If you decide that you are quite ready to become the parents of a little man, then it's time to think about how to prepare for the conception of a child. Of course, quite often this process happens by itself, however, it is advisable to conduct a variety of activities beforehand to be sure that your future son or daughter will be born healthy and strong. We will talk about how to prepare for the conception of a child today.
Consult a doctor
Every woman who wants to become a mother is advised to undergo a medical examination before conception. This is best done 3-6 months before the alleged pregnancy. First you need to visit a therapist (he will determine the general state of your health), a dentist (since many infections can enter the body through decayed teeth) and, of course, a gynecologist.
Doctors recommend that you undergo the following medical procedures and tests before conceiving a baby:
- Complete blood count (from the finger) and urinalysis.
- A standard examination by a gynecologist and colposcopy is a study that eliminates the pathology of the cervix.
- A blood test to determine the Rh factor. Moreover, this study must be done not only by the woman, but also by the future father of her child. If the Rh factor of both potential parents is positive, then everything is in order. If it is negative, then you will be asked to take an analysis for antibodies to the Rh factor. A negative result of such a study will be good news, while a positive one means the impossibility of pregnancy, since an adjustment is necessary. In addition, at this stage, specialists will analyze the compatibility of blood groups of future parents.
- The so-called TORCH complex. This study, which uses blood from a vein, allows you to identify antibodies to such dangerous diseases that threaten the proper development of the fetus, such as herpes, cytomegalovirus, rubella, toxoplasmosis and chlamydia. Remember that it is completely useless to be interested in your parents about whether you had rubella in childhood. Since this disease often proceeds under the guise of acute respiratory infections, it is possible to detect the presence of antibodies to it only through laboratory tests.
- Analysis for infection: a smear from the genitals and PCR. This study will detect hidden infections that may be dangerous for the normal course of pregnancy. Moreover, this analysis must be passed to both spouses.
- Ultrasound examination of the pelvic organs. This study will help determine the presence or absence of any pathologies in the female reproductive system.
- Scheduling basal temperature. He will give the gynecologist an idea of how your ovaries work. To draw up such a schedule, it is necessary every day at the same time from 6 to 8 in the morning, without getting out of bed, to measure the temperature in the rectum. Each violation of the regime (for example, if you overslept, forgot about this procedure and performed it later, etc.), as well as special circumstances (malaise, taking medications, intimacy, sleep disturbance, menstruation, violation of the stool, etc.). n.) must be noted in a special column. In order for the data to be informative, it is necessary to record them for at least three cycles.
- If your menstrual cycle is irregular, the discharge is abundant and painful or, on the contrary, scanty, you have oily skin, a lack or excess of body weight, increased hair growth, and there are also any deviations in the basal temperature or ultrasound chart, then the doctor will prescribe a hormone test to determine hormonal status. For this study, you will need to donate blood from a vein.
- Coagulogram. It is a blood coagulation test. This study is very important. After all, the flow of blood and the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the fetus in the womb depend on how well the coagulation system works. Therefore, it is advisable to correct existing violations before pregnancy.
- Tests for the determination of lupus anticoagulant, antibodies to phospholipids and to chorionic gonadotropin. These studies will identify factors contributing to early miscarriage. Due to this, even before conception, you can find out whether there is cause for concern on this side and take appropriate measures.
- The therapist or gynecologist, on the basis of the initial examination and the results of the analyzes, may decide on the need for consultation with another specialist (endocrinologist, mammologist, geneticist, etc.).
How to plan a pregnancy: understand your menstrual cycle
When you consulted with a therapist and gynecologist, cured your teeth, passed all the necessary tests, you can think about the conception of the baby directly. If you are in no hurry, then once again puzzled by this issue does not make sense. However, if you want the long-awaited moment to come as soon as possible, then you can try to calculate in advance the conception, or rather, the most suitable time for this.
Determine ovulation
According to experts, conception can occur on any day of the cycle, however, the greatest probability occurs at the time of ovulation. A woman can easily determine her symptoms on her own. They consist in an increase in mucous discharge from the genital tract and the appearance of unilateral paroxysmal pain in the ovaries. If sexual contact is unprotected at this time, then you are very likely to become pregnant.
However, not all representatives of the weaker sex can independently trace the moment of onset of ovulation. If you are one of them or want to be as sure as possible, then you can purchase special tests sold in pharmacies. It is necessary to use them, starting from the 9th day from the beginning of the last menstruation, until you get a positive result.
How to prepare for the conception of a child, calculating the day of ovulation, based on the duration of the menstrual cycle? Most women resort to this method. So, if your cycle lasts 28 days, then ovulation in most cases falls on day 14. However, in order not to be mistaken, it is advisable to slightly expand this time range. It can be more difficult to calculate conception if you have taken oral contraceptives (pills). The fact is that after their cancellation, the duration of the cycle can change, and it will be more difficult for a woman to determine the day of ovulation. Therefore, before trying to get pregnant, it makes sense to wait a couple of months and watch your body.
Is there a fertility posture?
When wondering how to plan a pregnancy, you should not be fooled by various myths in this regard. Despite the fact that today you can often hear that a particular pose used by partners during intimacy helps to get pregnant faster, all this is nothing more than idle speculation. There is no scientifically proven evidence of the validity of such a judgment. After all, the cervix is always in a state that does not block the passage of seminal fluid. The only thing that can be recommended in this case is to choose such positions so that the sperm lingers in the vagina for as long as possible (for example, when a woman lies on her back).
Lie down a bit after sexual intercourse
You most likely have repeatedly heard the recommendation that for conception you need to lie down about a quarter of an hour after having sex on your back, lifting your legs up. Of course, raising your legs is not necessary at all. But you can relax lying on your back for several minutes and not take a shower right away. This position will allow seminal fluid to reach the cervix more likely.
Do not be too zealous
Many, considering the question of how to plan a pregnancy, gain confidence that the more often they have sex during ovulation, the more likely they are to conceive. In fact this is not true. Indeed, in some representatives of a strong half of humanity, the amount of sperm is reduced in the case of frequent recurrence of ejaculation. Therefore, if you prefer to have sex often enough, then it makes sense for a man to pass the seminal fluid for analysis, which will help to find out if its quality and quantity are reduced after frequent sexual intercourse.
Take vitamins
Surely this item was mentioned by your gynecologist or therapist during the consultation. After all, everyone knows that the human body needs a whole complex of various vitamins and minerals. This is especially true of a woman who is carrying a child. Therefore, doctors recommend women who are planning a pregnancy, as well as their husbands and partners, to take perinatal vitamins before conception, containing folic acid. This element reduces the risk of neural tube defects in the fetus, which include, for example, congenital spinal hernia.
Avoid stress
Since the constant expectation of the moment of pregnancy is also a kind of stress, any extraneous factors can only aggravate it. And this, in turn, can affect, for example, a shift in ovulation time. Stress can also cause a variety of fears and sexual dysfunctions.
Healthy lifestyle
When considering how to prepare for the conception of a child, pay increased attention to physical exercises. However, the measure should be followed in all respects. After all, increased physical activity can generally lead to a lack of ovulation.
Proper nutrition
If you are accustomed from time to time to exhaust your body with strict diets, then during preparation for pregnancy it is extremely undesirable. However, if you suffer from obesity or, conversely, from insufficient weight, you should bring your condition back to normal, and only then make attempts to conceive a child.
Quit smoking
Of course, it is advisable not only to women planning pregnancy to give up this bad habit. However, if you smoke and want to conceive a child, getting rid of tobacco dependence will significantly increase your chances of becoming a mother. This is due to the fact that smoking negatively affects the reproductive system of the female body, affecting hormone levels and ovulation.
Alcohol
Many women planning a pregnancy are wondering how much to drink before conception. Specialists argue that the intake of alcohol in large doses should be stopped a few months before the first attempts. However, drinking moderate amounts of alcohol is acceptable. For example, a glass of wine drunk after dinner will not have a negative impact on your reproductive function, but, on the contrary, will help to relax and reduce stress.
How can a man prepare for conception?
Do not assume that the onset of pregnancy and the proper development of the fetus are entirely dependent on the woman. Therefore, the future dad also needs to carefully consider his health, at least at the time of conception planning, getting rid of bad habits, eating well and going through all the necessary tests and studies that your doctor will prescribe.