How I Got Pregnant The Second Time Around
Brandi works in partnership with First Response to share her pregnancy stories. This story was originally featured on her blog, Mama Knows it All.
It was a last-minute decision to cancel my appointment with the IVF doctor. Terrence and I had been trying to get pregnant for months, and I was starting to feel discouraged. I wanted to have another baby so badly, but it just wasnt happening. The first time I got pregnant, I didnt even try, so I never expected it to be difficult to have a baby the second time around. As each month passed, I started to think that maybe it wasnt in the cards for us.
I made the IVF appointment one day when I was feeling particularly frustrated by my fertility woes. It was expensive, but I thought itd be worth it if I could get pregnant. Terrence was supportive and willing to do whatever I wanted, even though he was still hopeful that wed get pregnant naturally.
When I called to cancel the appointment, I had Terrences faith in mind. I figured we could give getting pregnant one last, super intentional shot. We would go all in, and if I didnt end up pregnant, then we would accept our fate and move forward being the best parents we could to the little girl we already had.
Changed my diet
Tracked my cycle
Thought positively
Used Pre-Seed Fertility Friendly Personal Lubricant
Are You Fertile If You Have Regular Period
If you have regular periods, your chances of fertility are high. However, fertility is tricky as there may be reasons that could prevent conception despite having a good number of eggs.
If you have been trying to conceive for months or years and failing, then you must see a fertility specialist or gynecologist to rule out the possible causes. Also, remember that you do not always need medical assistance for conception. Certain lifestyle changes could naturally help you conceive.
Can You Get Pregnant At Any Time Of The Month
It is not possible to get pregnant at anytime of the month. You must be ovulating in order to conceive. This means that you should have sex in the days leading to and around ovulation. The two to three days before ovulation and the day you ovulate are most fertile days .
You must, however, understand that fertile days do not necessarily mean that everything is functioning well.
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Mess Around With My Husband
I can remember the early days after giving birth. I was so exhausted sex was the furthest thing from my mind, and when I did feel like it, it had to be done at a time that the baby couldnt sense and interrupt it all. Even when our schedule became more predictable, we had to get into the flow of things again and re-learn more about each other sexually. I wish I spent more time using the freedom that came with a minimally self-sufficient child to have more sex and couple time with my husband.
Its okay to have thoughts about the things you wish you would have accomplished before having children. Having children does not have to be the end of your career, your relationship with other children, or even your relationship with your spouse. The key to making the best of the situation is rolling with the punches and adjusting the love for your family as it grows.
Youll Find Creative Ways To Manage Your Growing Family
We dont need to tell you that taking care of two children will be more exhausting than looking after one, butgood news!you may find being a parent of two tots to be less work than anticipated. If your kids have a big age gap, your oldest child may be able to help with easy tasks around the house, and if your kids are close in age, an assembly-line strategy can help save your sanity. You can line your children up to feed them and change them at the same time, Minkin says. Its certainly more work than one, but it isnt double the work.
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Reasons Why You Are Not Getting Pregnant
Have you been trying to conceive for a while now? Then, it is high time you knew the reasons for not getting pregnant and fixed the issue.
Conceiving is not just about having sex. Several factors can contribute to your not getting pregnant. MomJunction helps you understand these problems and improve your conception rates, by offering solutions and treatment methods.
But first, lets take a look at this question!
How Soon After Birth Can A Woman Conceive
After giving birth, a woman can conceive once she starts ovulating. This is approximately six weeks after childbirth, but it will vary from woman to woman. Once a woman begins to have regular periods, it is most likely she is ovulating as well. However, there is a chance ovulation can occur prior to her first postpartum period and she may get pregnant before even getting her first period.
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When Should I See A Doctor For Secondary Fertility
The guidelines on when you should see a fertility doctor for secondary infertility are exactly the same as for any woman trying to get pregnant.
You should seek the assistance of a reproductive endocrinologist if you are under 35 years old and trying to conceive for 12 months.
It is recommended that you seek help after just 6 months of trying if you are 35 years old or older.
How Getting Pregnant A Second Time Is Not Like The First
Everyone has wildly different experiences with getting pregnant. For some lucky souls, a month of halfheartedly trying could produce a baby, while others may spend years doing everything imaginable to see a pregnancy test stick turn positive. Just as every pregnancy is different, every conception story is different, too. Unsurprisingly, getting pregnant the second time around may not go as expected.
To put it simply, pregnancy does a lot to a woman’s body, and those changes might affect getting pregnant again. Even though my husband and I are still on the only-child path, whether or not we will even be able to get pregnant for a second time is a concern. From cycle issues and previous hypertension problems, my first pregnancy caused some damage. Although I would consider us as having been on the fortunate side of things the first time, there is no guarantee that the second time will be like the first.
Dr. Amos Grunebaum, director of obstetrics and chief of labor and delivery at New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center and an adviser to Fairhaven Health, confirms that pregnancy remains a complicated process, even after a previous successful one. He provided us with some clarity by explaining further.
Yet women are having children later and later each generation, with more women having babies over the age of 35 than ever before, so age is a primary concern. Having kids past the age of 35 also presents more risks and potential problems.
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Youre A Man Whose Sperm Count Is Low
You likely know that age, health or medications sometimes affect sperm quality or quantity. But it surprises many men to learn that some common practices can decrease sperm production. They include:
- Taking testosterone supplements.
- Exposing the testes to heat.
The testes are outside of the body for a reason, Dr. Detti says. If they are too warm, either from tight clothing or use of electronics, it can affect sperm counts.
Know When To Seek Help
Both the woman and the man should consider having an infertility evaluation if the woman is 35 or older and has not become pregnant after six months of having sex regularly without using birth control, Pavone said.
Pavone also recommended that a woman who is under 35 and her partner should consult a fertility specialist if she hasn’t become pregnant after one year of having unprotected intercourse on a regular basis.
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Treatment Options For Secondary Infertility
Though dependent on the cause of infertility, length of infertility, age of infertile partner and personal preferences, Dr. Shin says that there are treatment options available for many couples.
Treatment for women may include:
- Fertility drugs
- Intrauterine insemination , or the insertion of semen directly into the uterus via catheter
- Surgery such as the repair of blocked fallopian tubes
- Altering lifestyle factors, such as diet and exercise
Treatment for men may include:
- Medications to improve sperm counts
- Surgery such as a varicocelectomy, a minor surgery frequently used to repair dilated scrotal veins
- Altering lifestyle factors, such as diet and exercise
Other options a couple may consider include:
- In vitro fertilization , or the procedure of fertilizing an egg with sperm outside of the body
- Gestational carriers/surrogates
- Donor eggs or sperm
Although it may seem to be a very stressful period, couples can be reassured that there are definitely both medical and surgical treatments that are available for men to help improve their chances of a second pregnancy, comforts Dr. Shin.
Dr. Shin is located in Hackensack and is a physician at Hackensack Meridian Health Medical Group, a network of more than 1,000 physicians and advanced providers at over 300 practices throughout New Jersey. Our care network can help you better manage your health. Visit HMHMedicalGroup.org to find a practice near you.
Resources
Planning Sex Can Help You Increase Your Chances Of Becoming Pregnant
Meredith Shur, MD, FACOG, is board-certified in obstetrics and gynecology, as well as a certified medical examiner.
If you want to get pregnant faster, you might be interested in knowing when you should have sex, how frequently to have sex, and whether there are factors that can increase or decrease your chances of becoming pregnant each month.
It’s important to know that you can get pregnant at any time during your menstrual cycle, even if you are having your period. This is one of the reasons that birth control methods like the “rhythm method” are not very reliable in preventing pregnancy.
While unprotected sex doesn’t lead to pregnancy every time, you can become pregnant if you have sex just one time. In general, fertility declines with age, and teenagers are far more likely to become pregnant with only one or a few sexual encounters than older women are. If you are having a hard time getting pregnant, there are some things to know that can help you maximize your chances.
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Can You Have Vaginal Delivery After A Cesarean Section
The simple answer to this question is yes, it is possible. Most of the women who have undergone a cesarean section procedure have a successful vaginal delivery afterward. However, it also depends on the reason you had the cesarean section in the first place. If you had severe issues with your first pregnancy, you should consult with your doctor or midwife on what’s best for you.
To increase your chances of getting pregnant with a second child, it is crucial that you do the necessary planning. Make sure that you and your partner’s overall health condition is good. Avoid things like drinking, smoking, bad diet, and bad working conditions. These factors may lead to reduced sperm quality in men, thus standing in the way of you getting pregnant.
The Cons Of Back To Back Pregnancies
- During your second pregnancy, you wont be able to rest as much as youd like, since youll have your firstborn clamoring for your nearly constant attention.
- If you had a C-section for your first delivery, it may be difficult for you to have a vaginal delivery within 18 months to two years.
- If youre breastfeeding during your second pregnancy, youll be nourishing not just one but two babies, so youll need to be extra careful about keeping your nutrient levels up.
- While your doctor might give you the green light to get pregnant before your older child hits 18 months if youve gotten back to your pre-pregnancy weight and are feeling good, its still worth giving your body some breathing room.
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Get A Preconception Checkup
Before you officially start trying, get a checkup. Ask your doctor aboutprenatal vitaminsthat havefolic acid, which helps protect against some birth defects, such asspina bifida. Folic acid works during the early stages of pregnancy, so that’s why it’s important to make sure you’re getting enough folic acid even before you get pregnant.
“Do this the cycle before you start trying,” says Paula Hillard, MD, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Stanford University. “If you have any underlying medical problems, they need to be under control before you can safely become pregnant.”
The Infertility Roller Coaster
As hard as it may be to believe, studies show that the emotional effects of secondary infertility are identical to those of primary infertility. According to Parents adviser Alice Domar, Ph.D., director of the Center for Women’s Health at Harvard Medical School’s Mind/Body Medical Institute and coauthor of Six Steps to Increased Fertility , “Women being treated for secondary infertility are just as depressed and anxious as women who don’t have a biological child.” Moreover, secondary-infertility patients must cope with emotional issues not faced by childless patients. Here are a few of them.
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Why You Might Be Struggling To Get Pregnant The Second Time
Secondary infertility when a couple with no history of infertility who has successfully conceived once before cannot conceive their second child within six months to a year affects nearly three million women in the United States.
There are a lot of reasons why you might find conceiving more challenging the second time around. While some cases are considered unexplained, meaning there is no clear explanation for the couples infertility, others can be traced back to factors affecting one or both partners.
An Overview Of Secondary Infertility
David Shin, M.D., chief of the Center for Sexual Health & Fertility at Hackensack University Medical Center, explains that secondary infertility is the inability to carry a baby to termdespite trying for 1 year to achieve pregnancyafter previously giving birth. The Center for Disease Control estimates that 11% of couples in the United States, or 4 million families, experience secondary infertility.
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Talk To Your Gynecologist
Before you start trying to get pregnant, visit your gynecologist. Its ideal to schedule a preconception visit three to six months before your planned pregnancy. This gives you enough time to make any health improvements and lifestyle adjustments and complete any testing that may be recommended.
Here is a list of preconception tests a health care provider may suggest:
Your health care provider will also ask about your general lifestyle. They may suggest making a few changes to ensure a healthy pregnancy. This is the perfect time to ask any questions you might have about fertility and getting pregnant.
Five Years Of Wanting To Have Children Several Miscarriages
In the picture, Tanja, her husband Norman Jeschke, daughter Jona Valentina, the baby twins and the family dog are posing in the bright pink childrens room. The date of the positive pregnancy test is on a board: October 4th, 2020. A very emotional anniversary for the actress, because she no longer expected to become pregnant at the time, she reports in the post.
43 years old. Five years of desire for children. Several miscarriages after artificial insemination. Natural conception according to doctors and diagnosis not possible, it says under the article.
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Signs To Expect With Your Second Pregnancy
Pregnancy can be a wonderfully emotional time but also one thats peppered with changes to your body. And what if you are up for baby number two anytime soon? For many women, having a baby the second time around can be a different experience when compared to their first pregnancy. Some say they see earlier pregnancy symptoms with the second pregnancy. Others say labor is easier with subsequent births. If youre expecting another addition to your family, heres what you should be prepared for.
Strive For A Healthy Body Weight
A woman’s weight can also impact the chances of conceiving: Being overweight or underweight may reduce those odds. Research has shown that a woman who is overweight can take twice as long to become pregnant as a woman whose body-mass index is considered normal weight, Pavone said. A woman who is underweight might take four times as long to conceive, she said.
Having too much body fat produces excess estrogen, which can interfere with ovulation, according to the Cleveland Clinic. A 2017 study suggested that couples in the study in which both partners were very obese, with BMIs of at least 35, took from 55% to 59% longer to become pregnant, compared with couples who were not obese, the researchers reported in the journal Human Reproduction.
In a study published in 2020 in the journal PLOS One, researchers looked at data from more than 50,000 couples in China trying to conceive over the course of a year they found that women’s ability to conceive within a given timeframe decreased as their BMI increased.
Male obesity, which can disrupt the male endocrine system as well as sperm viability and concentration, can also affect a couple’s ability to become pregnant, scientists reported in 2020 in the journal Andrologia.
Women who are underweight, with a BMI less than 18, might not be getting regular periods or could stop ovulating, which also hinders their ability to become pregnant, according to the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority.
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