ transplant. Fertility is also significantly reduced by the use of anabolic steroids or drugs which treat the prostate enlargement or cancer, along with testosterone supplements.
The mobility of sperm can also be reduced by saliva, lotions or personal lubricants. If you can’t give up lubricants, then use one based on vegetable oil.

Men should also be careful to reduce the testes’ temperature by not sitting too long and wearing loose clothing. Tight jeans are not recommended; men should wear relaxed fitting pants instead and loose underwear. Saunas, hot baths and tubs should be avoided as well. As long as the testicles are cool, the sperm is in much better condition.

A healthy weight is another important factor. Ovulation disorders can be caused by both underweight and overweight. Too much exercise, on the other hand, can lead to ovulation problems, as well. Sperm is also affected by the body fat which may be in too low or too high quantities.
Too much exercise has a direct impact on the levels of hormones, so the sperm quality will suffer from that. This doesn’t mean men shouldn’t exercise at all. A fit body is more likely to produce healthy sperm.

Healthy eating is very important as well. Both men and women should adopt a healthy diet consisting of mainly vegetables and fruit. Multivitamin supplements are good to be taken as they provide the vitamins and minerals the body needs to generate and support the new life.
In case your attempts of getting pregnant had no result, natural remedies are a good, viable solution. Certain herbs were proved to be efficient in treating infertility along with ensuring that the conception and pregnancy go well. There were clinical tests conducted which proved these herbs’ efficiency.


 

Basic conception for pregnancy you need know

Pregnancy and Conception

Most doctors calculate the start of pregnancy from the first day of your last menstrual period. This is called the "menstrual age" and is about two weeks ahead of when conception actually occurs.
Here's a primer on conception:


Ovulation

Each month, in one of a woman's two ovaries, a group of immature eggs start to develop in small fluid-filled cysts called follicles. Normally, one of the follicles is selected to complete development (maturation). This "dominant follicle" suppresses the growth of all of the other follicles, which stop growing and degenerate. The mature follicle ruptures and releases the egg from the ovary (ovulation). Ovulation generally occurs about two weeks before a woman's next menstrual period begins.

Development of Corpus Luteum

After ovulation, the ruptured follicle develops into a structure called the corpus luteum, which secretes two hormones, progesterone and estrogen. The progesterone helps prepare the endometrium (lining of the uterus) for the embryo to implant by thickening it.

Release of Egg

The egg is released and travels into the fallopian tube where it remains until a single sperm penetrates it during fertilization (the union of egg and sperm; see below). The egg can be fertilized for about 24 hours after ovulation. On average, ovulation and fertilization occurs about two weeks after your last menstrual period.

Menses

If no sperm is around to fertilize the egg, it and the corpus luteum will degenerate, removing the high level of hormones. This causes the endometrium to slough off, resulting in menstrual bleeding. Then the cycle repeats itself.

Fertilization

If sperm does meet and penetrate a mature egg after ovulation, it will fertilize it. When the sperm penetrates the egg, changes occur in the protein coating around it to prevent other sperm from entering. At the moment of fertilization, your baby's genetic make-up is complete, including its sex. Since the mother can provide only X chromosomes (she's XX), if a Y sperm fertilizes the egg, your baby will be a boy (XY); if an X sperm fertilizes the egg, your baby will be a girl (XX).

Implantation

Within 24-hours after fertilization, the egg begins dividing rapidly into many cells. It remains in the fallopian tube for about three days. The fertilized egg (called a zygote) continues to divide as it passes slowly through the fallopian tube to the uterus where its next job is to attach to the endometrium (a process called implantation). First the zygote becomes a solid ball of cells, then it becomes a hollow ball of cells called a blastocyst. Before implantation, the blastocyst breaks out of its protective covering. When the blastocyst establishes contact with the endometrium, an exchange of hormones helps the blastocyst attach. Some women notice spotting (or slight bleeding) for one or two days around the time of implantation. The endometrium becomes thicker and the cervix is sealed by a plug of mucus.
Within three weeks, the blastocyst cells begin to grow as clumps of cells within that little ball, and the baby's first nerve cells have already formed. Your developing baby is called an embryo from the moment of conception to the eighth week of pregnancy. After the eighth week and until the moment of birth, your developing baby is called a fetus.

Pregnancy Hormones

Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin (hCG) is a pregnancy hormone present in your blood from the time of conception and is produced by the cells that form the placenta. This is the hormone detected in a pregnancy test; but, it usually takes three to four weeks from the first day of your last period for the levels of hCG to be high enough to be detected by pregnancy tests.
The development stages of pregnancy are called trimesters, or three-month periods, because of the distinct changes that occur in each stage.

Saturday, 13 August 2011

Seven tips help get pregnant



Many couples figure out that it is very hard to get pregnant and it is something that totally out of their control. Nowadays a lot of people are used to the fact that they control their lives. They make the decisions and do the things they want and when they want. Unfortunately getting pregnant does not work that way. There are however several things you can do to increase the odds.


The first tip on getting pregnant - Supplementing folic acid which is an artificial form of Folate


This B vitamin is known for the fact that it lowers the risk on birth defects related to the brain and spinal cord. It is also recommended by the FDA.

The second tip on getting pregnant - A healthy lifestyle

Lifestyle includes exercising, eating, drinking, smoking. Exercising is a good thing. It keeps the body healthy and in shape. This enhances the chances of Getting Pregnant. However, too much exercising is not good. It may even stop your body from ovulating. It may also lead to a shorter second period of your cycle. Normally this should be about 14 days and will start after your ovulation. It is important to exercise in a moderate way so your body is fit and healthy. This will optimize your chance on conceiving.

Pay attention to what you eat. Dieting can be beneficial if you are over weighted because it brings your body in a healthier state. But when you are getting too thin your body is not in the optimal situation either. Besides dieting it is really important to eat healthy food. In case of getting pregnant there are some foods you really should not eat and some foods that are a must. By knowing what to eat you can increase your chances of conceiving.

It is probably needless to say that smoking, caffeine and alcohol are not beneficial when you are preparing your body to get pregnant. As well male as female have to keep this in mind.

The third tip on getting pregnant - Time your cycle


Keep a menstrual calendar. Note the date of the first day of your period. This is the first day of your cycle. Approximately on the 14th day you will ovulate. This may vary with some days. This is your most fertile moment and therefore it is important to know exactly how your cycle works.

The fourth tip on getting pregnant - The state of mind

Certain mental issues reflect on the physical state of the body. It also decreases the chances of getting pregnant. Research shows that women who suffer from a depression are twice as likely to have fertility issues.

Stress has also a negative influence. Try to relax by taking some time for yourself and do the things that make you feel happy and comfortable. You may also try yoga, acupuncture or massages. The less stress you have the more chance on getting pregnant.
Keep things fun and exciting in your love life. Try to prevent that making love becomes a getting pregnant thing.

The fifth tip on getting pregnant - The position during intercourse

There is no scientific evidence that one position enhances the chances of conceiving more than the other. However gravity may play a role. Standing or sitting positions may prevent the seed from traveling the way up. Therefore it may be wise to use a position that does not challenge gravity.

Gravity plays also a role just after intercourse. If the woman jumps up and goes to the bathroom you make it more difficult for the seed to get there where it needs to be. Just lay down on the bed for 10 to 15 minutes. In this way the seed can get into the cervix.

The sixth tip on getting pregnant - Become seed friendly 

There are a lot of things that a woman may use or do to her vaginal area that lowers the seed friendliness. A PH imbalance in the vagina can be caused by sprays or tampons with a scent. Certain oils, glycerin, saliva and artificial lubrication can kill the seed. Douching is also not good because it changes the PH ratio, it may cause infections and it also may wash away the cervical mucus. The cervical mucus is important because it is needed to transport the seed.

In case you are monitoring your cervical mucus in order to predict your most fertile moment make sure you do this first thing in the morning. Showering, bathing and swimming may affect the quality and quantity.

The seventh tip of getting pregnant - Men should be wearing boxers instead of tight underwear

This will enhance the quality and quantity of the seed. Carrying cell phones in the pocket or having a laptop on the lap have negative effects on the quality and quantity of seed.

Intercourse in the morning would help because the seed count will be the highest.

These tips on getting pregnant should enhance your odds to conceive. Eighty-five percent of women will become pregnant within one year of trying. If it is taking longer than a year, consult a doctor for an infertility workup. For women older than 35, some doctors recommend consulting a specialist after six months of trying. For more tips on getting pregnant you can visit The Cost Of IVF.

 

Thursday, 11 August 2011

Best Ways to Get Pregnant

 


Increasing the chances of getting pregnant can be done in many ways. There are from natural methods to complex surgery, prescription drugs and artificial insemination.


If you decided to have a baby and unsuccessfully tried, don’t lose hope. There are still some things you can do.
Getting discouraged in the possibility to get pregnant can have several causes: past chronic miscarriages, a late age (late 30’s, even 40’s), IUI and IVF procedures with no result. However, these are not enough reasons to give up the idea. Here is what you can do to get back on track.
1. Positive thinking
A PCOS diagnostic made me loose hope in ever giving birth. The doctors had no hope for me, either and I believed them. It was wrong for me to do so. Pills and certain methods are not the only solution. You need to think that you can actually get pregnant, that it is not an impossible thought. This helps the most. Try to feel as if you are already a mother and imagine all that. Dreams can become true and for me it happened in less than 3 months.
2. Try several dimensional treatments
One dimensional treatment such as changing the diet, the sexual positions, taking hormone pills is good, but not the only way. If it fails, it gives you the feeling nothing else will work. This is not the case. There are holistic and natural methods that can help you get pregnant in 2 months time. Just trust nature to do its work on your body.
3. 35 or 45 is not an impossible age to become a mother
The common believe says that once women pass the age of 35, not to mention 40, pregnancy is out of the question. Reality has proved this to be just a misconception.
4. 2 Months is not an unrealistic time to become pregnant
Trying methods that fail over and over again can be very discouraging. It can get you depressed seeing how your efforts are in vain. Don’t take for granted what your doctors say if they tell you that there is no chance that you can become a mother. In my case, they were proved to be wrong. Holistic and natural methods are of much help and you can conceive a baby in no more than 90 days.
The decision of having a baby is a crucial moment in a couple’s life. It is thrilling, but also quite stressing. Though it may sound very easy, you don’t just have sex once and the next morning you are already pregnant. Although not impossible, it is rather unlikely. For some women it takes months before they get pregnant.

What you should know is that conceiving a child does not happen all at once, but in time. If you are too much focused on trying rather then on enjoying the process, then this stress will only block you from being fertile.

A visit to the OBGYN is the first thing you should do once you decided to become a mother. It is just for checking that all is in order and that you are physically ready to have a baby.
Once you have the doctor’s approval, the next step is to take a look over your diet. If your daily diet is a chaotic one, it is the good moment to start eating healthy. Proper nutrition is essential for a future pregnancy to develop well. Fruit and fresh food should be the base of your new eating habits. Folic acid is a vital element, so eat those foods which contain it. Your partner should also adopt a healthy life style in order to produce healthy sperm.

Proper hydration is another important aspect, so you should drink at least 2 l of water per day. Caffeine should be cut up, as well as smoking. Alcohol and drugs are forbidden.

The following step is the timing. There are certain days of your menstrual cycle in which you have the most chances of getting pregnant. To establish those days you need to chart your monthly cycle. There are free charts on the internet to help you with that. Having recording these data can help you if an infertility test would be eventually necessary.

On the first day of the menstruation you need to take your temperature. Before getting into action, you also need to check the temperature in the morning. This way you can have a better idea whether on that day you are fertile or not. The body’s temperature rises on the day following the ovulation. The increase of temperature is about 4 degrees.

Once the ovulation is identified, then you can start programming. Getting pregnant has most chances to happen on several days before the ovulation and up to two days after the ovulation takes place. Drinking a lot of water is recommended during this time, to increase the cervical fluid.
No matter the method you use, don’t forget to enjoy conceiving your future child.