Getting Pregnant

Though getting pregnant may come easy to some, for others it can be a process. There are things that couples can do to improve their chances of getting pregnant, and to have a healthy pregnancy.

Preparing Your Body for Pregnancy

Though it may seem that some can get pregnant by barely trying, not everyone is physically prepared to get on this journey. There are a couple of important pre-pregnancy things that women can do to better prepare their bodies for accepting a new life.

It should go without saying that you should consult your doctor before undertaking any type of exercise, taking vitamins, or making drastic changes to your diet.

Vitamins & Nutrition

There are several important vitamins and nutrients which your body needs to be fully ready for pregnancy, and have the ability to have a healthy and uneventful nine months.

• Zinc: The mother-to-be as well as the father can benefit from zinc supplements as zinc helps women be more fertile, and have regular ovulation, and also helps men with increased testosterone production.
• Folic Acid: A B-complex vitamin, folic acid is very important for a healthy pregnancy. The body uses folic acid in the production of extra red blood cells during pregnancy. It also contributes to the synthesis of RNA and DNA. Folic acid is often prescribed in larger doses for women experiencing infertility.
• Iron: The amount of iron intake is also important for women?they need about 40-50% iron in their diet than usual if they are trying to become pregnant. Iron is used in the process of making hemoglobin, which is the part of blood cells responsible for carrying oxygen to the entire body.
• Calcium: Consuming enough calcium is not only important for the baby, but is also very important for the health of the mother. Since women are prone to osteoporosis, getting enough calcium in the diet is very important, especially during pregnancy.
• Multivitamins: Many people take multivitamins as a part of their daily routine, but if you are not one of those people, your doctor is very likely to prescribe them to you.

Exercise

This is an easy part of the pre-pregnancy process, as you do not have to have a routine, or do anything complicated. Basic exercises to keep your body active will be plenty to help you get through your pregnancy with relative ease. Of course, check with your doctor before starting any new exercise regiment.

• Walking: Take a 30 to 60 minute walk each day, but also pay attention to your body, and if you get tired you should reduce the time, or speed of your walks.
• Swimming: If you have access to a pool take some time each day to have a relaxing swim without straining yourself. Even if you are just walking back and forth in the pool your body will get plenty of exercise.
• Stretching: Basic stretching exercises can be helpful for keeping your body limber, and make you feel revitalized.

Emotional Preparation

A healthy emotional state is almost as important as a healthy body, so you must take care to be mentally and emotionally ready and prepared to move into your new role as a mother. It is important to keep stress levels down (ideally fully eliminate them), and to take steps to attain spiritual calm. Some of the things you can do include:

• Meditation: This doesn't have to be anything formal or guided. You can simply take some time each day to spend by yourself in a comfortable and cozy nook of your choosing (maybe even in the back yard) and provide some mental calm for yourself, and not think or worry about your day.
• Prayer: Even if you are not a religious person, the act of prayer can have a calming effect. Take some time to pray for your child's, your, and your family's well being, and count your blessings that you are about to embark on this wonderful journey.
• Financial Planning: Being financially prepared for your pregnancy and new child can help reduce the level of stress you may experience as you go through this process. Figure out what costs you may have, and be prepared for them. With this approach you will have most (if not all) expenses covered, and not have to spend precious time worrying about bills.

Where Do Babies Come From? - Understanding Natural Fertility

Becoming pregnant is a wonderful process, but for many the entire thing is a big mystery. Let's shed some light on how the entire process of pregnancy works. Learning this can also help you understand why some women have trouble becoming pregnant.

How Does a Women Become Pregnant

• Let's start with the production of sperm which is done by the male partner. The sperm is produced by the male testis and will be stored until it is time for the sperm to be related during ejaculation.
• In the female partner, during each menstrual cycle a few of her eggs being to grow, and from those few one egg becomes dominant and is then released in the middle of the cycle, which is typically around day 14.
• After ovulation the egg then begins its journey, going through the fallopian tube and eventually end up in the uterus. But before the journey through eh fallopian tube to the uterus happens, the male partner must first fertilize the egg.
• During intercourse the male partner will release millions of sperm which will enter the vagina. Some of these sperms?the hardiest of them?will make it to the cervix (the connecting point of the uterus to the fallopian tube). The sperm can survive up to three days here.
• Some of the sperm will eventually make their way past his point and swim up the fallopian tube to meet the egg.
• A single sperm will be able to enter the egg, fertilizing it.
• The fertilized egg, called the blastocyst, will make its way to the uterus and embed itself into the lining of the womb.
• If all goes well, this is where the adventure begins!