1. Go off your Contraception (Birth control)
Discontinuing any form(s) of birth control you’re using is a necessary step you will need to take if you want to conceive. Some women get pregnant right away, but for others, it takes a few months.
When your period starts, so does your first cycle of trying to conceive.
2. Know your Cycle and start tracking your ovulation
Whether you’ve been on birth control or not, the best time to get intimate with your menstrual cycle is now. Narrowing down the window of when you’re most fertile will help you get pregnant faster. Plus, having an understanding of your cycles will help you discover if anything is off and might need addressing (spotting, irregular lengths, etc.).
There are various methods you can use to track your Ovulation.
- Phone apps: Some apps predict when you’ll ovulate based on data you provide about your menstrual cycle.
- Ovulation predictor strips: These over-the-counter strips test your urine to tell you whether you’re ovulating. They’re one of the most reliable at-home ways to identify your fertile window.
- Basal body temperature charting: Using a specialized thermometer each morning, you can monitor your body temperature to identify when you’ve ovulated.
3. Stay Positive
Having a positive mindset is one crucial step in preparing to get pregnant. Our minds are powerful, so watch those thoughts! Learn to often use positive affirmations, for example: “I am a strong Woman” or “I am blessed to be able to have a baby inside me”. You can put them up all over your house where you can see, read and absorb them daily.
4. Nourish your body with Folic acid and other fertility supplement
Pregnancy is taxing on the body’s nutritional stores. Give yourself a boost by taking a multivitamin to bridge any gaps. The best time to get in the habit of taking a prenatal vitamin is before you’re pregnant. One of their most important ingredients is folate or folic acid.
Folic acid is a B vitamin supplement. Taking 400 micrograms of folic acid every day, starting at least a month prior to conception and continuing through your first trimester provides significant protection against serious birth defects of the baby’s brain and spine.
The other vitamins and nutrients in prenatal supplements help sustain and nourish both you and eventually, the little life growing inside of you.
5. Optimize your Diet
A Balanced diet that includes a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and calcium-rich foods gives your body the nutritional support it needs when you’re trying to conceive, as well as during pregnancy.
If your budget allows, you may also want to incorporate more organic, hormone-free, GMO-free, whole foods that nourish you.
6. Drink Enough Water
Water is very essential in our body. Keep yourself hydrated for optimal health. You should drink 9 cups of water each day and increase this quantity when you get pregnant.
7. Have Sex
The best suggestion is to have sex for fun and regularly, when you are ovulating and when you are not.
Be spontaneous and passionate.
Sperm can survive in your reproductive tract for up to five days, but an egg only lasts for 12 to 24 hours after it’s released. Having sex before you ovulate boosts the chances that there’ll be sperm around to greet the egg once it debuts.
Mindful Momma 