HOME

BOOKMARK

NEWSLETTER

Join our newsletter to receive news of offers and discounts

Search

AS FEATURED IN...


Lucy Siegle On Eithical Living: Sunday March 5, 2006 The Observer

Weight Watchers®.co.uk. Now with an online plan.

Navigation


Parening Books

Search Now:
Amazon Logo


Conception Tips and Tips For Getting Pregnant For Those Who Are Trying To Conceive


CONCEPTION TIPS

Conception takes place in three basic stages: ovulation, then fertilization, and the division of the fertilized egg, which then implants in the uterus - which it isn't until then when pregnancy is considered successful! To better understand the process, we have explained in greater detail below each step of the process. If you are trying to conceive, keep reading these conception tips and your chances of getting pregnant are greater.

WHAT IS OVULATION

Ovulation usually occurs midway through a woman's menstrual cycle. At this point, the follicle which outgrows the others, ruptures and the egg is released. The site of this release is called the stigma, and the follicle goes on to form the corpus luteum.

The corpus luteum produces progesterone which is a hormone responsible for nurturing the baby until the placenta takes over. Barely visible to the naked eye, your baby at this point isn't bigger than a pencil dot. Keep reading if getting pregnant is what you want!

Tiny hairlike projections called cilia move the released egg from the ovary along the fallopian tube to the uterus. If conception is successful, chances are this will take place toward the outer end of the fallopian tube, near the ovary.

The egg usually has no more than 12 hours to be fertilized, otherwise it will die, the follicle will dry up and the uterine lining will be shed. If this happens, the menstrual period will begin, and conception and getting pregnant will be unlikely.

However, if the egg becomes fertilized, then the progesterone levels will increase, the uterine lining will thicken, and conception will be considered a success! To make things easier to understand, we will breakdown a typical woman's menstrual cycle and help with these conception tips:

DAYS 1-5 OF YOUR CYCLE:

We start the menstrual period when you first start to menstruate. So day one is the day you begin to have discharge. It is very important to record this date, as we will need it to calculate your estimated ovulation date.

DAYS 6-11:

These days are called 'dry days', as you are not menstruating nor are you fertile. Your body at this stage is simply preparing to release the egg. If you are having problems getting pregnant, read on. The next part of your menstrual cycle will be the opportunities to conceive.

DAYS 12-18:

These are the days when you will be at your most fertile. Your body will release the egg during the course of these 6 days, so this is the best time to be having sex.

DAYS 19-32:

If you are only having sex now during this period, then I am afraid to say you have missed your chance, and will have to wait for the cycle to begin again. It is highly unlikely that you will have any success in falling pregnant during this time.

SIGNS OF OVULATION

Most women are unaware when they ovulate. Roughly 25% experience lower abdominal pain, which is located primarily near the ovary that's ovulating. The pain is caused by irritation of the fluid or blood from the ruptured follicle. Although this is a symptom of ovulation, it's not always considered a reliable sign that ovulation is occurring. While trying to conceive, it's important to understand ovulation and getting pregnant depends on this. Read more conception tips. To better ensure that you are ovulating, a more concrete sign is the change of cervical mucus which is secreted by the cervix. Normal after menstruation, the consistency of the cervical mucus is somewhat scant - thick, and usually stick, this makes it impenetrable to sperm.

As ovulation draws near, the cervical mucus becomes thinner and wetter, allowing the sperm to travel through it at higher speeds, and with greater ease. Getting pregnant is imminent. Lastly, another sign of ovulation can be found by taking your body temperature. A small, yet distinct rise in body temperature is caused by the increase in the level of progesterone. Even though this increase might only be .5 degrees F, women can still detect this. While trying to conceive, this is a great indicator.

The most optimum time for conception to occur is when ovulation has just happened or is imminent. To better ensure your chances to become pregnant, making love during this time would result in the best chance for getting pregnant and having a baby!

YOUR CHANCES OF CONCEIVING

Fertility varies significantly between couples, as it can take one the first month to conceive, while with others, it can take years. On average, couples will conceive 25% of the time the first month, 60% of the time within 6 months and 80% of the time within one year. Keep trying to conceive, even if you are unsuccessful at first.

There are several risk factors involved that might prevent or delay conception. These may include smoking, drinking alcohol, certain medications, obesity, exposure to heat and chemicals, drug use, and a few others. Causing poor sperm count and quality, this can create an unsuccessful journey towards the fallopian tube.

To improve your chances of conceiving, the following is a list of activities and habits that will make your pregnancy more imminent:

Regular exercise Not only will regular exercise improve your well-being, it will also help reduce stress. In addition, it can also result in good sleep, and promotes relaxation.

A general health check Visiting your doctor on a regular basis will help ensure that you are in tip-top shape while you are trying to conceive.

Track your ovulation Keeping a menstrual calendar is very effective while trying to conceive. Since ovulation usually occurs 14 days after menstruation, it is easy to know what timeframe is most optimum to conceive. You can check your basal body temperature, as well as purchase ovulation detection kits found at most local grocery and drug stores. Making love at least every other day during your fertile period will result in the best chances to conceive.

Avoid smoking Not only does smoking damage your overall health, it can also affect your partner's sperm count.

Eat a well-balanced diet The most important thing to take is folic acid, as it is a catalyst in the process of conception. In addition, be sure to receive ample amounts of vitamin B12, which is found in meat, fish, eggs and milk.

Brian Gardner is the Founder of PregnancyEtc.com - An Online Pregnancy Resource For 9 Months & Beyond. Having recently experienced pregnancy firsthand with his wife Shelly, Brian has dedicated his efforts towards pregnancy research. The development of http://www.pregnancyetc.com was to ensure that expecting parents had a place to find information on pregnancy and babies.


MORE RESOURCES:

The Guardian

Baby's First Foods Should Be Finger Foods
MedPage Today
By Nancy Walsh, Staff Writer, MedPage Today Baby-led weaning emphasizes infant self-feeding with solid finger foods from the outset, rather than parental spoon-feeding with purees. This study found that compared with the spoon-fed group, the baby-led ...
Forget the mush – baby-led weaning puts the joy back into mealtimesThe Guardian
Maybe babies don't need the spoon-fed mushLos Angeles Times
Baby's better off feeding himselfGlobe and Mail
Jezebel -Healthcare Today -Health.com
all 98 news articles »


NICU babies sleeping with HALOs
nwitimes.com
With a $2500 contribution from the Nathan C. Splant Foundation, Community Hospital staff has been able to spread the message of safer sleeping practices and provide HALO SleepSacks for babies born in the NICU. Displaying a SleepSack are, ...
Donation helps SUID programPost-Tribune

all 2 news articles »


Us Magazine

Beyonce Reveals Sexy Post-Baby Body 1 Month After Giving Birth
Us Magazine
'Look at how amazing I look after only 4 weeks of my baby's birth! Her surrogate mom, of course is still catching up with her sleep and recouping after the c-section.' Everybody's pregnancy is different, granted but this chick is so damn ridiculous.
Beyonce dons red for first post-baby eventCNN (blog)

all 545 news articles »


Daily Mail

Chun Chun: 15.5 pound baby is biggest ever born in China
Daily Mail
By Mail Foreign Service Chun Chun, who was delivered on Saturday, is possibly the country's heaviest baby on record. Mother and baby are both in good condition in a local hospital in Xinxiang city, Henan province. The arrival was auspiciously timed, ...
Massive Baby Sets Record!KHQ Right Now
Chinese mum's 7kg son 'nation's biggest baby'Ninemsn
A 15.5 Pound Baby Breaks Records In ChinaHollywood Life
GlobalPost (blog) -IBTimes.co.uk
all 175 news articles »


It's a Boy for Robert Downey Jr.!
People Magazine
Baby boy weighs in at 7 lbs., 5 oz., is 20 inches long and joins big brother Indio, 18, Downey's son from his previous marriage. “I could never really stay mad at him, but I can tell you it genuinely wasn't something we planned to reveal,” Susan, 38, ...

and more »


18 babies die in Homs hospital due to electricity cuts, activist says (DPA)
Haaretz
By avoiding peace, Netanyahu is punishing Israel Netanyahu must end his obsessive search for flaws in the internal Palestinian agreement and focus instead on an initiative for ending the conflict. For he has the ability to do so.

and more »


Garcia delivered thousands of babies, had passion for art
San Antonio Express
Loved ones said Garcia delivered thousands of babies in San Antonio until he “semi-retired” when his insurance rates skyrocketed as he entered his golden years. “He delivered babies like there was no tomorrow,” said his son, also named Richard Garcia, ...

and more »


ABC15.com (KNXV-TV)

PD: Abandoned baby left at Phoenix home
ABC15.com (KNXV-TV)
PHOENIX - Phoenix police say an abandoned baby was left in the front yard of a Phoenix home Tuesday afternoon. Sgt. Tommy Thompson, of the Phoenix Police Department, said the resident returned to her home near 7th Avenue and Greenway Parkway and found ...
Newborn baby abandoned outside of Valley homeKTAR.com

all 20 news articles »


Bikya Masr

18 babies killed in Syria's Homs as power cut
Bikya Masr
CAIRO: Activists in Homs have reported that at least 18 premature babies died on Wednesday at a local hospital after electricity was cut, causing their incubators to shut down. “The babies were in al-Walid Hospital in al-Waar neighbourhood near the ...
Syria: 'Dozens killed' in renewed Homs shellingBBC News

all 14,401 news articles »


Ten Major Corporations Support Babies and the Power of Cause Marketing
Sacramento Bee
The March of Dimes® announced its national sponsors as it kicked off the 2012 March for Babies® the nation's first and most beloved charitable walking event. The annual March for Babies walk will take place this spring in nearly 900 communities across ...

and more »

Google News