Top tips for conceiving a baby boy or a girl
You and your partner have made a crucial life decision: You’re both ready to have a baby! Somehow, though, you don’t seem to be getting pregnancy as quickly as you thought you would. Here are some of the top health tips for conceiving a baby boy or girl.
Throw out your birth control pills. This seems like a no-brainer, but the reality is that it may take several months for your menstrual cycle to return to normal after a long period of taking contraceptives. The same is true whether you took pills orally or wore a patch or a ring. It isn’t the method that’s the cause, it’s the hormone dosages, and every woman differs in how long it takes her body to achieve balanced hormone levels so she can become pregnant.
Start taking folic acid. Folic acid is actually a manufactured form of folate, a B vitamin that doctors and scientists have found is essential to reducing the risk of brain and spinal cord birth defects. That’s why the recommend that women who are trying to become pregnant begin taking folic acid before conception. That’s because the brain and spinal cord form early in pregnancy, so everything you can do to support that development is critical.
Quit tobacco, alcohol and drugs. Yes, all those bad habits we picked up in our misspent youth can stand in the way of conceiving a baby. Not taking drugs seems like an obvious choice, but there are too many deformed or addicted newborns to attest otherwise. Smoking is one of those habits that can affect both mother and father. Mothers who smoke run the risk of miscarriage, giving birth prematurely or having low birth-weight babies; even secondhand smoke can affect conception. Fathers who smoke often have lower sperm counts, making it harder for their partners to conceive. The harmful effects of drinking alcohol during pregnancy have become well-known, but doctors now know that alcohol can also interfere with conception as well.
Ditch the caffeine. Medical research has found that excess caffeine cuts a woman’s ability to absorb iron, increasing the chances of suffering stillbirth. Switch to decaf or, if you can’t quit caffeine altogether, limit yourself to one cup a day.
Maintain a healthy weight. Women who are either underweight or overweight have a much harder time getting pregnant and completing a full-term pregnancy.
Check on your timing. Begin charting your menstrual cycle so you can figure out when you’re most likely ovulating. Have sex during your fertile period to increase your chances of becoming pregnant.
Improve your chances. A woman can improve her chances of conceiving a baby (boy or girl) by making the natural environment of her vagina as friendly to sperm as possible. Don’t use scented tampons, artificial lubricants or vaginal sprays, and don’t douche. All of these upset the natural balance of the vagina by washing away cervical mucus that provides a medium for sperm to move to the ovum. In addition, trying elevating your hips on a pillow for about 15 minutes after intercourse, so that gravity helps more sperm make the journey to the ovum.
Finally, it isn’t all about the woman. Men can aid conception by trading their briefs for boxers to relieve pressure on the testicles and increase sperm count. In addition, a man’s sperm count is highest in the morning, so that would be a good time for sex if you wish to conceive.
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