When you decide to start a family, you definitely want it to be easy and stress free. Luckily, there are a few ways you can try to speed things up. By increasing your fertility, monitoring your ovulation cycle, and having effective sex, you can prepare yourself to get pregnant quickly.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Increase the Chances of Pregnancy
Step 1. Reduce caffeine intake
Excessive caffeine intake can interfere with fertility. Therefore, try not to consume more than 500 mg of caffeine every day. If you brew your own coffee at home, this amount is equivalent to about 5 cups of coffee. However, if you usually buy coffee at the store, a glass containing 500 ml of latte or Americano coffee is the maximum amount you can consume in one day.
Step 2. Eat nutritious food
You should always have a balanced diet. Try to eat a variety of foods that can meet your daily needs of iron, calcium, folic acid, and protein. You can get these nutrients from raisins, dark green leafy vegetables, legumes, and fortified whole wheat bread. Omega 3 fatty acids are also important. If you follow a vegan diet, you don't have to eat fish to get these nutrients. You can still get it from flax seeds and walnuts.
Also make sure to reduce your intake of foods that are high in sugar and saturated fat
Step 3. Maintain a healthy weight
If you are overweight, it may take you twice as long to get pregnant as if you were at a normal weight. On the other hand, if you are underweight, it may take you four times as long. Consult an exercise program doctor who can help you get a normal Body Mass Index (BMI).
If your weight is already classified as healthy, keep your diet healthy and live consistently
Step 4. Limit alcohol intake
Alcohol has a negative impact on fertility. Women who consume more than 2 servings of drinks per day are at high risk for infertility. Meanwhile, men who consume alcohol in excess tend to have lower sperm counts. Even if you consume alcohol, limit the amount to just one drink (350 ml of regular beer, 150 ml of wine or 45 ml of distilled spirits).
Step 5. Quit smoking
Quit smoking from the moment you decide to have a baby. Smoking can reduce fertility and increase the risk of ectopic pregnancy and miscarriage. Smoking is also known to cause various congenital defects such as low birth weight and underdeveloped lungs.
Ask your partner to quit smoking too. Secondary cigarette smoke is as harmful as primary cigarette smoke. For prospective fathers, smoking also has a negative impact on sperm
Step 6. Take prenatal vitamins
Prenatal vitamins will prepare the body to provide nutrients for the future baby. In addition, this vitamin also contains extra folic acid which can prevent spina bifida in a developing fetus. Because spina bifida often develops before pregnancy is realized, doctors recommend starting prenatal vitamins as soon as you plan to become pregnant.
Step 7. Visit a doctor
Your doctor may perform a thorough examination and review your medical history. Tell your doctor all prescription drugs, vitamins, herbal supplements you are taking. The doctor will tell you which drugs you should stop using and which drugs are safe. Also tell your doctor about:
- Problems with your reproductive system, including previous pregnancies and miscarriages, ovarian cysts, fibroid tumors, endometriosis, sexually transmitted diseases (STIs), or cancers of your reproductive organs.
- Your vaccination history, especially the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine. This disease is dangerous for the fetus if it attacks you during pregnancy.
- Family medical history, including siblings and parents suffering from cancer, heart disease, or genetic disorders.
- Sports pattern.
- Spouse's medical history, if any. This includes low sperm count, a history of measles, mumps, rubella, and other diseases that affect fertility.
Step 8. Seek a specialist if necessary
Female fertility declines continuously after the age of 35 years. Meanwhile, the effect of age on male fertility is not very clear. If you are less than 35 years old, try to get pregnant for a year before visiting your doctor and having a fertility test. However, if you are over 35 years old, just wait 6 months. First of all, visit your family doctor or your usual obstetrician. After that, you will be referred to another specialist if necessary. Tell me all the ways you have tried to get pregnant. The tests you usually need to undergo are:
- Pap smear to check for cervical cancer.
- Urine test to check for chlamydia infection, which can block the fallopian tubes.
- Blood tests during menstruation to check for hormonal imbalances.
- Blood tests during or after menstruation to detect ovulation.
- Blood tests at any time during the menstrual cycle to check for rubella infection.
Step 9. Stop using hormonal contraception
These contraceptive methods (pills, plasters, IUD, Depo-Provera, etc.) can affect the menstrual cycle. In fact, to plan a pregnancy you need to know the length of your cycle and menstrual period without the influence of contraception. If you use the contraceptive pill or patch, your body may take longer to reset your menstrual cycle.
If you need another month or two, use a condom. Each woman's body is unique. Some women have to wait up to a year after they stop using contraceptives. Meanwhile, some other women can get pregnant right away
Part 2 of 3: Monitoring the Ovulation Cycle
Step 1. Count the days in the menstrual cycle
If your cycle is regular, you may be able to determine when the next egg will be released into the Fallopian tube with a simple calculation. If your menstrual cycle is 28 days long, you will likely ovulate between days 12 and 14. A general estimate is to count down 16 days from the first day of your next cycle. You may ovulate for up to 5 days after that.
You can also take advantage of the many online calculators available
Step 2. Create a basal body temperature chart
Basal body temperature (lowest temperature in 24 hours) will increase 0.11 degrees Celsius several days after ovulation. You can use any thermometer that can measure up to 0.1 degrees. Pay attention to temperature changes that are less than 1 degree. This small change in temperature may be difficult to see with an ordinary thermometer. So, buy a basal body temperature thermometer at a pharmacy or medical supply store.
Step 3. Check cervical mucus
Pay attention to the color and texture. Cervical mucus will increase and be very slippery around the time of ovulation. If you can pull mucus between your fingers, you are likely ovulating. These changes may be difficult to detect. So check it often.
Step 4. Purchase an ovulation test kit
Ovulation test kits can predict early egg release. The principle is the same as a pregnancy test. However, the price may be more expensive, which is between IDR 300,000-IDR 600,000 for one package. This tool can be obtained at the local pharmacy.
Ovulation test kits detect levels of luteinizing hormone (LH) in the urine. This means that you have to wet the test stick with urine. Unfortunately, the accuracy of this tool is not 100%. So, don't just rely on this method
Part 3 of 3: Having Sex Effectively
Step 1. Begin sexual intercourse before ovulation
Sperm can survive up to 5 days in the body of the mother-to-be. Thus, if you have sex 2-3 days before ovulation, you should be able to get pregnant. If you want to be even safer, try having sex every day or every other day during the second and third weeks of your menstrual cycle.
Step 2. Do not use lubricant
Artificial lubricants, especially those containing spermicides, can slow the movement of sperm or even kill them. Instead of using lubricant, take the time to warm up before having sex. Even if you need a lubricant, choose a natural lubricant such as mineral oil or canola oil.
Step 3. Calm down
Stress can disrupt the menstrual cycle. So, relax and enjoy the process. If you're dealing with unavoidable stress, try yoga or another meditation practice. Taking just 15 minutes to cool off during the day can go a long way.
