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Preparing for your pregnancy

Pregnancy is a matter of chance. It does not always happen even if the egg and sperm are in the right place at the right time, and the length of time it takes varies from couple to couple. Some get lucky and conceive in the first month; others will still be trying a year later without any luck, but that doesn't necessarily mean there's anything wrong. However, there are problems, which cannot be solved by simply following the tips outlined below. These points are meant to guide you on conception issues and prepare you for a healthy pregnancy. Once you have made up your mind to have a baby, you should work on maximizing your chances of becoming pregnant.



Fertility Facts

For normal fertile couples trying to conceive, the success rate in any given month is about 20 percent.
  • About 57 percent will conceive within three months.
  • About 75 percent will conceive within six months.
  • About 90 percent of couples within one year.


Infertility affects men and women almost equally.


In both sexes, fertility declines with age, but this problem is more pronounced in women. Fertility declines after age 50 in men. Conversely fertility starts to decline around age 30 in women:
  • Women aged 15 to 24, 4 percent have difficulty becoming pregnant.
  • Women aged 24 to 34, 13 percent have difficulty conceiving.
  • By age 40, 34 percent of women have conception problems.
  • By age 45, 87 percent of women are infertile.

Sex at the right time


Timing is everything. The best time to make a baby is just before ovulation. The average length of a woman's fertility cycle is 28 days, counting Day 1 as the first day of period and the beginning of the next period as the last day. If you have a regular 28-day cycle, you can predict ovulation to occur middle of the cycle around Day 14. Many women have different cycle lengths, which makes calculating the mid- point difficult..
Assuming there are no fertility problems, it may still take several months to conceive. Intercourse may not occur at the moment of ovulation, but there is a four-day window when sexual activity is likely to result in pregnancy. Your most fertile time is about 12 to 15 days before the beginning of the next menstrual period. Ovulation occurs when a mature egg is released. The time around ovulation is the most optimal time to have intercourse in order to enhance the chance for pregnancy.



Maximize your chances

Apart from timing, you should also consider the following to work out your 'fertile' period.

Temperature
After ovulation, a woman's 'rest' body temperature or 'basal' temperature rises by around 0.2°C, and keeps at this level until menstruation begins. To notice this rise, you need to record your temperature every morning on a special chart when you wake up, before going to the bathroom, before having your morning beverage or before starting on any other activity. The idea is to not let your temperature rise. When you have discovered a pattern, you should have sex on the days just before your temperature is due to rise. This should be your most fertile time. Keeping temperature charts can only estimate when your most fertile time might be, and indicate whether you're having intercourse near ovulation.

Cervical mucus

Mucus in the cervix is produced continuously but its appearance changes according to the hormone levels throughout the monthly cycle. In the early part of the cycle, the mucus is thick and sticky, making it difficult for sperm to get through. As ovulation approaches, the mucus thins and becomes clear. This allows easy passage of sperm through the cervix. After ovulation, the mucus becomes thick again. By observing your mucus pattern you will be able to determine when the mucus is thin and time intercourse accordingly.

More sex

The more often you have sex (around the right time), the more likely you are of having sex during your fertile period. According to experts, one of the most common causes of infertility is infrequent sex at the appropriate time of the cycle. Put your fears to rest - your partner will not 'run out' of sperm. Sperm counts are slightly lower if a man engages in frequent sex, but since each ejaculation contains millions of sperm this will not affect his chances at impregnation.

Predictor Kits

You can buy over the counter ovulation kits, which measure the changing levels of hormones in the body and help work out the best time for intercourse and conception.

Male contribution
The best temperature for sperm production is 2-3°C below the temperature of the rest of the body. That is why the testes are outside the body. Wearing tight pants can raise the temperature of the testes and lower sperm production, so wearing boxer shorts is worth a thought. Sperm can live up to 72 hours within the female reproductive tract




Your health and your spouse's health

A healthy and active lifestyle also promotes your chances at conceiving (more details to this below)
  • Eat a varied diet with plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, protein-rich food such as fish, poultry or pulses, and whole grains
  • Avoid smoking, or cut down if you find it impossible to give up
  • Limit alcohol intake
  • Take regular exercise at least thrice a week for 20 - 30 minutes. Try walking, swimming or cycling
  • Get adequate rest and relaxation. Avoid high stress levels


What are our chances?

The chances of getting pregnant in each cycle vary according to a wide range of factors, but perhaps the most important one is the woman's age.
  • For a woman aged 20-25, the chances of conceiving are around 25 per cent for each cycle (that is a one in four chance)
  • For a woman aged 30-35, the chances reduces to 15 per cent, and thereafter continues to decline with increasing age
  • It will take a couple in their early twenties an average of five cycles to conceive
  • Women in their early thirties will get pregnant, on average, after nine cycles
  • One in ten couples will take more than a year to succeed in conceiving


When should we go to the doctor?

Don't throw in the towel yet. Most GPs will advise you not to worry if you have been having regular sexual intercourse without contraception for at least a year. After a year without success investigation is necessary. Further if any of the following apply to you and your partner, you could ask your GP to arrange sperm and ovulation checks after six months of trying with no outcome:
  • You are over 30 and feel that 'time is running out'
  • You suspect that you might be having problems with ovulation (perhaps because of very long or irregular cycles)
  • If either of you has had a sexually transmitted disease
  • If you have had abdominal or pelvic surgery


Pre-pregnancy checklist

Planning for a baby can take up to a year in normal situations. On your part you have to ensure your body is prepared for this demanding change. In a nutshell ask yourself these questions:

Alcohol: Are you drinking in moderation or going overboard?

Drugs and medication: Are you only taking drugs that have been prescribed by your doctor who is aware of your plans to conceive?

Work environment:
Have you checked on the safety issues at work? Is changing jobs conducive while trying to conceive?

Contraceptives:
Are you using any form of contraception?

Stress:
Do you know infertility is caused by high stress levels? Are you doing your part by eliminating the many stresses in your life as you possibly can?

Your GP: Do you feel you share a good relationship with your doctor? Are you aware that a poor relationship can impact on your health?

Vitamins and minerals: Are you taking a folic acid supplement?

Rubella:
Has your GP checked your immunity to German measles?

Exercise:
Are you keeping fit with regular, gentle exercises?

Smoking:
Have you made attempts to quit, or at least cut down?

Diet: Are you following a sensible diet, which includes fruits, vegetables, cereals and protein? Are you limiting junk food?



Healthy lifestyle and Habits

Diet

  • Your food intake becomes all the more important when trying to have a baby. Eating a variety of healthy meals and snacks becomes a must.

  • Aim for at least five portions a day of fruits and vegetables (fresh, frozen, dried or in juice form)

  • Incorporate plenty of starchy foods such as bread, pasta, rice and potatoes into your diet

  • Include protein foods such as lean meat and chicken, fish, eggs and pulses (beans and lentils). These foods will also supply you with iron (see below)

  • Try eating fish at least twice a week including some oily fish. But don't have more than two portions of oily fish a week.

  • Dairy foods such as milk, cheese and yogurt contain calcium an integral part of your diet

  • Cut down on fatty and sugary foods such as cakes and biscuits. This will help keep your weight in check.

  • Healthy snacking is important. Examples you might want to consider are sandwiches filled with chicken, cottage cheese or egg; low-fat yogurts; vegetable and bean soups or fruit including fresh, canned in juice or dried fruit such as raisins or apricots.

  • Pregnant women can become deficient in iron so make sure build up your iron stores with iron rich foods. Have vitamin C rich foods such as cut fruit or vegetables, or a glass of fresh fruit juice, with any iron-rich meals to help in iron absorption. Good sources of iron are red meat, pulses, dried fruits, whole-wheat bread, green vegetables, fortified breakfast cereals.


Vitamins - Folic Acid


Before conceiving you should start on 400 microgram (mcg) of folic acid supplement per day. This vitamin is mandatory from the time you stop using contraception until the 12th week of pregnancy. This vitamin helps prevent neural tube defects such as spina bifida. If you plan on taking a multivitamin ensure the folic acid contained is 400mcg. Check to ensure vitamin A or fish liver oils is not present in your supplement. (Ask your doctor to recommend a suitable multivitamin). Additionally you can also consume folate the natural form of folic acid found in green vegetables, brown rice and fortified bread and breakfast cereals.

Vitamins - Vitamin A

Make sure you consume vitamin A in moderation. Foods rich in vitamin A such as liver and liver products, supplements containing vitamin A or fish liver oils (which contain high levels of vitamin A) should not be taken in excess. Some vitamin A is required but too much during pregnancy could harm your unborn baby. Ask your doctor if you would like more information. If you are a fan of tuna fish limit your diet to four medium-size cans of tuna a week. The levels of mercury found in this fish can harm a fetus developing nervous system.

Alcohol

You should limit your intake to no more than 1 or 2 units of alcohol twice a week at the most. (A unit is half a pint of standard strength beer. A glass of wine is about 2 units while alcopops is about 1.5 units)

Smoking

You and / or your partner should quit it altogether. Its as simple as that!

Caffeine

Caffeinated beverages (tea, coffee and colas)is not linked to fertility problems. However, pregnant women should limit their intake of caffeine because more than 300 mg of caffeine per day has been linked to miscarriage and low birth weight. When trying to conceive you could start to wean yourself from caffeine so you get used to a lower intake before you become pregnant.


FYI, 300 mg of caffeine is roughly equivalent to:

  • 3 mugs of instant coffee (100mg each)
  • 4 cups of instant coffee (75mg each)
  • 3 cups of brewed coffee (100mg each)
  • 6 cups of tea (50mg each)
  • 8 cans of cola (up to 40mg each)
  • 4 cans of 'energy' drink (up to 80mg each)
  • 8 (50g) bars of plain chocolate (up to 50mg each). Caffeine in milk chocolate is about half that of plain chocolate.

More information


For more information on planning a pregnancy, speak to your health care provider.


 
 
 
 
Disclaimer: Information contained on this Web site is intended solely to make available general summarized information to the public. It should not be substituted for medical advice. It is your responsibility to consult with your pediatrician and/or health care provider before acting on any advice on this web site. While OEM endeavors to provide up-to-date and accurate information, it is not liable for any advice whatsoever rendered nor is it liable for the completeness or timeliness of any information on this site.
 
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