If you have just decided to start trying for a baby, congratulations! The journey you are about to go on is sure to be one of the most significant experiences of your life. We’ve got some tips and tricks for you to ensure that your body is in the best shape possible for conception. And if you have been trying for a baby but have not been able to conceive yet, then you could benefit from some of these tips. Keep reading for everything you need to know about improving your fertility.
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Maintain a Healthy Weight
Maintaining healthy body weight is one of the best things you can do to improve your chances of conception. Becoming pregnant can be especially difficult for women who are over or underweight. This is due to the irregular menstrual cycles that high or low body weight can cause. Some women on the extreme end may not even have a menstrual cycle.
The general rule is that a BMI of 20-24 is ideal for supporting a pregnancy. That’s not to say that women outside of this range cannot become pregnant, but they are likely to experience more challenges during conception. Obesity specifically can raise your risk of developing polycystic ovarian syndrome which is a cause of infertility itself. And underweight individual’s bodies have lower levels of estrogen, causing irregular menstrual cycles. If you plan to become pregnant, try getting your body into a healthy weight range to give you your best chance.
Take a Prenatal
You may be wondering why we would suggest taking a prenatal before you’ve conceived. Women take prenatal vitamins when they are trying to get pregnant because they provide your body with everything it needs to support a growing fetus. And since most women do not know they are pregnant immediately, it is good to start on them as soon as pregnancy becomes possible.
In your second to the third week of pregnancy, your baby’s neural tube will be trying to fuse appropriately to your uterus. Prenatal vitamins support this process; however, you will most likely not know you are pregnant yet when this is happening. Take prenatal vitamins each day to ensure that if you become pregnant, your body can support the embryo’s implantation.
Eat Healthily
Diet will also play an essential role in fertility. We already went over the importance of being in a healthy weight range, but you also want to ensure that you are getting in that range by eating the right food. Research suggests that swapping just five percent of your total daily calories with protein sources from vegetables instead of animals can have a significant effect. Women who do this will experience a 50 percent drop in the risk of ovulatory infertility. Also, try to avoid low-fat dairy products. High-fat dairy is more effective for fertility than its low-fat counterparts.
You can also include certain supplements in your diet to help improve your chances of conception. Some evidence suggests that coq10 benefits women struggling with infertility. Also referred to as coenzyme Q10, this nutrient plays a vital role in cell energy production. As you age, your eggs will become less efficient at producing this energy. This is why fertility specialists will recommend coq10.
Stay Hydrated
Your cervical fluid can suffer if you are not drinking enough water. Cervical fluid is essential in helping the sperm find your egg. Staying properly hydrated helps ensure sperm can quickly enter your cervix. Additionally, dehydration can cause the quality of your eggs to decline. Essentially, if you are not drinking enough water, then the chance that your eggs will be in a good enough condition to be fertilized will decrease significantly.
Manage Stress
Trying to get pregnant can be stressful. Infertility can be even more stressful. However, stress and infertility are two issues that go hand in hand. Mental health affects your reproductive health more than you may realize. Stress can cause significant hormonal shifts in your body. For example, cortisol is created when the body experiences stress. Cortisol is known to disrupt communication between your brain and ovaries. This is another factor that can cause your cycles to become irregular. It may be easier said than done, but if you struggle with infertility, you must find ways to better manage your stress levels.
Conclusion
These are all great steps to take when starting to try for a baby. However, if you have been trying and struggling for a while, some other factors may be at play. Make sure that you are consulting with your OBGYN throughout the process in addition to the tips mentioned above for best results.
