Any tips on how to get pregnant? When you’re new to the conception game, it can be overwhelming knowing where to start. So if you’re wondering how to get pregnant, check out these top tips which will go a long way, helping you to get pregnant, faster.

First things first though – its important to know that its normal to take up to a year to conceive your first baby. After this time, you may like to investigate potential fertility issues.

How Do I Get Pregnant Tip #1 – Charting Your Cycle

One of the biggest things you can do to help conception happen faster is to chart your cycle. By understanding how your cycle works, you will learn to identify fertile and non-fertile days rather than it being a case of hit and miss, potentially missing a window for conception.

How Do I Get Pregnant Tip #2 – Learn About Fertile Mucus

In our article Cervical Mucus, Ovulation and Your Fertile Period I explain the different types of mucus that you can expect during your cycle, and which types of mucus are fertile, highly fertile and non-fertile. This is a great signal of fertility.

How Do I Get Pregnant Tip #3 – Have More Sex

Sounds pretty obvious but If you’re only having sex once a week or not in optimal fertile times, then this could be hampering your conception efforts. By charting your cycle as mentioned above, you can identify when you’re becoming fertile and have more sex. There’s no need to go crazy – while your egg is only able to be fertilised for around 24 hours, sperm can survive for longer inside of you – up to 72 hours. So if you have sex before you ovulate, you could still get pregnant.

Also, try to keep the connection and fun alive rather than drag your man by the ear to your bedroom, telling him to ‘power up’! He could just end up with performance anxiety and feeling a bit used and/or resentful when you’re only having ‘baby sex’ not the good old fun sex.

How Do I Get Pregnant Tip #4 – Cut Back Stress!

Stress can be detrimental for both you and your partner, and can result in less sex, lowered libido, disconnected sex and fewer opportunities for conception. Too much stress can also affect ovulation and menstruation.

How Do I Get Pregnant Tip #5 – Make Sure Your Diet Is Healthy

Your diet can effect your fertility – especially if you are in the overweight (BMI over 25) or underweight category. Make sure you’re eating a balanced diet, with plenty of fresh fruit and veg, especially leafy greens which contain folate. Drink plenty of water to keep your body hydrated and all your cells healthy and full of energy. A very healthy alternative oil for cooking or even on your skin is coconut oil which has loads of health benefits – I highly recommend looking into it. Even buying low fat can be just as bad, if not worse than full fat these days, as additives like more sugar or artificial sweetener are added to compensate – which is not good for you.

There’s no need to be strict and stringent with an eating plan, its okay to treat yourself and enjoy favourite foods. Just be sensible and avoid junk – empty calories.

How Do I Get Pregnant Tip #6 – Have a Sensible Intake of Alcohol

Both men and women are equally responsible here. Excessive alcohol intake can result in damaging your egg and sperm production. If you do happen to fall pregnant, it is unknown what the safe or unsafe levels of alcohol are for a developing fetus. Considering alcohol kills cells and a baby would be trying to grow them, it’s best avoided. Check out our article on alcohol in pregnancy.

How Do I Get Pregnant Tip #7 – Stop Smoking

Smoking is not only detrimental to men and women

Recommended Reading For All Things Fertility

Below are some books I recommend for those wanting to know more about or taking control of their own fertility. Many of these books also rate very highly with BellyBelly forum members.

1. Taking Charge of Your Fertility by Toni Weschler

For any woman unhappy with her current method of birth control; demoralised by her quest to have a baby; or experiencing confusing symptoms in her cycle, this book provides answers to all these questions, plus amazing insights into a woman’s body. Weschler thoroughly explains the empowering Fertility Awareness Method, which in only a couple minutes a day allows a woman to:

Enjoy highly effective, scientifically proven birth control without chemicals or devices
Maximize her chances of conception or expedite fertility treatment by identifying impediments to conception
Increase the likelihood of choosing the gender of her baby
Gain control of her sexual and gynaecological health

2. Plan to Get Pregnant: 10 Steps to Maximum Fertility

“Having a baby is one of the biggest life-decisions that a couple can make together. Plan to Get Pregnant tells you what you need to do to maximize your chances of conception, and breaks the process down into 10 manageable steps. It not only talks you though getting pregnant, but it also offers guidance on how to stay pregnant, especially through the, often difficult, first trimester. From how to know when you’re both ready to become parents and what to eat for maximum fertility, to embarking on IVF treatment and beyond, this book is a must-read for anyone who wants to start a family.”

Zita West has numerous fertility books and I highly recommend her work. Other books from Zita West include:

3. Natural Fertility: The Complete Guide to Avoiding or Achieving Conception by Francesca Naish

Many women have problems with their fertility at some time in their lives. Solutions and preventative advice here will contribute to womens well-being, and help to overcome problems with contraception, infertility, reproductive and hormonal health. Includes:

The natural approach
The unnatural approach
Cervical mucus changes
Basal body temperature changes
Rhythm calculations
The lunar cycle
Synchronising cycles
Sexual expression in fertile times
Charting and co-ordinating the methods for contraception
Natural remedies for hormonal and reproductive health
Natural, healthy conception

You Can Purchase These Books From…

Fishpond (AUS) who offer great prices and free delivery in Australia
The Book Depository (UK) who offer great prices and free shipping world wide.
Amazon (US)

Connect With Others On The Conception Journey

If you’d like to read others experiences or even contribute your own, please join us in the BellyBelly Forums – we have a section dedicated to conception.