I Want To Get Pregnant.
What Can I Do?

One of the hardest things for a couple to do is face the possibility of not being able to have children. Though infertility is also a problem with men, most times it is the woman who has complications arising from erratic periods, ovarian dysfunction, hormone endometriosis and an abnormal uterus. Even age can be a factor. Women, desperate to have a baby, go from doctor to doctor and their one plea is, ‘I want to get pregnant’.  Many women have had to hear that there is nothing to be done. Don’t give up. Sometimes, couples who do not conceive right away get worried and they need to be informed about the do’s and don’ts about getting pregnant before hitting the panic button. Here are some tips:

Health and exercise

·         Couples should watch what they are eating. Both partners, especially the woman, should eat healthy, balanced meals rich in proteins, vitamins, iron and folic acid. Going on fad diets to lose weight while trying to conceive and diets that purport to help women conceive are just that – fads that will not help you in any way. In fact, the woman could end up under-weight which inhibits conception.

·         Couples serious about having a baby must stop smoking, drinking alcohol and consuming recreational drugs the moment the decision is made. These toxins can lead to the baby developing a congenital disease. Stopping once they find out they are pregnant will not help as the damage could have been done by then.

·         Exercise is good in moderation. Working out for about 30 minutes, three to four times a week helps the couple maintain a good weight. Swimming and walking for the woman are good ways to stay fit, both before and after pregnancy. While exercising is good, the man should avoid cycling, at the gym or otherwise, as regular pressure put on the groin can result in lowering sperm count. For women, over-exercising can result in irregular periods and also in shortening the luteal (latter) phase of ovulation which is when the egg is fertilized.

Sexual activity

·         Sex can become a means to an end when planning a baby. One of the reasons some couples become pregnant easily is that they don’t put too much pressure on themselves while trying to conceive. So keep it as spontaneous as possible and try and spice up things. This is one of the times when too much of a good thing is really bad. Frequent sex will raise chances of conception but too much will not allow a good sperm build-up, so have intercourse once every day or two.

·         The woman should try and avoid urinating right after sex. Lying in bed for a few minutes after helps gravity pull the sperm further into the uterus. Urinating right after can cause sperm loss and lowers chances of conception.

Over-planning

·         Many couples stress themselves out by over-planning. Getting pregnant is a process that will be taken care of by nature, with a little help from a good lifestyle. Couples who go into every detail, down to ovulation date and time to actually have sex will end up more anxious and stressed. It is best to just identify the period of fertility in the woman’s cycle and have as much sex during that time as possible and let nature take its course.

·         One of the things that women should be meticulous about is having regular check-ups before trying to conceive. These can help identify any problems — some minor ones that won’t really affect conception but some, like pelvic inflammatory infection, can and need to be diagnosed and remedied.