MOM, DO NOT READ.

The award for the most disappointing thing about trying to get pregnant goes to MY PERIOD! We just started last month and I was only off my birth control not even a month before trying, so I'm not surprised. But it still sucks! And yeah yeah I know "YOU CAN STILL BE PREGNANT EVEN THOUGH YOU HAVE YOUR PERIOD!!!" When observing my period, nevermind, I'm not going into detail... just trust me, I'm not pregnant.

 

Getting pregnant usually happens within a year. I've read all the tips and did my research to try and help this process move along. I haven't blogged about what ways are best when trying to get pregnant, so here we go!

 

First I would like to say these tips were based on doctor's opinions via WEBMD to help couples get pregnant faster.

 

Tip 1: Use various ways to determine ovulation days. Do not just use an ovulation calendar to determine when ovulating, especially if you are as irregular as me, it is not 100% accurate. Your smart phone isn't smart enough to know what is going on inside the body. The ovulation app "predicts" when a woman is ovulating based on past periods and if the periods are irregular, then it becomes harder to determine ovulation days. They are still good to use because it's better to have a predicted ovulation day rather then just picking a random day to have sex.

Tip 2: Take your basal temperature. This is when you take your temperature AS SOON AS you wake up. Yes, before you pee, or even sit up. You simply reach out for the thermometer (without moving anything but your arm) and take your temperature. The basal temperature detects small changes in body temperature, like when ovulating. A woman's temperature usually changes when ovulating and if the temperatures are documented everyday, you can easily detect when ovulating.

Tip 3: There is a way to tell when ovulating by using "cervical mucus" (CM). You use your vaginal fluids to help determine if you are ovulating. I'm just going to quote this website:

 

"...For most of the cycle, CM acts as a barrier to sperm. It protects the cervix chemically–with white blood cells fighting foreign bodies–and mechanically–acting as a plug and closing the cervical canal. But during the fertile phase, the consistency and composition of CM changes. Instead of being a barrier, CM now aids and accelerates the sperms’ passage through the cervix. CM during the fertile phase also extends sperm longevity, allowing them to live for up to five days within the female body. (Sperm lives in the female body for five days...yummy) The CM even acts as a quality control device, screening the sperm and catching any with irregular or curved swimming.

By observing CM to pinpoint the fertile phase, women can help increase their chances of conception. Changes in CM will indicate the days leading up to ovulation, and sexual intercourse during this time will ensure that sperm—nourished by fertile phase CM—will be present when the egg is released." WOW SUPER MUCAS TO THE RESCUE!!

What to Look For
A woman can monitor her CM by feel or appearance. The sensation of CM in the vagina–dry, moist, or wet–is one clue to follow for detecting impending ovulation. The color (white, creamy, cloudy or clear) and consistency (sticky, or smooth and slippery)

The chart below gives the information for de-coding CM to detect ovulation.

Phase	Sensation	CM Appearance
Pre-ovulatory	Dry	No visible mucus.
Fertile	Moist or sticky	White or cream colored, thick to slightly stretchy. Breaks easily when stretched.
Highly Fertile	Slippery, wet, lubricated	Increase in amount. Thin, watery, transparent, like egg white.
Post-ovulatory	Dry or sticky	Sharp decrease in amount. Thick, opaque white or cream-colored.

Tip 4: Using ovulation sticks are probably best. Pee on the stick, the test indicates yes, you are ovulating and BAM! There is the answer. Go have sex. Done. If only they weren't so expensive. It doesn't hurt to do all four of these ways to determine ovulation. As of today, I only have the calendar because I'm trying to make this happen naturally and we are having fun doing so!

 

Tip 5: Have sex before ovulating. The egg is only vulnerable for around 24 hours, so waiting until you are actually fertile could cause you to miss that opportunity. REMEMBER: the sperm can live up to five days (usually 3 days) inside the woman. So this is what I do and plan to keep doing. Have sex every other day for the whole month, period comes, period goes, have sex every other day again. Have sex before, during, after ovulating. SEX ALL THE LIVE LONG DAYS! (sorry mom) So even if you are irregular like me, there are no missed opportunities. But If I am going to be that extreme, why not just have sex everyday? The male body needs time to recreate new sperm. Plus, give me a break, jeez.

Tip 6: Do not put "love-making" on a schedule. That sort of contradicts tip 5, but think about it.Trying to hurry the process along will cause couples to become stressed and that affects hormones. Just enjoy each other, make love, and don't worry about getting pregnant. Be in love!

Tip 7: PILLOW THERAPY! My doctor actually recommended this to me. Use a pillow to prop your pelvis up after intercourse. Lay there for 20-30 minutes to help the sperm move through your body. Ya know, have sex, lay there propped up with a pillow while watching an episode of Judge Judy or something. GOOD TIMES.

Tip 8: Does the sex position really matter? The research out there is seriously 50/50. Some say that the sex position matters, usually mentioning the man on top or missionary/doggy style, others say it doesn't matter as long as the woman orgasms. My doctor said it doesn't matter, but I believe in gravity and not willing to take any chances. I advise the woman to be on her back with the pillow close by ready for service!

Do I have any last words? Mom, I hope you didn't read this.