Pregnancy is a period of immense joy. For some, getting pregnant could be accidental but for others, it could be a long wait. You may be eager to get pregnant right now or hoping to have a baby sometime later. Either way, you may be curious to know the top healthy pregnancy tips to conceive fast.
From making healthier lifestyle choices to trying different sex positions, there are numerous ways in which you can maximize your chances of getting pregnant. This article lists the various ways to improve your chances of achieving conception quicker.
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Top 10 Healthy Pregnancy Tips to Conceive Fast
Conception cannot always be left to chance. If you have been trying to conceive and taking time, here are 10 tips that may help boost your chances of conceiving faster.
1. Have Initial Checkup With Your Doctor
You’re more likely to have a successful pregnancy when your body is physically and emotionally fit. It’s a good idea to schedule a preconception checkup with your doctor to address any health issues and take the necessary steps to prepare you for a healthy pregnancy.
You should discuss current medical conditions, your menstrual or surgical history, or any health concerns that run in your family. It’s also the ideal time to ask for prenatal vitamins and dietary recommendations to become your healthiest self before you give your baby a good start in life.
2. Have a Healthy Diet
Your partner and you need to maintain a healthy balanced diet as food and fertility are interlinked (1). Besides taking prenatal vitamins (2) and folic acid supplements (2A), consume a variety of fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, leafy vegetables, lean meat, low-fat dairy, fortified bread, and cereals to maintain good health and prepare your body for pregnancy.
3. Avoid Drinking And Smoking
Consumption of alcohol and smoking is known to reduce fertility in men (3) and women (4). Kick out the habit, if you haven’t yet, as it decreases the chances of conceiving and it could be detrimental for your baby when you conceive.
4. Check Your Weight
Check your body mass index (BMI) before getting pregnant. Being overweight or underweight could affect your chances of conceiving (5).
If your BMI is in the overweight or obese range, it could create hormonal imbalances and interfere with your menstrual cycle. It could also increase the chances of having high blood pressure and diabetes during pregnancy. Losing weight can help men boost fertility as well (6).
[Read : Ovulation: Top 5 Signs That Tell You When You Are Ovulating]
5. Know Ovulation Date
To increase your chances of getting pregnant, you must know your ovulation date, that is when an egg is released from your ovary. This is your most fertile period which happens once every menstrual cycle. You normally ovulate two weeks after the first day of your period.
The egg only survives for a day or two, while the sperm lives for up to 7 days. So, you can time intercourse for the best chance of conceiving during this cycle. If you have irregular periods or need extra help, don’t hesitate to ask your doctor for advice.
6. Track Your Body Temperature
Measure your basal body temperature with a special thermometer to estimate when you’ll ovulate (6). Your temperature usually dips a day before you ovulate and gradually increases as you ovulate. You may notice this pattern if your periods are regular. This will help you predict your next ovulation cycle.
However, don’t rely completely on it as the body temperature is influenced by various other factors. It is equally important for your partner to maintain healthy sperm to maximize fertility. Exposure to prolonged heat, tight underwear, nutritional deficiencies, stress, and sleep deprivation could impact sperm production.
[Read : BBT (Basal Body Temperature) Chart- Everything You Need To Know]
7. Have Sex Daily During the Ovulation Week
Women are potentially fertile five days before ovulation and on the day of ovulation (a 6-day period referred to as the “fertile window”). Intercourse during this period is most likely to result in pregnancy (7).
Though having sex daily during the fertile window leads to higher chances of pregnancy, sex every other day should be sufficient if it adds to the stress of conceiving.
8. Avoid Birth Control Pills
Discontinue the use of contraceptive pills and let your body run through a normal menstrual cycle. It may take a few cycles to start ovulating regularly. This gives you time to track when exactly you ovulate, which is the key to timing your intercourse and being ready for pregnancy. However, you can get pregnant at any time, once you stop using birth control pills or any birth control measures.
9. Consult a Specialist
Nearly 8 out of 10 healthy couples who have regular sex will get pregnant within a year. If you have been trying for over a year with no luck, it’s time to see the doctor (8). You might have tried all the tricks to get pregnant faster but there may be underlying problems that need to be addressed.
Women over 35 years of age could try for at least six months before checking up again with the doctor. If you are 40 and above, you might have to wait for 3 months before getting medical advice. Your practitioner might refer you to a fertility specialist to trace any infertility problems. But don’t lose hope yet.
[Read : 5 Practical Ways To Reduce Stress For Getting Pregnant]
10. Keep Yourself and Spouse Happy
Stress can affect your chances of getting pregnant, so your partner and you need to relax and ease off the pressure. Relaxation techniques, yoga, meditation, and counseling can help you deal with the feelings and increase your likelihood of getting pregnant. Take time off from hectic schedules and revive your romance! A long weekend getaway or a holiday can relieve you from stress.
The above tips should help you in your big decision to start your family and also help in conceiving faster. Don’t give up hope as getting pregnant is all about timing. Stay relaxed, happy, and healthy at all times. A healthy baby indeed begins with a healthy and happy you!
[Read Also: How Long Does It Usually Take to Get Pregnant?]
FAQ’s
1. How Can I Improve My Chances of Conceiving Faster?
Start with tracking your ovulation cycle and fertile period and plan intercourse around this period. Ovulation detection kits and ovulation tools can help you identify this window. Taking prenatal supplements such as folic acid under a doctor’s supervision is also a good idea. Following a healthy lifestyle and habits plays a major role in helping you conceive faster.
2. When is The Highest Chance of Getting Pregnant?
You have the highest chances of getting pregnant if you plan your intercourse around your ovulation time which is about 12 to 14 days before your next periods start. This is the time when you are highly fertile since your ovaries release the egg for fertilization giving a good window for the egg and sperm to meet and the conception to happen.
3. Why Am I Not Getting Pregnant?
There may be many reasons for you not getting pregnant. Timing the intercourse correctly or not following the fertility indicators properly may be one reason. In addition, there may be certain underlying health conditions or fertility-related issues that can make conceiving difficult. If you have tried for a year without contraception and still have not been able to conceive, now may be a good time to meet a fertility specialist for a consultation.
References
- The Influence of Diet on Fertility and the Implications for Public Health Nutrition in the United States – PMC (nih.gov)
- The Impact of Preconceptional Multiple-Micronutrient Supplementation on Female Fertility – PMC (nih.gov)
- The effects of smoking and alcohol intake on sperm quality: light and transmission electron microscopy findings – PubMed (nih.gov)
- Smoke, alcohol and drug addiction and female fertility – PMC (nih.gov)
- Association Between Body Mass Index and Female Infertility in the United States: Data from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2013–2018 – PMC (nih.gov)
- Physiology, Ovulation And Basal Body Temperature – StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf (nih.gov)
- Timing of sexual intercourse in relation to ovulation. Effects on the probability of conception, survival of the pregnancy, and sex of the baby – PubMed (nih.gov)
- ABC of subfertility: Extent of the problem – PMC (nih.gov)
