Conception tips from the ultimate expert

Conception tips from the ultimate expert—an obstetrician-mother.

Conception tips for couples are varied and cover a wide area. Some of these tips are targeted to young couples, others for older couples who decided late in life that they want to have children. Some are for couples grappling with fertility problems. Still some are for single women who want to use artificial means of conceiving.

Here are some practical conception tips for couples who want to take that plunge into parenthood. The decision to conceive should be made as a couple. Parenthood is such as big leap to take, and you have to make sure that you and your partner have talked about it thoroughly.

I married in my early 20s, during my final year in medical school. Our decision to get pregnant has a lot to do with my biology. I know that the optimal time to get pregnant is when a woman is in her mid-20s. Throughout cultures and social strata, the peak of fertility is at 25 years old. This is the time when our eggs are healthy, and ovulation is happening fairly regularly.

Indeed, I had no trouble conceiving. Timing my ovulation is easy. My periods are fairly regular, and I conceived within the first 3 months of trying.

There are several ovulation predictors women can use. For women with a regular 28-day period, ovulation occurs usually at day 14. Predicting ovulation in women with irregular cycles would be trickier. During our fertile period, we also note a change in the character of our cervical mucus. A cervical mucus which is clear and sticky, much like raw egg white, indicates that a woman is fertile. Sexual intercourse must occur during our fertile days.

Conceiving successfully is only half the battle. We have to ensure that our babies are healthy. To optimize the baby’s development, we may take in vitamin and mineral supplements during pregnancy. Some of these micronutrients, like folic acid, must be taken prior to pregnancy.

Women in high risk settings should get booster shots for measles and influenza. These women include those who work in day care or who are in constant contact with preschoolers, those who work in hospitals, and in nursing homes. Getting viral diseases during pregnancy can be very deleterious to your growing fetus. These may result in congenital defects, especially if infection occurs during the first 3 months of conception. Also, some of these viral illnesses can cause early abortions, stillbirths, or preterm deliveries.

Aside from the health aspect, we should also consider if we are emotionally and financial prepared to cope with parenthood. Most conception tips overlook this dimension, but you should not.

Having a baby demands 24/7 devotion. Your baby might have a timetable which is very different from yours. You might consider if your office or your boss will allow you to arrange your time schedule to fit in with that of your baby’s. Also, check into daycare services, or the lack of it, your office provides. Have an honest look into your budget if you can afford having a baby.

Couples should also reflect on the impact of having a baby on their relationship. It might push a problematic relationship off the precipice. Discuss with your partner openly your feelings about parenthood. If you feel that your partner is not yet ready to make this plunge with you, it would be wise to back off. Having a baby will not solve the problems of an imperfect relationship. And parenthood may become a burden if your partner does not wish to share in its responsibilities.

Having a baby is a joy for most women. I hope these conception tips smoothen the way to that dream.