How to Get Pregnant

We are taught that if you have unprotected sex it would result in pregnancy. While it does happen, it is not always the case. The chances of getting pregnant are only about 20% each month. Here are some tips to aid you in your quest for getting pregnant.

· Folic Acid. Make sure you are taking a prenatal vitamin. Medical professionals recommend that women get a daily dose of 400 micrograms of folic acid starting at least a month before trying to get pregnant and at least 600 micrograms a day once pregnant. Research has indicated that doing so can reduce the risk of spina bifida and other neural tube defects by up to 70%.

· Choose Healthy. Eat healthy foods, maintain a healthy weight, get regular exercise and keep stress under control. These habits will serve you and your baby well during pregnancy.

· Basal Body Temperature (BBT). This is your body's temperature when you're fully at rest. Ovulation may cause a gradual rise in temperature or even a sudden jump - typically between 0.5 and 1.6 degrees Fahrenheit. You will be most fertile during the two to three days before your temperature rises. You can assume ovulation has occurred when you have a sustained temperature rise for three days or more. Use a digital oral thermometer to monitor your BBT. Simply take your temperature every morning before you get out of bed. Plot the temperature readings on graph paper and you will notice a pattern. Download a printable Fertility Chart here www.clubmomma.com/downloads/bbtchart.xls

· Try using a Ovulation Predictor Kit. Over-the-counter ovulation kits test your urine for the Luteinizing Hormone (LH) surge that takes place before ovulation. For the most accurate results, follow the instructions on the label to the letter.

· Intercourse Timing is Key. Be sure to have intercourse during your fertile window. This is the 2-5 days prior to ovulation. Increasing the number of times you have intercourse during this window will increase your chances of becoming pregnant.

· Things to avoid. Try to eliminate these to increase your conception chances; alcohol, caffeine and tobacco.

Find support from your friends and family, or find a group of like minded women online on sites such as www.clubmomma.com/forum.