Once you've made the decision to have a baby, you probably can’t wait to see that positive sign on a pregnancy test. But getting pregnant isn't always as easy as it seems; you only have a few days each month when conception is possible. To get pregnant quickly, you’ll need to get your body in prime condition to conceive, and get in tune with your menstrual cycle so you’ll know when you’re at your most fertile.
Step 1
Stop using all forms of contraception. If you’re using hormonal birth control, it may take several months before your body resumes ovulation and a normal menstrual cycle, the Amazing Pregnancy website explains.
Step 2
Prepare your body to support a growing baby. Avoid smoking, alcohol and recreational drugs, and talk to your doctor about whether your prescription or over-the-counter drugs are safe during pregnancy; minimize your caffeine intake. Eat a balanced diet and take a prenatal vitamin that contains at least 300 to 400 micrograms of folic acid, the American Pregnancy Association recommends. Make sure you’re at a healthy body weight, as being underweight or overweight can make it more difficult to get pregnant.
Step 3
Determine when you ovulate. To get pregnant, you must have sexual intercourse during or close to ovulation. To figure out when you’re most fertile, first determine when your next period is due and count back 12 to 16 days; if your periods are regular, this will give you a rough estimate of when you ovulate. However, this is only a starting point; to pinpoint ovulation more closely, take note of how your cervical mucus changes every day. You are most fertile when your cervical mucus is slick, stretchy and clear, much like raw egg whites, the BabyCenter website reports. You can also use an ovulation predictor kit to confirm your suspected date of ovulation.
Step 4
Have sex during the period from one or two days before ovulation to 24 hours afterward, since this is your fertile window. Have sex as often as you and your partner want; contrary to what you may have heard, fertility expert Sherman Silber tells BabyCenter, there’s no such thing as “too much sex” when you’re trying to get pregnant.
Tips and Warnings
- Consult a doctor if you’re been having regular, unprotected sex for a year or more without becoming pregnant. If you’re older than 35, see a doctor after only six months of unsuccessful trying.
Things You'll Need
- Variety of healthy foods
- Prenatal vitamins
- Ovulation predictor kit
Member Comments
kdodge4 April 19
Kristen- you quite clearly have absolutely not clue what you are talking about. In the future, attempt to research what you are writing about. Nothing you said was even remotely close to correct. Go pick up a copy of "Taking Charge of Your Fertility" by Toni Weschler.
And eggs only live for 24 hours. Having sex the day after is NOT your fertile.
Signed,
The woman who ovulates well past CD16 in her cycle and still managed to get pregnant.
Milliways April 19
"You can also use an ovulation predictor kit to confirm your suspected date of ovulation"
Actually you can't. You can use an ovulation predictor kit/test to confirm a surge in the presence of luteinizing hormone (LH.) This occurs about 12-36 hours before ovulation, but your body can gear up to ovulate but not actually ovulate. The way to "confirm" ovulation without medical intervention is by detecting a shift in your basal body temperature.
Feel free to update this article and add me as an "expert'" since you seem to have no issue using this term loosely.