While plenty of pregnancies catch the parents by surprise, more people are trying to start a family and finding it more difficult than they expected it would be. While many of them may end up having to go the route of IVF, surrogacy, or adoption, there are others who may just need a nudge from a few more natural options.
While it’s easy to start feeling defeated in your quest to conceive, don’t despair – there is a lot you can learn about yourself, your overall health, and more to make your journey to parenthood happen a little faster. And hey, having to put in the research to get there will likely make you more prepared for when the baby does arrive. Knowledge is power, as they say.
There’s an App for That
For some partners trying to start a family, all they may need is a little insight into the timing of their bodies. There is actually a very short window of time for women to conceive. This is the time of ovulation, and while sperm can live for several days inside the woman’s body, it’s best to try and conceive on the day of ovulation – when the egg is being released. There are some incredible apps available to help women predict their ovulation based on previous cycle lengths and familiarize themselves with the physical symptoms of ovulation to make planning a lot easier.
For the Test Takers of the World
While the app’s software is very trustworthy, it’s always good to have other options to let you know where your body is in its cycle. Other women may not want to rely on an app but want more physical evidence in their hands for ovulation prediction. Enter the ovulation test. If you’ve been trying to conceive for a while, you’ve likely taken plenty of pregnancy tests, so the ovulation test will be a breeze to get used to using. They’re worth buying a box to use, especially if you do not see success with the apps.
Optimizing Your Health
While people of varying degrees of health do conceive, you’re giving yourself a serious leg up by leading as healthy and active of a lifestyle as possible. Making sure you try and eat a diverse group of produce and vegetables – called “eating the rainbow” – is a great place to start. Of course, you also want to make sure that you’re taking prenatal vitamins and other supplements that your GP or OBGyn recommends to you. But, having your body in as healthy of a place as possible before conceiving makes dealing with the ups and downs of pregnancy that much easier.
Physical Exercise
While it’s tempting to start looking at baby fashion while laying on the couch daydreaming about what your future baby will look like – and there’s nothing wrong with that – it’s also a good idea to spend some of that time off the couch. You can still plan and dream while you’re on a brisk walk or a job. Maybe an exercise bike or strength training is your speed. Investing in your physical health will always pay off, and exercise is also a great energy booster. So when you do conceive and are battling fatigue, you’ve got your exercise routines set to keep those energy levels high.
Meditation & Visualization
You may think that visualization techniques or meditation aren’t beneficial – though plenty of studies show they are. But, when you’re trying to conceive and may not be getting the good news you’re praying for each month, having a healthy coping mechanism in place isn’t a bad thing. So, getting to know the power of meditation, visualization, and positive thinking will put you in a position to better deal with things when your period arrives. Additionally, when you’re in a solid emotional place, you can relax your mind and body to be more open to a successful conception.
Trying for a baby can be emotionally taxing on anyone in that position, and dealing with other people’s pregnancy and birth announcements can make things even harder. Trying the above natural ways to conceive may get you the positive test you’ve hoped for. As always, consult with your GP if it’s been over six cycles of trying and you still haven’t conceived. Best of luck to you and your future family!
