Planning for a baby is a very exciting stage in a couple's life. But it can be a frustrating one if we don't get the facts right.
To lessen your frustration and to make the process as smooth as possible, it's best to be properly equipped with enough pregnancy information. One of the first things of today healthcare is to know what is actually happening for planning for a baby!
In planning for a baby, it is very important to know of the following two points:
How does a baby happen?
First comes ovulation - a term we commonly used to define the release of an egg (usually one, though sometimes more) from a woman's ovary. Conception occurs when a sperm fertilizes the egg. While sperm can survive for several days inside a woman's reproductive tract, an egg can only survive for up to 24 hours after ovulation. The result of this is that, there is a limitation on the time when conception is most likely to occur.
When are women most fertile?
Women are most fertile 12 to 14 days before the start of their next period. During this time they will have a small window, that is, a few days, in which to get pregnant. For the egg to be fertilized, sperm must be present in their body at the same time that they release an egg.
To establish when you are most likely to get pregnant, you will need to understand well about your menstrual cycle. The usual practice is to make a note in your diary of when your period starts - this is referred to as day one. Count the days until your period arrives again, i.e. the end of your cycle is the day before your next period begins. In general, cycles can range from about 21 to 40 days, with only 10 per cent being precisely 28 days. If your cycle is generally 28 days long, then you know that you are likely to ovulate on day 14.
However, if your menstrual cycle varies every month, it can be difficult to predict the date of ovulation. Nevertheless, you can conduct tests that determine the day you ovulate, such as keeping a temperature chart or using a home ovulation kit. Tests should be conducted over a number of cycles so as to determine your pattern of ovulation.
How do you increase your chances of being pregnant?
In this respect, women should monitor their body's fertile time period closely. There are several methods a woman can use to determine when she is most likely to conceive, for example:
- By using a calendar to chart the menstrual cycle;
- Charting basal body temperature;
- Examining cervical mucus; or
- A combination of the above methods
I would like to highlight that the charting methods require women to record the secondary signs of fertility caused by changes in hormones. Because these conditions can be affected by factors such as infections or medications, as such careful monitoring and analysis is important, although they are never 100% reliable.
An alternative to these methods is to measure changes in a woman hormone levels. Women may not aware that an increase in the level of estrogen marks the beginning of most women's fertile phase, while an increase in the luteinizing hormone (LH) level signals that ovulation will occur soon - usually within approximately 24 to 36 hours. Women may want to know that the fertility monitor is considered a relatively new approach designed to provide daily information about a woman's fertile time period. It works by recording a woman's daily fertility level (low, high, peak) based on results from urine tests. This detects the increases in the levels of estrogen and LH with the aim to help women to potentially identify the days they have the optimal chances of conceiving.
What are the hitches - infertility?
What if you still don't get pregnant? It is prudent to be mindful about infertility as well. Infertility is the inability to achieve pregnancy after 12 months of normal sexual intercourse without contraception. As far as healthcare is concerned, it is good to know that infertility can affect either the man or the woman or both.
Factors that may affect fertility included:
- Excessive smoking and alcohol intake;
- General health concerns such as obesity, thyroid disease or uncontrolled diabetes;
- Psychological factors such as stress, tension and anxiety; and
- Some types of medications.
- Failure to produce eggs.
- Certain hormonal imbalances.
- Failure for the ovaries to develop, as seen in conditions such as Turner's syndrome.
- Womb tumour or scarring that prevents fertilized eggs from implanting.
- Endometriosis, a condition that causes abnormal growth of the endometrium tissue, often causing scarring and inflammation in women reproductive organs.
- Blocked Fallopian tubes (the tubes that take eggs from the ovaries to the womb). This is often caused by scarring following infections such as pelvic inflammatory diseases (PlDs) or sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) such as chlamydia or gonorrhoea.
- Hostile mucus at the cervix (neck of the womb) which does not allow sperm to enter.
- Some women may have negative reaction to their partner's sperm.
Nevertheless, there are excellent screening methods as well as alternative medicine treatments available for both male and female infertility. The advice here is to speak to your doctor.
How to get prepare for a pregnancy?
If you are trying to get pregnant, you should see your doctor to discuss any regular medications or prescription drugs you are taking, and whether or not they are safe to take throughout your pregnancy.
As far as today healthcare is concerned, it is important to ask your doctor if you might need additional nutritional supplements to help keep you healthy while trying to get pregnant and throughout your pregnancy.
Nutrition during pregnancy
Women should know that a well balanced diet can provide a pregnant woman with most of the nutrients needed during pregnancy, although some supplements is necessary. Women should take extra folic acid for at least a month before getting pregnant and for the first 3 months of pregnancy as this is vital for healthy baby's development and to help prevent conditions such as spina bifida.
Although folic acid supplements is easily available from your local pharmacy, it's advisable to talk to your doctor or pharmacist before you take any supplements. However, and in addition to folic acid, some women may need supplements of calcium, iron and zinc to keep both mother and baby in good health during the pregnancy. Eating calcium-rich foods such as dairy products will definitely help to increase a woman calcium intake.
Rubella
Some women who wish to start a family may need a rubella (German measles) vaccination prior to becoming pregnant. If a mother is not protected from German measles and comes into contact with the virus while pregnant, the baby's healthy development may be at risk.
Harmful substances
Women who are pregnant or planning to conceive should abstain from drinking alcohol or smoking cigarettes or marijuana, as well as to minimize caffeine intake from coffee, tea and cola drinks. All these substances could affect the healthy development of the baby.
What you should do is to seek medical advice if:- you have missed a period but have had a negative pregnancy test;
- you have had a positive pregnancy test; or
- you have been having abdominal pain or period problems such as heavy bleeding, period pain or no period.
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