Ready to have a baby? Tips to get pregnant

If you don’t get pregnant as quickly as you hoped, there’s no cause for alarm. Usually, couples should try to conceive for at least 12 months (six months for women over 35) before seeking medical help. After trying for two years, about 95% of couples get pregnant.[1] Keep in mind that each couple has a unique pregnancy journey, so never compare yours to anyone else’s.

Needless to say, it makes sense to get off all forms of birth control if you're trying for a baby. Once you stop using contraception, it could take a while before you conceive, depending on the type of birth control. If you used barrier contraceptives such as condoms or jellies, you could get pregnant the next time you have unprotected sexual intercourse. This is because it doesn’t alter your menstrual cycle. On the other hand, hormonal birth control works by preventing ovulation. Your body generally clears the artificial hormones within 36 hours once you stop the pill. But your cycle may not return right away.[2] Some women won’t get their period for a few months — post-pill amenorrhea. On average, it takes about three months for women to get back regular menstrual cycles after the last birth control pill. Consult a doctor if your period doesn’t return in three months.

When trying to have a baby, the timing makes a huge difference. In an average 28-day menstrual cycle, women are only fertile for about six days. Knowing the most fertile days of your menstrual cycle may make getting pregnant less challenging. Monitor your cycle with your Daysy fertility tracker, which precisely distinguishes between your fertile and infertile phases. It works by measuring your basal body temperature (BBT). We asked Daysy's medical expert, Dr. Niels Van De Roemer (PhD), how a woman’s BBT changes with her cycle. He explained that your BBT generally has two phases — a low phase before ovulation and a high phase after ovulation. The BBT peak after ovulation is due to the warming effects of progesterone from the corpus luteum. Understanding this system tells you how your body functions throughout your cycle and optimizes your chance of conception.

Your mental health is just as vital for successful conception and healthy pregnancy as your physical health. BBT helps you understand the changes in your body, so you can focus on your mindset. A great way to mentally prepare to have a baby is by reducing stressors in your environment. Get a reliable support system to lean on, such as family or friends. This is also a great time to learn about what pregnancy entails.

Control the things you can, but let go of those you can’t. One factor under your control is when to try for a baby. Monitoring your cycle using BBT helps you get the timing right. Your Daysy fertility tracker does all the work so you don’t need to manually record temperature measurements or sit in front of a calendar for hours. Simply stick the device in your mouth immediately after waking up each morning. It uses a simplified color-coded system to alert you to the fertile and infertile phases of your cycle. With your tracker doing the work, you can get some much-needed rest. Stress isn’t great before and during pregnancy. Scientists found that it may lower fertility.[3] Rather, get back to the things you love and try relaxing activities such as breathing exercises, yoga, meditation, and Pilates.

Getting your body ready for pregnancy starts with fixing your diet. Poor nutrition may reduce fertility and affect your baby’s health. Enjoy meals rich in antioxidants, healthy fat, folic acid, vitamins, and trace minerals before, during, and after your pregnancy. Don’t forget to avoid potential toxins as well. Reduce your exposure to environmental contaminants, tobacco, and alcohol.

Chronic health conditions such as diabetes, thyroid disease, and hypertension may negatively affect fertility. Furthermore, poorly managed health issues cause problems for the growing fetus and mother. This increases the risk of premature births and stillbirths. Speak with your doctor about your health status before trying for a baby.

Generally, if you’re yet to get pregnant despite trying for over a year, it may be time to see a professional. Women over 35 are an exception to this rule as they can consult a doctor after six months. Numerous factors make pregnancy possible, and your doctor helps increase your odds.

There are numerous drugs available for fertility issues. One of the most widely used is Clomiphene citrate.[8] For over 40 years, it’s been prescribed to help women ovulate. It stimulates the pituitary gland to produce gonadotropins (FSH and LH), which leads to egg production.

If Clomiphene citrate doesn’t provide satisfactory results, your doctor may directly inject hormones such as

• Human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG)
• Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)
• Human menopausal gonadotropin (HMG)
• Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)

Other fertility medications that doctors may prescribe include letrozole, metformin, and bromocriptine.

Intrauterine insemination (IUI) is a treatment that helps promote fertilization.[9] It may be recommended for infertility due to male factor, cervical mucus problems, or endometriosis-related infertility, This procedure involves washing, concentrating, and injecting millions of sperm directly into the uterus. This is done during your most fertile period to maximize the possibility of fertilization. In about two weeks, the doctor checks to see if a successful pregnancy has occurred.

In simple terms, in vitro fertilization (IVF) involves using sperm to fertilize mature eggs in a lab.[10] The embryo formed is transferred into the uterus for implantation. The reproductive cells used for this procedure may be from donors or you and your partner. An added advantage of IVF is that it allows for the screening of genetic disorders.

In some cases, the sperm needs a little help getting through the outer coat of the egg. Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is a complex form of IVF that solves this problem. After harvesting the reproductive cells, the fertility specialist uses a micro-needle to inject the sperm into the egg.[11] Once fertilization occurs, the doctor transfers the embryo into the woman’s uterus.