5 Things To Do When You Are Trying To Conceive

Ineh Olisah

This article might seem silly as getting pregnant should be a no brainer. Have you been trying to conceive? While conceiving might seem that easy for some, for others, it may require a bit more knowledge and tips.

1. Before you officially start trying, get a checkup. Ask your doctor about prenatal vitamins that have folic acid , which helps protect against some birth defects, such as spina bifida. Folic acid works during the early stages of pregnancy, so that’s why it’s important to make sure you’re getting enough folic acid even before you start trying to conceive or become pregnant.

READ ALSO:8 Reasons You Must Take Folic Acid Before & During Pregnancy

2. Study and understand your menstrual cycle. Become aware of the signs of ovulation, such as a change in your cervical mucus. It usually becomes thin and slippery when you are most fertile. Some women may also feel a one-sided twinge of pain. Your ovulation days are your most fertile days. This is the best time to have plenty of sex.

For the most approximate way to determine when you ovulate, subtract 14 from the length of your cycle.

3. Lie in bed for 10 to 15 minutes after having sex. Don’t rush to the bathroom just yet to clean up. This is to allow the sperm going to cervix get there. 

4. Have sex before your ovulation days. Those hardy sperm can stick around in your uterus and fallopian tubes for two to three days, but your egg only lasts for 12 to 24 hours after it’s released. So having sex before you ovulate boosts the chances that there’ll be sperm around to greet your egg as soon as it debuts.

For a typical 28-day cycle (where you ovulate on day 14), here’s what you’ll do:

* Start having sex a few times a week as soon as your period ends. Getting busy that often ensures you won’t miss your most fertile time, especially if your cycle length varies from month to month.

* Make a point to have sex every other day starting around day 10.

READ ALSO:7 Common Causes of Miscarriage & How to Minimize Your Risks

* When you have a positive result on your OPK (around day 12), have sex that day and the next two days — these are your primo days out of the month to conceive. – Parents.com

5. If your pregnancy test results comes out negative after testing, do not panic. Only 20 percent of couples get pregnant in the first month and more than half by 6 months.