Update: We got pregnant on our very first try, so you know there’s something to these!

Now that we’ve been together for almost five years, living together for half a year, and both having decent salaries, I’ve wanted to get the “baby talk” going. Usually, he’d end up saying “I absolutely want kids, but let’s wait for a while longer”. Recently though, we were visited by his cousins and their three kids. One was in love with our cat, the other throwing compliments like crazy, and the youngest one (who’s almost a year old!) is just a bundle of smiling and being adorable.

When they were gone, I asked him “so, when are we having our own?” And to my absolute surprise, he said – “very soon”.

So now that we’re doing this incredibly exciting thing, I decided to read up on what we can do in order to get pregnant as safely and as soon as possible. And whether you’re trying for a baby at 20 or 40, these couple of tips will apply.

Have a Healthy Body.

Being underweight or overweight is a health concern even when you’re not trying to conceive, but especially so if you’re about to create – and sustain – an entire new being. You may not like the implications of that, but you can’t fight the science behind it. If you’re underweight, the nutrients and strength you need to make the conception successful will either lack, or take a huge toll on you. If you’re overweight, you have a great risk of developing certain diseases during pregnancy (such as diabetes) even if you don’t suffer from it already. So in order to make your conception and pregnancy as smooth as possible – either start getting more nutrients in, or get on some light exercise.

What’s the Perfect Exercise When You’re Trying for a Baby?

I love combining cardio and yoga, as I’ve mentioned in one of my earlier pieces. However, if you’re trying, and especially if you’ve done what you can for the month and are trying to improve implantation chances, too much exercise can have a negative effect. Opt for fast-walking, light jogging, and anything that makes you break a sweat, but not gasp for breath. This will improve your blood flow without causing a strain on your body.

Start Prenatal Vitamins.

Prenatal vitamins are called that way because they’re to be taken at least a month, and ideally 2-3 months before you want to start trying. Now, if you don’t start taking them that early it’s not the end of the world, but the folic acid and vitamins they contain are more likely to create a healthy environment for the freshly fertilized egg, and are a great way to improve chances of getting pregnant. While no specific brand is better than the other, make sure they contain folic acid, and l-methylfolate at that, which is something most people can properly break down and digest.

Track Your Cycle.

For us (un)lucky ones who get mittelschmerz – aka, stabbing pain during ovulation – knowing when the time is right to be trying is easy. Plus, I have textbook periods – 28 days, to the day – which means I should start trying roughly on day 9 of every cycle. But if your period isn’t as precise, the best thing to do is start having sex on the day your period ends and continue for the next 7-10 days. There are plenty of apps which can help you track your ovulation, but one simple thing to do is check your mucus. If it’s transparent, sticky, and doesn’t break between your fingers, it’s a pretty safe sign you should start getting freaky.

Stay Realistic.

Even the healthiest of couples in their 20s only have an 18% chance of getting pregnant during the first three months of trying, so don’t be hard on yourself if months pass and nothing happens. Rather than obsessively tracking your cycle, remember why you want to have a baby with that man, why you love each other, and try to enjoy the process with as little stress as possible. This is more likely to improve your chances of getting pregnant. Only if nothing is happening after careful planning and trying to conceive for 12 months straight should you start worrying and visit a doctor.

If you’ve tried all of these and more, but nothing seems to be working, some programs like The Getting Pregnant Plan swear by their methods. You can also perform a fertility test at home to help you decide whether it may be time to visit the doctor.

Or you can take one of Get Pregnant Formula‘s tests.

And that pretty much covers it. To all those trying to conceive – I wish you so much luck! As an addition, I’m providing you an answer to a couple of specific questions I had prior to my research.

FAQ

Is it harder for vegetarians to get pregnant?

If you’re leading a healthy and well-planned vegetarian diet, and making sure your iron, protein, vitamin, and zinc levels are good, you shouldn’t have any difficulty getting pregnant due to your diet. Since I’m a vegetarian and don’t plan on stopping any time soon, I’ll let you know how it went for me!

What sex position is best for getting pregnant?

There is no one specific position to improve your chances of getting pregnant. Any position you enjoy, really. So long as sperm gets where it needs to be, and during the right timeframe, whether you’re up, down, or in the air doesn’t really matter, so you do you!

Jelena

A 27-year-old married mom-to-be, trying to have it all. I have a full-time job I enjoy, a home I’m in love with, and plenty of hobbies I try my best to have the time for. A psychologist by vocation, with the goal of helping young women live their best lives.