Many
couples find it difficult to conceive or to carry a baby
to full term and some make it harder on themselves by
obsessing on why they don’t and trying to find the best ways to get
pregnant. This leads to more stress, making it even
harder to conceive. The main cause for not being able to
conceive is, of course, infertility. There are many
options that medical science offers like in-vitro
fertilization, artificial insemination and even the use
of donor eggs. However, the use of scientific procedures
is no guarantee that the couple will conceive. It is
also very expensive, so while esteem reaches a new low,
couples also lose a lot of money when these procedures
don’t work. Nowadays, many couples use other alternative
treatments, which are not only cheaper and natural, but
can be used to complement modern scientific procedures
as well. The following are some of the best ways to try
and get pregnant:
•
Stop smoking and
drinking
A
couple that smokes must stop doing so once they decide
on having a baby. For women, smoking lowers chances of
conceiving by nearly 50 percent. The man should also
stop as passive smoking is just as bad for the woman.
Alcohol is also a big no-no. Besides lowering chances of
conceiving, drinking can also affect the fetus and the
baby can be born with a congenital disease. It is
advisable for couples trying to get pregnant to stop
smoking and drinking from the time they decide to have a
baby rather than once they find out they are having one.
It is also best to avoid drinking too much coffee and
some aerated waters that have caffeine in it as caffeine
affects fertility.
•
Keep an eye on the menstrual
cycle
One
of the most important things for couples to do is to
keep an eye on the woman’s menstrual cycle. This is the
best way to get an idea of when the woman is ovulating,
or most fertile. There is just a 72-hour window for this
stage in her cycle and just a 24-hour one from when the
egg is actually released. Sperm, too, can survive for
just five days in the woman’s body so knowing the
menstrual cycle helps in planning. It is best to have as
much intercourse as possible during this phase as it
raises chances of conceiving. The best way to keep watch
over the ovulation phase is for the woman to monitor her
basal body temperature. The woman gets an idea of her
most fertile days in her cycle after observing her basal
temperature over three or four months and the couple can
plan intercourse accordingly.
•
Position during sex
Doctors
have always recommended that couples having trouble
having a baby use the missionary position when trying to
conceive. Though it has never been proven true, it is
widely believed that this position makes it easier to
conceive. Sperm must be deposited as close to the cervix
as possible and studies have shown that the missionary
position is the best way to do this when trying to
become pregnant.
•
Eat balanced meals and
exercise
The
woman should begin eating healthy, well-balanced meals —
high in vitamins, calcium, iron and folic acid — to
improve reproductive health and boost chances of
conception. The couple should also strive to maintain
ideal body weight. Being over- or underweight can have a
huge effect on the body’s hormonal balances which lead
to infertility problems. At the same time, women who are
trying to lose weight need to do so in a healthy way as
a drastic drop in weight will not help in conception. It
is best to eat well, and exercise regularly; cycling,
walking and swimming are good ways to stay active both
before and during pregnancy.
Many
couples nowadays use the holistic approach by itself or
along with whatever scientific option they have chosen.
This is one of the best ways to get
pregnant as it helps couples conceive naturally by
showing them how to heal their bodies through a change
in lifestyle and diet, doing yoga to reduce stress and
using Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture.
Basically, the holistic approach aims to balance the
body mentally, physically and spiritually by getting to
the main problem rather than just the symptom. The
belief is that if all aspects of the self are in
alignment, then the individual is at peace and a
peaceful state is conducive to conception.
