When you are trying for a baby, every month can feel like a lifetime, especially during the two-week wait – the time between ovulation and the due date of your period. If you want to maximise your chance of getting pregnant, these five tips could help.
Live a Healthy Lifestyle
Having a healthy body gives you the best chance of getting and staying pregnant. Eating a varied and balanced diet can help you maintain a healthy weight which can help regulate irregular menstrual cycles. Exercise regularly, drink plenty of water and if you drink alcohol, smoke, or take recreational drugs – stop. Your partner should also follow a healthy lifestyle. Try and follow a regular sleep pattern too.
Relax
It can be hard to relax when you know you are ready to start the next chapter of your life, but nature has other ideas, and stress can make it harder to conceive. Prioritise your mental wellbeing as well as your physical health by finding ways to relax. Many people find meditation and mindfulness useful for clearing their mind and discover it also reduces heart rate and blood pressure. Yoga and Pilates are also popular mindful activities. However, relaxing also includes binge watching your favourite TV programme, soaking in a bubble bath, and socialising with friends. Do what makes your heart happy – it could just help you fall pregnant.
Have Sex at the Right Time
Knowing your cycle is vital when trying for a baby. Recording your periods can help you understand the signs and symptoms that you are ovulating – the time in your cycle when your ovaries release an egg and when you are most likely to conceive. To start tracking it, you can download an app (such as one that synchronises with a fitness watch) and input the first day of your period. Once there is enough data, the app can tell you when you are most likely to be ovulating. You could also use a traditional diary or calendar to record your cycles.
Have Sex More Regularly
Couples who have sex every day or every other day during the ovulation period are more likely to get pregnant. Scheduling your intimate moments doesn’t need to take away the romance – light the candles, play your favourite sexy music and enjoy each other’s company.
Seek Specialist Advice
If you have been trying for a baby for more than a year (or more than six months if you are over 35), or if you have had multiple miscarriages, you might choose to seek advice from an expert. This could be through your GP or you might opt to visit a private gynaecologists in London. At an appointment, you will need to answer personal questions about your menstrual periods and sex life. You may also have a physical examination and/or blood tests as part of an overall health assessment.
Keep your spirits high, knowing you are doing everything in your control to get pregnant and hopefully you will be celebrating soon.