Kick The Smoking And Drinking Habits
Smoking can lead to fertility problems in both women and men. Chemicals found in cigarette smoke, such as nicotine and carbon monoxide, speed up the loss rate of a woman’s eggs, according to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine.
Smoking ages a woman’s ovaries and depletes her supply of eggs prematurely, according to the Mayo Clinic. In a study published in 2020 in the journal Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology, researchers looked at scientific findings around smoking, alcohol, addiction and fertility they found that smoking is linked to decreased fertility.
It’s also a good idea for women to stay away from secondhand smoke, which may affect their chances of becoming pregnant. should also be avoided while trying to conceive.
It’s safest for a woman to avoid alcohol when she is hoping to become pregnant. A woman should also stop consuming alcohol if she stops using birth control because she wants to get pregnant. That said, a 2019 Danish study of 1,708 women over a five-year period did not find a link between regular alcohol consumption and binge drinking, and fertility, according to the study published in the journal Human Reproduction.
However, a 2017 study published in the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology found that about half of pregnant women in the United States drink alcohol around the time they become pregnant or in early pregnancy, usually before they know they are expecting.
Once a woman becomes pregnant, there’s no safe amount of alcohol, Pavone said.
Try To Conceive Again
How long does it take to get pregnant? Data shows that more than half of couples conceive by 6 months, and about 85 percent conceive within one year. If you don’t have a positive pregnancy test this time around, reconsider your efforts. It’s possible that you miscalculated your most fertile days, so your partner’s sperm never had the chance to fertilize your egg. Consider switching to a daily OPK if you haven’t already tried it, and get psyched to try again next month!
What Are Your Chances Of Getting Pregnant
If youre wondering what your odds are of getting pregnant, your chances are pretty good when youre younger. In fact, an average healthy couple in their 20s and early 30s has about a 25 to 30 percent chance of getting pregnant during any one menstrual cycle, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists .
Though that number may seem low, over the span of a year it means your chances of conceiving are about 75 to 85 percent. Just keep in mind that those odds drop with age, which may be a factor if youre finding that its difficult for you to get pregnant.
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Second Trimester: Week 14 Through 26 Is A Time Of Weight Gain Because Your Baby Is Growing Quickly
- Daily activities. Weight gain makes it hard to do some things like you did before you got pregnant. For example, transfers or pushing your wheelchair may be harder. You may get tired more quickly. You might talk with a physical or occupational therapist to find new ways to get everyday tasks done. Here are a few suggestions.
- Make fewer transfers, use a sliding board to transfer, or get help from others.
- Rent or buy a power wheelchair.
Will It Be A Boy Or Girl
Both the man’s sperm and the woman’s egg play a part in determining the gender of a baby.
Every normal human cell contains 46 chromosomes . Chromosomes are tiny threadlike structures made from DNA, which each carry human genes. Genes determine a baby’s inherited characteristics, such as hair and eye colour, blood group, height and build.
When a sperm fertilises an egg, 23 chromosomes from the father pair with 23 from the mother, making 46 in total.
The sex chromosome from a woman’s egg is always the same and is known as the X chromosome. But the sex chromosome from a man’s sperm may be an X or a Y chromosome.
If the egg is fertilised by a sperm containing an X chromosome, the baby will be a girl . If the sperm contains a Y chromosome, the baby will be a boy .
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Start Taking A Prenatal Vitamin
Generally, its recommended you begin taking a quality prenatal vitamin three months before conceiving. Prenatal vitamins are packed with nutrients which are essential to the early development of your baby.
Prenatal vitamins can help reduce the chance for neural tube defects, which happen in the first 4 6 weeks of growth. During this time, you most likely arent even aware youre pregnant, but by taking prenatal vitamins before conception, youre already giving your baby the best chance of healthy growth.
If you find your prenatal vitamins are making you nauseous, try taking them at night before you go to sleep. You may also need to try out different brands to find one that fits your tummy. I really liked this brand of prenatal vitaminswhen I was pregnant the second time.
Safety Note: Stay away from Rainbow Light prenatals. They were sued in 2019 and found guilty in a California lawsuit after safety testing found mercery and heavy metals in their prenatal products.
Scan Your Medicine Cabinet
If youre regularly taking any drugs regularly, be sure to check with your doctor that those medications are safe for preconception and pregnancy. He or she may suggest switching to another thats better for expecting women.
Also get your practitioners okay to continue any vitamins or herbal supplements youre popping. Too much vitamin A, for example, can be dangerous during pregnancy.
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What Changes When A Woman Already Enrolled In Medicaid Becomes Pregnant
Generally, nothing. A woman who was previously eligible and enrolled in full-scope Medicaid who becomes pregnant continues to be eligible, and will be able to access pregnancy services. A woman who becomes pregnant while enrolled in Medicaid Expansion can stay in that coverage, at least until redetermination. The state must inform the woman of the benefits afforded to pregnant women under other coverage categories, such as pregnancy-related Medicaid, and provide the option to switch categories if the woman is eligible.
Ditch Toxins & Create A Non Toxic Healthy Home For Your Family
Theres a growing body of scientific evidence has indicated that the air within homes and other buildings can be more seriously polluted than the outdoor air in even the largest and most industrialized cities, according to the CDC.
Do you have candles, or cans of air freshener, plug-in Glade or Febreeze, or anything with fragrance in your home? Toss it, right now.
Volatile organic compounds are chemicals emitted by gasses in certain solids and liquids and have adverse effects. VOCs mix with the ozone inside your home to create smog.
The EPA found that VOC concentrations in homes are 2 to 5 times higher than outside, regardless of what kind of area you live in.
A. Remove Synthetic Fragrances
B. Begin Purifying Your Homes Air
- Use a HEPA filtered vacuum cleaner like the Shark Navigator Lift Away
- Place air purifiers throughout your home. Its important you dont just grab anyone from Target or Walmart, but invest in a quality, HEPA filtering and tested purifier that scientifically does what it says. The Germ Guardian is a great choice and sanitizes too! Its important to have clean air in the rooms you sleep in and are in most days.
- Open windows in the morning and afternoon, and sleep with your windows cracked if its not too cold
- Invest in air cleaning plants like a snake plant. Heres a list of 12 more air cleaning plants.
- Dont wear shoes in your house
- Dust often
C. Switch Out Your Cleaning Products
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Raw Or Undercooked Meat
Avoid undercooked meat, especially poultry, pork, sausages and burgers. Any meat you eat should be cooked thoroughly, should not be pink or have any blood coming out of it. Be careful to cook sausages and minced meat thoroughly. This is because there is a risk of toxoplasmosis, a tiny parasite that can live in raw meat which can be harmful to you and your baby.
It is safe to eat cold, pre-packed meats such as ham and corned beef. Although the risk is low, you may also prefer to avoid raw cured meat, such as parma ham, chorizo, pepperoni and salami. Cured meats are not cooked, so they may parasites in them that cause toxoplasmosis. If you want to eat cured meat you can freeze for 4 days at home before defrosting and eating. You can also eat cured meat that has been cooked, for example on a pizza.
Avoid game meats such as goose, partridge or pheasant as these may contain lead shot.
What Happens If My Bmi Is Not In The ‘healthy Weight’ Range
If you have a high BMI before pregnancy or in early pregnancy, this can affect your health and how your baby develops. The higher your BMI the higher the risk.
These risks include:
- high blood pressure and pre-eclampsia
- thrombosis
- gestational diabetes
This can be difficult to read but you will have extra care throughout your pregnancy to minimise these risks and have a healthier pregnancy.
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Stop Smoking Alcohol And Drugs Limit Caffeine
If you smoke, drink alcohol, or use drugs, you should stop before you get pregnant. They can:
- Make it harder for you to get pregnant
- Increase the chance of miscarriage
If you need help quitting smoking, alcohol, or drugs, talk to your doctor or midwife.
Alcohol can harm a growing fetus , even in small amounts. Drinking alcohol while you are pregnant can cause long-term problems for your baby, such as intellectual disability, behavioral issues, learning disabilities, and facial and heart defects.
Smoking is bad for unborn babies and puts your child at greater risk of health problems later in life.
- Women who smoke during pregnancy are more likely to have a baby with a lower birth weight.
- Smoking also makes it harder for you to recover from your pregnancy.
Drugs that are not prescribed by a doctor can be dangerous for you to take at any point in your life.
You should also cut down on caffeine when you are trying to get pregnant. Women who daily consume more than 2 cups of coffee or 5 cans of soda that contains caffeine may have a harder time getting pregnant and a greater chance of miscarriage.
Limit unnecessary medicines or supplements. Discuss with your provider about both prescribed and over-the-counter medicines and supplements you take before you try to conceive. Most medicines have some risks, but many have unknown risks and have not been thoroughly studied for safety. If medicines or supplements are not absolutely necessary, do not take them.
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.
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Are Pregnant People At Higher Risk For Covid
The physiologic changes of pregnancy make pregnant people more likely to experience respiratory illness in general . Changes to both heart and lung function, as well as the immune system, make pregnant people vulnerable to infection . As a pregnant person or someone who hopes to be pregnant soon, you may need to be more cautious about COVID-19 than the average person.
Pregnant people who have symptoms of COVID-19 may be at an increased risk for more severe illness compared to non-pregnant people . In this case, severity is linked with more ICU admissions, use of ventilators, and death . Pregnant people who have other medical conditions might be at further increased risk for severe illness . Since COVID-19 is so new, more research is needed to know specifically how this virus impacts pregnant people.
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You Use The Pull Out Method
This old-school method of preventing pregnancy is a far cry from a myth. It’s not foolproof and it can certainly result in pregnancy, but it does significantly decrease your chances of getting pregnant. In case you need a refresher course on the pull-out method, also known as withdrawal, it involves the male partner pulling out of the vagina before he ejaculates. The problem, however, is that pre-ejaculate or precum, the bodily fluid that’s released from the penis before an actual ejaculation, very well may contain active and viable sperm.
Additionally, Mark Trolice, M.D., reproductive endocrinology and infertility specialist at My Fertility CARE: The IVF Center in Winter Park, Florida, explains that most men aren’t aware of when they release this precum. “Because it’s hard to predict when pre-ejaculation occurs, the withdrawal method is often fraught with peril and certainly not the most reliable method out there,” he says.
How hard is it to get pregnant while using withdrawal? Withdrawal is about 96 percent effective with perfect use and 82 percent effective with typical use. If you really want to avoid pregnancy, choose a different contraceptive method
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What To Do If You Have An Iud And Suspect Pregnancy
First, take a home pregnancy test. Todays tests are very good at diagnosing pregnancy early. If the test is negative and youre still worried, call your health care provider, who can answer your questions, perform an exam, or do additional testing if you need it.
If your test is positive, call your Ob/Gyn and explain your situation. The doctor can order an ultrasound and perform an exam. If you develop right- or left-sided pelvic pain with vaginal bleeding and cant be seen by your doctor right away, its reasonable to visit the emergency department because the cause might be an ectopic pregnancy.
IUDs are an incredibly good form of birth control for many women, but no contraceptive is 100 percent effective. If youre considering an IUD, talk to your doctor or other healthcare provider about whether this form of highly effective contraception is right for you.
S Every Couple Should Take
Leyla Bilali, RN is a registered nurse, fertility nurse, and fertility consultant in the New York City area.
The inability to get pregnant if you’ve been trying for some time can be heartbreaking. But there are steps you can, and should, take. Sometimes the cause of infertility is easy to diagnose and can be treated.
If you’re under 35 and have been trying to conceive for a year, or if you’re over 35 and have been trying for six months, it’s time to get help. If you’ve had two or more miscarriages back-to-back, you should see a professional. The same goes if you’re having any worrisome symptoms or have risk factors for infertility, even if you haven’t been trying for a baby for an entire year.
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Sleep Now While You Can
This wont come as a surprise Im sure, but once youre pregnant and especially after your baby arrives, sleep will become a thing of the past. Take advantage and sleep now. Enjoy staying up late and sleeping in, and especially sleeping on your stomach and back.
When youre pregnant, middle of the night bathroom calls will frequently interrupt sleep and after 16 weeks you arent allowed to sleep on your stomach or back, and its recommended you sleep on your left side to help with blood circulation. The limited sleep position can cause hip pain and restless nights of trying to sleep take advantage and enjoy sleep now!
Get a quality pregnancy pillow Be sure to check out all the other great freebies for expecting Moms.)
During our third pregnancy, we actually bought a new mattress and sleep was more comfortable and more restful. If you are in the market for a new mattress, now may be the best time to treat yourself
You’re Over 44 Years Old
Thanks to that good-old biological clock, a woman’s chances of getting pregnant wane over time. Women are born with some 1 million to 2 million eggs there’s only about 300,000 left when they get their first period and 25,000 left by their late 30s. This means that a woman’s chances of becoming pregnant in her early 40s are pretty slim, though it’s by no means impossible. “As we get closer to 40, the ticking of our biological clock becomes louder and by 44, it can be deafening,” she says. “Fertility decreases by as much as 95 percent in women between 40 and 45 years of age.”
How hard is it to get pregnant over 44 years old? According to Dr. Ross, women over the age of 44 have a less than 5 percent chance of getting pregnant each month.
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