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.

 

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.

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.

 

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.

Why Prenatal Vitamins Are Important

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.

Pregnancy and prenatal vitamins

What are prenatal vitamins?

For a mother's health, and the health of her baby, she is advised to take so-called ‘prenatal vitamins’ during pregnancy. These are specially formulated multivitamins that make up for any nutritional deficiencies in the mother's diet. While the supplements contain numerous vitamins and minerals, their folic acid, iron, and calcium content are especially important.

Why do pregnant women need folic acid, iron and calcium?

Folic acid can reduce your risk of having a baby with a serious birth defect of the brain and spinal cord, called the ‘neural tube.’ A baby with spina bifida, the most common neural tube defect, is born with a spine that is not closed. The exposed nerves are damaged, leaving the child with varying degrees of paralysis, incontinence, and sometimes mental retardation.
Neural tube defects develop in the first 28 days after conception, before many women realise they are pregnant. Because about half of all pregnancies are unplanned, the Department of Health recommends that you take 400 micrograms of folic acid each day while you are trying to conceive, and should continue taking this dose for the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. . A woman who has had a prior child with a neural tube defect should discuss the appropriate dose of folic acid with her doctor before her next pregnancy. Studies have shown that taking a larger dose (up to 4,000 micrograms) at least one month before and during the first trimester may be beneficial.
There are natural sources of folic acid: green leafy vegetables, nuts, beans, and citrus fruits. It is also found in many fortified breakfast cereals and some vitamin supplements.
Calcium during pregnancy can prevent a new mother from losing her own bone density, as the foetus uses the mineral for bone growth.
Iron helps both the mother and baby's blood carry oxygen.
While a daily vitamin supplement is no substitute for a healthy diet, most women need supplements to make sure they get adequate levels of these minerals.

Are all prenatal vitamins the same?

No, they are not. Look for one that includes approximately: 

• 400 mcg of folic acid
• 400 IU of vitamin D
• 200 to 300 mg of calcium
• 70 mg of vitamin C
• 3 mg of thiamine
• 2 mg of riboflavin
• 20 mg of niacine
• 6 mcg of vitamin B12
• 10 mg of vitamin E
• 15 mg of zinc
• 17 mg of iron

Your doctor or midwife can also advise you on certain brands. In some cases, your GP will give you a prescription for a certain type of prenatal vitamin.

My prenatal vitamin makes me nauseous, what should I do?

Some prenatal vitamins can cause nausea in an already nauseous pregnant woman. If your prenatal vitamins make you sick, talk to your GP. He or she may be able to prescribe a different kind of prenatal vitamin (for example, chewable or liquid vitamins as opposed to those you swallow whole may be better tolerated by some women).

Considering Pregnancy? See Your Doctor First

 

Caring for your health before you become pregnant -- called preconception care -- will help you identify any factors that may put you or your baby at risk during pregnancy and allow time to treat any medical problems that you may have before you become pregnant.

A preconception counseling appointment with your doctor is an important first step in preparing for pregnancy. Preconception counseling helps educate women so that they can be physically and emotionally prepared -- and healthy -- for pregnancy.

What Happens at a Preconception Doctor's Appointment?

During a preconception office visit, your doctor will discuss your:

• Reproductive history: He or she will ask you about any previous pregnancies, your menstrual history, what type of contraceptive you use, previous sexually transmitted diseases and vaginal infections, as well as previous Pap test results.
• Medical history: You will be asked about pre-existing medical conditions or allergies. Any medical condition, such as diabetes or high blood pressure, should be well controlled before you become pregnant.
• Surgical history: Tell your doctor about any surgeries, transfusions, and hospitalizations you may have had.
• Current medications: Tell your doctor about any prescription or over-the-counter medications you are or have taken. This may be a good time to discuss the possible need for drug substitutions to decrease the risks of birth defects.
• Family health history: Your doctor will ask you questions about your family's health. Tell your doctor if anyone in your family has high blood pressure (hypertension), diabetes, twins, mental retardation, blindness, deafness, cystic fibrosis, congenital birth defects, ethnic-related conditions, such as Tay-Sachs disease, sickle trait/sickle cell disease, and thalassemia.
• Home and workplace environment: Your doctor will discuss possible hazards, such as exposure to cat feces ( toxoplasmosis), X-rays, and lead or solvents that could influence your ability to become pregnant or maintain a healthy pregnancy.
• Your weight: Your doctor will recommend you try to reach your ideal body weight before becoming pregnant. This means losing weight if you are overweight to reduce your risk of high blood pressure complications during pregnancy; or gaining weight if you are underweight to reduce the risk of delivering a low birth-weight baby.
• Lifestyle factors: Your doctor will ask you questions about you and your partner's habits that could influence your pregnancy, such as smoking, drinking alcohol, and using recreational drugs. If you or your partner participate in any of these activities, they will have to be stopped in order for you to have a healthy pregnancy.
• Exercise: Tell your doctor what type of exercise you do. Generally, you may continue your normal exercise routine throughout pregnancy unless you are instructed to decrease or modify your activities.
• Diet: Your doctor will ask you about your dietary habits, including how much caffeine you consume. To ensure a healthy pregnancy, you should follow a healthy, well-balanced diet and eat a variety of foods to get all the nutrients you need. Choose foods high in starch and fiber. Make sure you are getting enough vitamins and minerals in your daily diet. Eat and drink at least 4 servings of dairy products and calcium-rich foods a day, choose at least one source of vitamin C, vitamin A, and folic acid every day.
  1. Caffeine consumption: When planning a pregnancy, it is recommended that you do not have more than 300 mg of caffeine per day. The caffeine content in various drinks depends on the beans or leaves used and how it is prepared. An 8-ounce cup of coffee has about 150 mg on average while black tea has about 80 mg of caffeine. A 12-ounce glass of caffeinated soda contains anywhere from 30-60 mg of caffeine. Remember, chocolate and certain medications contain caffeine too -- the amount of caffeine in a chocolate bar is equal to 1/4 cup of coffee.
  2. Prenatal vitamins: Before considering a pregnancy, you should begin taking a daily vitamin that contains folic acid. Folic acid has been shown to decrease the risk of having a baby with a neural tube defect, such as spina bifida, a serious condition in which the brain and spinal cord do not form normally in the baby. The medical and public health community recommends taking 400 micrograms of folic acid daily before conception and in early pregnancy. Many pharmacies sell over-the-counter prenatal vitamins that do not require a prescription.

Your doctor may also:

• Perform a physical exam to evaluate your heart, lungs, breasts, thyroid, and abdomen. A pelvic exam and Pap smear may also be performed.
• Order lab tests: Some of the conditions screened for include rubella, hepatitis, HIV, syphilis, and others as indicated.
• Discuss how to chart menstrual cycles to detect ovulation and determine the time when you are most likely to get pregnant.
• Discuss genetic counseling: Counseling can help couples become aware of their chances of having a child with a birth defect. Genetic counseling is advised for women who will be 35 or older when the baby is due, for couples who have already had a child with a birth defect or for couples with a family history of genetic problems, birth defects, or mental retardation.
• If you are not protected against rubella or chickenpox, your doctor may recommend the appropriate vaccines and delaying attempts to conceive for at least one month.

This appointment is also the time for you to ask your doctor any questions that you may have. No question is dumb, so feel free to ask about anything that you may be concerned about.

Essential Preconception Planning Checklist

Planning to add a new member to your family? Here is quick and helpful checklist to help you prepare for pregnancy.

Babies are a bundle of joy for every couple and there is a natural tendency for everyone to crave for their own baby. However, it is essential to have this new addition to your family at the right time. Orthodox personalities might argue that there is no such thing as 'right time', but experts argue that for all those who prefer a planned conception, it is easily possible to follow a checklist to ensure a perfect physical and psychological make up before you actually decide to conceive. Listed below are some essential points to be taken into consideration while doing preconception planning.

Dual Consent
It is essential that both the partners are physically and psychologically prepared to take up responsibility for a new addition to their family. A baby deserves your time, attention and love. Couples need to first question themselves if their relationship is strong enough to take care of baby's requirements. Peace and harmony in a couple's relationship are top requisites in preconception planning checklist.

Preparing Older Siblings
The child you are currently planning to conceive may not be your first one. It is essential to psychologically prepare your older children to welcome a new member to your family.

Addictions
It is a common knowledge that smoking and drinking habits have a major share in reduction of male and female fertility. In case you are planning to start a family, it would be essential to give up these habits. In men, medical experiments have proven that reduction in nicotine intake gives a boost to sperm count.

Ovulation Dates
Ovulation days are the most fertile days of your menstruation cycle. If you are planning to have a baby, then ovulation period offers you the best chance to conceive. It is always a good idea to make careful noting of your menstruation dates on a calender. Note down the next due date for your menstruation. Now you can count backwards up to 12th and 16th day before your menstruation. This is the most fertile time or your ovulation time. For women experiencing a 28 days cycle, the 14th day from the first day of he last period is the most fertile day. You may also make use of a basal thermometer to check your basal temperature. There is usually a temperature rise of approximately 1.5º during your ovulating period.

Seeking Medical Advice
It is useful for both the partners to consult their medical practitioners and get a thorough physical examination done. This is important since, your doctors will be the first people to point out any hindrances to your pregnancy. Such hindrances can usually be taken care of, by intake of medicines or by a minor correction surgery. Check with your gynecologist for any prescribed immunization before conception. It is required that the doctor be made aware of your's and your family's medical history to help him understand the kind of drug prescription required by you. You may also plan a meeting with your doctor to discuss a suitable food plan to increase your fertility and thereby give a boost to your chances of conception.

Exercising Correctly
It is essential for women to be physically fit for successfully handing the physical stress of a pregnancy. If you are a health freak, try to make certain that you are not over exercising. An over exercise is often physically stressful and has proven effects such as irregular periods, reduction of hormone secretion, reduction in fertility, etc. For those who have always avoided exercising, start with indulging in some physical activity like jogging, swimming, cycling etc. Since ancient time, practicing yoga has been seen as an exercise as well as booster of fertility. This habit of exercising can be continued during pregnancy as well. The old generation held that pregnant women should hang up their shoes and take utmost rest. However, today it holds true that, more active the mother, healthier will be her child and easier the hours of labor on the final day. However, one may consult a fitness expert for best exercises post conception.

Healthy Diet and Supplements
Once you plan to conceive, it is essential for both partners especially the would-be-mother to to adopt a diet suitable for conception and fetal nourishment during pregnancy. It is encouraged to give up all kinds of crash diet plans if women desire successful conception. For women, it is essential to avoid certain foods like salt, lard, caffeine, refined foods, chocolates etc. The approach should be towards a balanced diet. Here is a table to help you understand the essential diet at a glance.

Nutrient	Source of Nutrition
Proteins	Red Meat, Fish, Eggs, Chicken, Beans and Pulses
Carbohydrates	Whole wheat, Cereals, Brown Rice, Potatoes, Sweet corn
Calcium	Milk, Cheese, Yoghurt, Broccoli
Fibre	Fresh fruits, Vegetables
Sugar and Fats(consume moderately)	Sugar, Oils, Clarified Butter
Iron	Liver, Hummus, Lentils, Leafy vegetables, Jaggery, Dryfruits and Seeds
Folic Acid	Beans, Berries, Citrus
Body Hydrants	Plenty of water and Juices

There is a myth that men do not need to make any dietary change before conception. However, facts state that there is a probability of low fertility amongst men which could be a hindrance to conception. It is always a good idea to consult a reputed nutrition specialist and ensure consumption of a wholesome diet.

It is not always possible for you to avoid the health issues that you face. But researches in science have helped create a variety of solutions to these problems. So before you plan to get pregnant, make it a point to go through this useful checklist. Its a perfect way to do your preconception planning.

Preconception Tips

Deciding you are ready for parenthood is a big emotional step. Having taken it, you need to bring your body up to speed. Use these preconception tips to optimize your chances of conceiving and having a healthy pregnancy.

Healthcare practitioners recommend care from the time you start trying to have a baby. Preconception care comprises measures taken before a woman gets pregnant, and includes health care, education and counseling. It deals with several different aspects, from trying to reduce/eliminate problems that might affect mother and/or baby later, to minimizing the risk of birth defects and also covering good nutrition and physical activity. The following are some good preconception tips to follow.

Tips for Preconception

Folic Acid: One of the most widely stated tips for preconception is to take a dose of 400 micrograms of folic acid daily for at least 3 months. This recommendation that comes from the U.S. Public Health Service, is in order to reduce the risk of birth defects in the fetus.

Immunizations: Certain immunizations are essential to safeguard a developing fetus against some deadly disease. Commonly taken vaccinations are to protect against chicken pox and rubella.

Overall Good health: It is very important for women to be in the pink of health before and after conception. Aspects that need to be taken into consideration are maintaining a healthy diet, exercising regularly and minimizing stress. A healthy diet means one that comprises fresh fruits, green vegetables and plenty of water. Try to increase your intake of Omega 3. Apart from this, it is also important for a woman trying to get pregnant to have a healthy weight, as being overweight or underweight can affect normal ovulation.

Quit Smoking and Drinking Alcohol: A strong admonition for those trying to conceive is to quit smoking and drinking. Not only is smoking harmful to the ovaries, it increases the likelihood of low birth rate as well as premature birth. Women who smoke have about a 40% chance of having a successful pregnancy, as compared to non-smokers. Smoking in women is associated with a placental abruption (separation of a normally sighted placenta from its attachment in the womb) and an increased risk of placenta previa (low lying placenta). Also, studies are constantly uncovering evidence that confirms that alcohol consumption during pregnancy causes harm to the fetus. It causes increased rate of miscarriage, growth retardation, prematurity, and developmental delay, and 'Fetal Alcohol Syndrome'.

Complete Heath Assessment: A woman seeking to conceive must undergo a complete medical screening so that any medical condition such as diabetes, hypothyroidism, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B, PKU, hypertension, blood diseases and eating disorders should be detected and treated BEFORE conception. At this time, a woman's complete medical history must be reviewed, including family medical history and risk factors for infections or birth defects. The doctor must also be informed if she is is taking any over-the-counter or prescription medicines (including vitamins, and dietary or herbal supplements). Good dental health is also very important.

Among the other measures that need to be taken, avoiding caffeine is a very important one. Present in coffee, tea, coca-cola, chocolate, etc., it is linked to fetal growth restriction, miscarriage and low birth rates. However, be aware that occasionally, decaffeinated coffee could aggravate the immune system more than the caffeinated variety. Needless to say, recreational/antidepressant drugs of any kind must not be consumed. Try to ensure that you are not exposed to toxic or infection carrying substances of any kind, such as chemicals, or cat and rodent feces. In the preconception period, take care not to get exposed to any sexually transmitted diseases, as they increase the risk of infertility and ectopic pregnancy. After stopping birth control pills, it is advisable to go through several normal cycles before trying to conceive. While these are a few preconception tips, it is very important to visit a medical practitioner to stay informed of all the care that is required to be taken.

Five aspects for preparing your health pregnant

Whether you are looking forward to being pregnant, or have you go with the flow of this idea, or what might happen to the confusion, worry, fear, even you have not had time to do any of the basic preparation is already pregnant, even so, once pregnancy become a reality, we should happily accept it. You must understand, pregnancy, childbirth is not a disease but a normal physiological process. Almost the majorities of women have experienced or are experiencing or will experience this phase. In a peaceful, natural state of mind to greet the arrival of pregnancy and childbirth, with a pleasant, positive attitude towards the changes that occur during pregnancy, gave birth to believe that they can represent the future of a small life, bring peace to complete his/her mission in this world that we need to do the mental preparation. This is psychological preparation of both spouses. Husband fully prepared to help his wife get through each stage of pregnancy, and the future growth and development of the child to lay a solid foundation.

Identify health

In the early weeks of pregnancy, perhaps even you do not know you are pregnant. However, during this time, the development of the fetus is most vulnerable, and therefore, if determined to be pregnant, please always keep it in your mind and pay huge attention.

The experts pointed out that in pre-pregnancy preparation, you shall start to maintain normal body weight and height proportionate at least six months before the pregnancy. If you are serious overweight or underweight, you may need to see a doctor and receive a suggestion of how to achieve normal body weight. If you usually suffer from chronic diseases, plan to become pregnant before you have to tell the doctor to listen to the doctor's treatment recommendations. And if you took contraceptive pill before you may need to wait until at least three menstrual cycles before pregnancy, during this period use other methods of contraception.

Attention to nutritional supplements

Recently, the famous geneticist Czeizel Hungarian professor announced he has done a world's first human to prevent deformity of scientific experiments, he used the maternal-specific compound living for more than 5,000 women of childbearing age had an eight-year clinical studies, the results confirmed that pregnant women from early pregnancy multivitamin supplements can significantly reduce neural tube defects in newborns up to 92%, reduce pregnancy nausea, vomiting, dizziness and other pregnancy rate of 54% of the reaction, and significantly reduce other congenital deformity.

Weight loss:

Currently, many pregnant women too blind to nutrition, too much rest but less daily activities, in the clinically more than half of pregnant women are overweight status, pregnancy-induced hypertension and diabetes mellitus become a common phenomenon.
It is absolutely correct to have sufficient supplement of nutrition in your pre-pregnancy and pregnancy stage, but eat a lot blindly will turn your situation to the negative side. Prof Wang, pregnant women before giving birth than normal weight is more than 12.5 kg less than normal, higher than the figures are overweight, are likely to give birth to overweight babies. Therefore, the best daily diet and nutritional supplements should be under the guidance of a doctor for regular. Most of our traditional concepts of women as passive in the marriage pregnant, plan to become pregnant so can not discuss matters more to talk about pre-pregnancy body exercise. Many pregnant women find that their body is not suitable for birth or may affect fetal development, only to reluctantly part, termination of pregnancy. In real life examples are numerous, not only is the family of regret, but also to bring great harm to the female body. Here we remind each of the couples planning a pregnancy, before pregnancy as much as possible attention to the following matters:

Weight than the normal standard for women planning a pregnancy must be ready before a thorough weight loss program, and strictly enforced. Because obese pregnant women prone to diabetes during pregnancy, it is not only pregnant women can harm their body, and the fetus in the mother's body can cause developmental or metabolic disorders, fetal hyperinsulinemia and the emergence of great children.

Therefore, each planning a pregnancy beyond the normal standards of weight and women planning a pregnancy in the first 3 months should be on reducing fat, starch and sugar food intake and increasing physical activity or exercise until the weight returned to normal standard that may be pregnant. Husbands should help their wife and reasonable arrangements for food, and his wife jointly exercise or sports, to pre-pregnancy physical fitness requirements. We believe: The couple's baby must also be smart and lovely normal baby.

Activities:

The traditional concept tells us that most women during pregnancy to minimize physical activity or exercise. With the progress of science and medicine, more and more evidence that the couple planning a pregnancy before the period of time. With the appropriate and regular physical activity and exercise can not only promote the rational allocation of female hormones to ensure that pregnant female hormone when the balance of the successful implantation and sperm to prevent pregnancy, early miscarriage, but also promotes the development of the fetus in pregnant women and the future flexibility of your baby, even when pregnant women can reduce the difficulty and pain.

At the same time the appropriate physical exercise can also help her husband to improve the fitness, to ensure the quality of sperm. Therefore, for any pair of couples planning a pregnancy, it should be for a certain period of regular exercise before the pregnancy. For example: the couple planning a pregnancy before three months, together with the reasonable exercise appropriate or relevant physical exercise such as jogging, calisthenics, swimming, tai chi, etc., in order to improve their physical fitness, and lay a solid foundation for pregnant
Pregnancy and childbirth is a woman's life is the most important thing. Most people in the evaluation of women often say: "Only a woman has experienced love, marriage, pregnancy, childbirth, the mother of this process to be considered is to have a full life, was regarded as a complete and mature women.”

Emotion:

Numerous studies show that: the psychological state of women during pregnancy and the emotional changes a direct impact on fetal development in vivo, affect the adult children of personality, psychological development. From this, pregnant women, a good mental state affects not only women, but more important is the direct impact on children.

Married couples if you want to have children as soon as possible, both sides must be prepared from the psychological and spiritual, including:

1. Welling to accept special changes during pregnancy: wives physical changes, dietary changes, emotional changes, lifestyle changes and increased dependence on their husbands.

2. To accept the changes in the future living space: the birth of little life will make the couple feel and freedom of living space smaller than before, often find it difficult to adapt so.

3. To accept future changes in emotion: both husband and wife which party, after the birth of the child will be consciously or unconsciously transfer their feelings to their children, to make the other feel the lack of emotion or not taken seriously.

4. Accept responsibility and family obligations increase due: his pregnant wife needs her husband's understanding and considerate, especially the wife usually can do manual labor, during pregnancy most of the body will be transferred to the husband; child is born, the child of both spouses’ obligations and the obligations of family migration are increasing with time.