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

Here are some practical conception tips for couples who want to take that plunge into parenthood. The couple should decide when to have a baby. Parenthood is such a big step 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. The decision to have kids early was because of my biological clock. 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. Determining ovulation in women with irregular cycles would be harder. 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.

Getting pregnant is only half the battle. We have to ensure that our babies will be okay. 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 dangerous 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.

You are a parent 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It is highly probable that your schedule will differ significantly with that of your child’s. 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. It is best to look into your income expenses to see if you have enough resources to raise a child.

Having a baby will definitely change the dynamics of a couple’s 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 hold 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.

Article Source: http://www.parentingarticlelibrary.com

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

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