By Spy Uganda
Once you’ve made the big decision to start a family, it’s hard to wait. Luckily, you can (and should!) begin planning right away. That’s because—as it turns out—there’s more to getting pregnant fast than just having sex at the right time. It’s also about creating the perfect environment so that when sperm meets egg, a healthy embryo grows into a healthy baby. So if you’re wondering how to get pregnant fast, read on for expert-vetted dos and don’ts. From tracking ovulation to changing your diet, we’re sharing expert tips on getting pregnant to help you on the exciting journey to parenthood.
Step 1: Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle
If you’re wondering how to increase your chances of getting pregnant fast, self-care can go a long way. It’s no secret that your body goes through some major changes and challenges during pregnancy and delivery, so be sure to start your pregnancy journey in tip-top shape by taking important steps toward living a healthy lifestyle. Here, we’ve outlined some simple health tips to get pregnant (fingers crossed!).
Eat A Healthy Diet
When trying to get pregnant, it’s important to eat a nutritious, balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Gaskin explains that healthy foods help increase progesterone levels (a key hormone in maintaining pregnancy), support ovulation and encourage early implantation—three critical factors in conceiving.
Watch Your Caffeine Consumption
You don’t have to cut out caffeine completely, but stick to one to two 8-ounce cups a day while trying to conceive. The research is limited and the results are mixed, but some studies suggest that excessive caffeine intake may lead to fertility issues.
Cut Back On Alcohol
While an occasional glass of wine isn’t going to affect your fertility, you might consider avoiding alcohol altogether while you’re trying to conceive. No amount of alcohol is considered safe to drink while pregnant, and since you won’t know the exact moment you conceive, doctors suggest skipping it altogether. Your partner may want to limit their drinking as well. Research has found that heavy alcohol consumption can affect a man’s sperm count and quality.
Don’t Smoke
moking can impact your chances of getting pregnant fast. It’s linked to a greater risk of miscarriage and ectopic pregnancies. “Smokers have significantly lower levels of estrogen, which could lower the probability of ovulation in a given menstrual cycle and potentially affect pregnancy maintenance,” Gaskins says. It’s a habit male partners should also kick to the curb—smoking can lower the quality and quantity of their sperm.
Reduce Outside stress
Want to know how to get pregnant fast? The key might actually be to slow down. While the research is mixed, many studies have found a link between stress and infertility. Of course, this can be a vicious cycle—if you’re having trouble conceiving, you may find yourself becoming increasingly tense. Hard as it may be, find calming activities that keep you grounded and bring you joy. This could include gentle yoga, meditation or even talk therapy. Taking care of your mental health is an important form of self-care when trying to conceive. If you’re struggling, don’t hesitate to reach out for help.
Avoid Heat For Increased Sperm Counts
If you’re wondering how to get pregnant with a male partner, one tip is to ditch anything that generates heat. It’s not just an old wives’ tale: Hot water really can have a negative effect on a man’s sperm count, according to the University of California San Francisco and Cleveland Clinic. If you and your partner are looking for ways to get pregnant quickly, it may be time to cut back on long soaks in the hot tub and sauna. But that’s not the only thing that may be increasing heat and decreasing sperm count: A 2016 study found that laptops may also adversely affect a man’s fertility, as well as heat from wearing tight underwear and pants.
Have Well-Timed Sex
When you’re trying to conceive with a male partner, you have an incentive to hit the sheets all the time. But like anything, too much of a good thing can backfire. Experts say the best way to get pregnant fast is to have sex once a day, every other day, during the fertile window right before and after ovulation. If you have sex too often, your partner’s sperm count may be reduced—and if you don’t have enough sex, the sperm may be old and unable to swim as fast. Suffice to say: Getting pregnant isn’t necessarily as simple as getting busy—and there are some considerations to keep top of mind when it’s finally time to make a baby.
