Trying to Get Pregnant? Here’s 10 Things You Should Know

It might not be until you decide to get pregnant that you realize there’s a lot more to it than the birds and the bees. Fret not, a little information can go a long way – here are 10 basics that might help shed some light on an (oftentimes) complicated process.

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We’re ALL a little in the dark

The truth is there’s really no way to know how long it will take to conceive, for anyone. Think it might be a month? Six? A year? Three? You won’t know until it happens which can be exciting for some, and frustrating for others.

So it could be (a lot) harder than you think

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So it could be (a lot) harder than you think

You may have spent your entire 20s worried about accidentally getting pregnant, but since there’s really only a window of five or six days a month to conceive, it’s definitely not as easy as they made it seem in health class.

Don’t put off seeing your health care provider

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Don’t put off seeing your health care provider

If you’ve been actively trying to get pregnant for months, maybe it’s time to see your health provider. Perhaps the stress is getting to you, or there may be more significant issues to address (or not!) but figuring things out with a professional early on, is never a bad idea.

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Understand ovulation

Understanding ovulation--when a mature egg is released from one ovary into the Fallopian tube, and typically halfway through your cycle--is the first step to getting pregnant. For some it’s as easy as looking at a calendar, but for others, especially those with an irregular period, you might want to speak with your health care provider.

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Ovulation really, really matters

To get pregnant naturally, your ripe egg must meet with live sperm in the Fallopian tube. To make matters even more exciting (or stressful) you’re running against the clock because an egg is only viable for 24 hours after ovulation. (Yes, only 24 hours!)

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But that’s when sperm comes in

An egg might only survive for one day, but sperm can live for up to a week in your body, allowing a little more leeway when it comes to the window for conception.

To get pregnant, have sex during your “window”

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To get pregnant, have sex during your “window”

The “fertile window” is the only time you can conceive per cycle and is typically six days long; the five days leading up to ovulation, and then the one day you actually ovulate.

You should start taking folic acid, like now

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You should start taking folic acid, like now

Thankfully there’s not much to do before you get pregnant (that laundry list of things to avoid starts later) but if you’re considering getting pregnant anytime soon, taking folic acid daily will reduce the risk of neural tube defects.

Health Canada recommends 0.4mg of folic acid daily for anyone considering becoming pregnant.

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There’s an app for that

Find all this confusing? Thankfully, in this digital age there’s an app for everything: keeping track of your periods, when you ovulate, reminding you to take your vitamins, and when’s the optimal time to have sex in order to conceive. Basically if you’re trying to track something, you can probably do it on your phone.

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Don’t foget: You’re not alone

Like anything pregnancy-related, or parenting-related, having a good support system is crucial. Getting pregnant can be challenging, stressful, and take a lot longer than expected. Having friends and family who support you--and who have been there!--will go a long way in never feeling alone.