Pregnant And Baby

If you’re trying to get pregnant, chances are you’re learning all you can about charting your ovulation, naturally increasing your fertility and increasing your fertility through assisted reproductive technology (ART). There are also many holistic treatments that may help you conceive. Here are 10 things you can do this month to get pregnant fast!

If you’re trying to get pregnant, chances are you’re learning all you can about charting your ovulation, naturally increasing your fertility and increasing your fertility through assisted reproductive technology (ART). There are also many holistic treatments that may help you conceive. Here are 10 things you can do this month to get pregnant fast!
If you have been trying to conceive and get pregnant through traditional methods, such as charting your ovulation, taking your basal body temperature and using ovulation prediction kits, you may be wondering what else you can do to conceive more quickly. If you haven’t been doing these things, check out the article, 5 Fertility basics to help you get pregnant naturally.
Check out our top 10 fertility-boosting tricks to get pregnant and you just may be holding a baby in your arms before you know it.
1. Use holistic methods with traditional methods“I do feel that holistic approaches are beneficial to patients when used in combination with traditional Western-medicine approaches such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intrauterine insemination (IUI),” says Melissa A. Esposito, MD, a board certified reproductive endocrinologist at Shady Grove Fertility Center in the Washington, DC area. “I do not advise that holistic approaches be used in lieu of traditional approaches, but have found that holistic approaches complement traditional approaches nicely and I do recommend them regularly to my patients.”
Find out here how long you should try to get pregnant on your own before seeing a fertility specialist.
2. Eat wellGood nutrition is key to enhancing fertility. Cindy Bailey, Co-Author of The Fertile Kitchen™ Cookbook, recommends eliminating over-processed foods, caffeine and sugar from your diet when trying to conceive.
“Processed sugar negatively affects blood sugar and insulin levels, leading to hormonal imbalance—and the finely-tuned balance of our hormones is very important to conception,” Bailey explains. “On the flip side – the variety of important nutrients we get from eating a variety of organic produce, lean protein, healthy fats, good carbs and so on, helps nourish and support our bodies and our hormonal health—putting us in the best possible position for conception.”
Also read: The preconception diet: Eating right before pregnancy
3. AcupunctureRepeated studies have shown acupuncture can increase the odds of IVF success when it is done before and after embryo transfer, explains Beth Heller, Director of Pulling Down the Moon, a holistic fertility center with locations in Chicago, IL and Washington, DC. “In addition, studies have shown that acupuncture can increase the thickness of the uterine lining, improve sperm quality and, of course, reduce stress.”
4. Yoga“Yoga decreases levels of cortisol in the body, relieves stress and anxiety and can increase blood flow to the reproductive organs by loosening tight musculature and connective tissues in the hips, low back and groin,” says Heller.
Find out here how exercise affects fertility.
5. Massage Who doesn’t like a nice, relaxing rubdown? Massage offers additional benefits when trying to conceive, such as reducing stress hormones. There are techniques specific to the abdominal area that help the uterus prepare for pregnancy, according to Abigail Lynn, a Licensed Massage Therapist and Doula in Chicago, IL.
Find out here how stress affects your chances of getting pregnant.
6. Find supportIf you’re trying to conceive, and particularly if you’ve been diagnosed with infertility, it’s important to know that you’re not alone. You may find individual counseling to be helpful, or support groups may be available in your community. Support can also be found online including RESOLVE or The National Infertility Association, which is the only non-profit organization with a nationwide network mandated to promote reproductive health and to ensure equal access to all family building options for men and women experiencing infertility.
It may also be helpful to connect with other women in the same boat! Check out our Trying To Conceive message boards, which include our infertility message boards and Invitrofertilization (IVF) message boards.
7. De-stressA recent study suggests that women who took part in a stress management program while going through a second round of fertility treatment had a 160% better chance at getting pregnant than with IVF alone. “Stress is fertility’s worst enemy, says Bailey. “Meditation, yoga, deep breathing and moderate exercise can all help to manage daily stress.”
8. Dance“Belly Dance is the ancient ritual for fertility that’s embraced by modern women,” says Stephanie Larson, founder of Dancing for Birth. “It evokes the same movements that naturally occur during conception and birth—toning and strengthening a woman’s body, especially her core and the muscles and ligaments which support her pelvic floor and reproductive organs.”
9. Chiropractic  Spinal adjustment not only may alleviate aches and pains, but also may help you get pregnant. When doctors are unable to offer their patients clear explanations for their inability to conceive, a visit to the chiropractor may help, according to Dr. Adam Tanase, a chiropractor who is also the chiro expert for MedHelp.org. “In the case of women struggling to conceive, nerve imbalance may be causing malfunction of the fertilization process.”
10.  CoachingTrying to conceive can be overwhelming, particularly for someone diagnosed with infertility. A visit with a specialized coach can help you remain calm, educated, proactive and open to all the different possibilities of achieving their dream of parenthood, according to Hope Firsel, a Fertility Empowerment Coach with Nu Focus.
“Individuals are able to make conscious decisions about how they want to proceed in their quest to become parents.  They become their own advocate, able to move through their journey more effectively, by being planful and conscious.  Together we build a roadmap for how they intend to navigate through their own journey from a medical, spiritual, emotional and physical standpoint.”
Build your own roadmap and chart your fertility with our customized preconception calendar.
No matter where you are on your journey to conception, keep in mind that there’s not one particular type of treatment – medical or holistic – that may work for all women. “Certainly living a healthy lifestyle helps  enhances  one’s chances of getting pregnant, says Dr. Esposito.  “Unfortunately,  many couples are doing everything 100% correctly and still suffer from infertility. I think the best thing to do is find an experienced practitioner at a  reputable fertility center to identify the problem early and get the  appropriate help.”
Fun fact: Fertility-friendly Pre-Seed personal lubricant gently replenishes moisture without harming sperm.

Everyone’s heard the adage, “You are what you eat.” Well, during pregnancy, your baby is what you eat, too! If you’re trying to get pregnant, you want your body to be as healthy as possible so you can start off your pregnancy on the right foot. Get some nutritious tips here!

Preparing to conceive
Every mother wants her baby to be as healthy and strong as possible. Well, the best way to do that is to start at the very beginning: before conception.

Not only can eating the right foods (and avoiding the wrong ones) help you to have a healthy baby, it can actually make pregnancy possible.

So where to begin? Experts agree: Get your folate!

Folic acid
Kelly Shanahan, MD, a board-certified obstetrician/gynecologist, says that even before conception is confirmed, women can start implementing a healthier diet containing essential vitamins and nutrients, such as folic acid. Fertility specialist Mark Kan, MD, agrees that when it comes to preparing to conceive, “Folic acid is the most important dietary subject.”

Folic acid, also known as folate, is necessary for proper cell growth and development of the embryo. According to nutritionist Martha Belury, PhD, RD, “Folic acid in a vitamin supplement, when taken one month before conception and throughout the first trimester, has been proven to reduce the risk for an neural tube defect-affected pregnancy by 50 to 70 percent.”

If you’re trying to conceive, the March of Dimes recommends taking a multivitamin supplement containing 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid every day. It’s also important to have a healthy diet, which means eating food that’s rich in folic acid, which include leafy green vegetables, avocados, peanuts, fortified cereals, breads and orange juice.

Building healthy eating habits
Belury says, “A wise approach to good nutrition habits during pregnancy is to consider choosing foods with high nutrient density. The same concept holds true for choosing beverage foods.” A nutrient-dense food is one that provides a high amount of nutrients (e.g., vitamins, minerals, protein) relative to caloric content.

So now, more than ever, it’s time to rethink your food choices. To start:

How long will it take you to get pregnant? When you are trying to conceive, the wait month after month to find out if you are expecting a baby can be tough. A new study from Fertility Flower outlines the average time it takes to conceive your first baby.

FertilityFlower.com released a study showing that it takes an average of 6 months and 1 weekfor women ages 21-35 in the United States to conceive their first child.

- 9% conceived in one month or less

- 19% of the respondents took 8-10 months

- 14% conceived between 12-14 months

Did they use specific measures to conceive?
The study said that 56% of readers used specific measures to help them conceive, which included the following:

- 42% used certain positions during intercourse to help them conceive

- 33% changed their diet and ate specific foods

- 13% increased their exercise and improved their fitness regime

Respondents were between the ages of 21-35 and had no reported underlying medical issues affecting fertility.

Furthermore, 41% said they used medically proven tips to increase their fertility and 52% said they used less conventional methods to become pregnant.

When should you see a specialist?
Dr. Mark Kan, OB/GYN told P&B that infertility is “unprotected intercourse without conception over a 12-month period.” He says that women who have known risk factors for infertility, such as pelvic inflammatory disease, ovulation disorders or are older when they start trying should seek treatment earlier.  “Because there is an age-related decline in fertility, women in their late 30s or older should seek counseling and treatment in a shorter time frame.”

Kimberly Ann Račić, founder of FertilityFlower.com, says she hopes this study will be a good tool for women wanting to get pregnant.  “One thing that this study has definitely proven is that it takes a different amount of time for everyone, so the key thing to remember is not to give up if it is taking longer than you had hoped,” she says. “Trying different methods to help speed up the process of getting pregnant is certainly an option. It can certainly boost morale and bring back the enthusiasm and excitement that may have been lost during the process.”