How To Get Pregnant
June 22, 2009 by Sarah Shepard
Filed under How To Get Pregnant
How to Get Pregnant
If you're wondering how to get pregnant, it means you’ve probably been trying to get pregnant without success or you’re one of the many couples beyond your early twenties who are now thinking of starting a family but you’re aware that fertility declines with age and you’re exploring your options. Both men and women can have problems with fertility for a number of reasons.
Women may have problems such as endometriosis, poor ovarian reserve, ovulation disorders or hormone deficiencies. Men may have problems with low sperm count, low sperm motility (movement) STDs, and low hormone levels.
IVF and Drugs Should be Your Last Resort
IVF and drugs can be effective in treating infertility problems; however these treatments are very expensive and may have harmful side effects which could also require their own treatments. One of the main objections to In Vitro Fertilization is that egg and sperm selection is done artificially by a lab technician as opposed to natural selection which favors the best egg and the strongest sperm. It is also important to note that In Vitro Fertilization success rates are especially low for women over 35 and so these treatments are best left as a last resort.
How to Get Pregnant Naturally
Many couples are now looking for natural methods to enhance their ability to get pregnant. Natural methods work with your body and so avoid the unpleasant and potentially dangerous side effects caused by drugs and unnaturally strong hormone manipulation.
Among the methods that thousands of couples have found effective are acupuncture, diet and lifestyle choices and holistic approaches that treat the body, mind, and spirit in an integrated way.
If you’re not familiar with these methods, they may sound “far-out” or unorthodox but nothing could be further from the truth. These methods have proven themselves over the centuries to be safe and effective.
Acupuncture of the ear, for example, has proven itself to be effective in cases where the ovaries are not functioning as they should. It is the brain, after all, that controls hormone production and timing and so by stimulating these pathways, ovarian function can be improved. Women who participated in a recent controlled study of ear acupuncture showed a significantly improved rate of pregnancy compared to the control group who did not receive acupuncture.
Diet & Lifestyle Choices
It is well known that diet and lifestyle choices can have a significant effect on fertility. Both men and women should pay attention to food choices such as the elimination of trans-fats, caffeine, and the addition of whole grains and unsaturated fats like olive oil.
Lifestyle choices such as regular exercise, not smoking and maintaining a healthy weight along with stress reduction and plenty of sleep will also help improve fertility.
If you’d like to learn more about how to get pregnant, I highly recommend you get the book called The Pregnancy Miracle by Lisa Olson. Lisa is a nutritionist, researcher and author who has dedicated her life to helping women reverse their fertility problems and get pregnant quickly using proven and safe natural methods without the use of surgical procedures or prescription medicines. If you would like to know everything about how to get pregnant, you should visit her website:
Wishing you a happy and healthy baby,
Sarah Shepard
How to Get Pregnant in Just TWO Months
March 24, 2010 by Sarah Shepard
Filed under How To Get Pregnant
Discover How to Get Pregnant in Just TWO Months
Do you want to know how to get pregnant? If you have been trying desperately to conceive, I have some very cheering news for you.
In my late-30's and after several years of really trying for a much-wanted baby, I was diagnosed infertile. I refused to give up on my dream of having a family of my own. Despite my specialist's so-called infertility diagnosis, I gave birth to two wonderful, darling babies just four months after I started a clinically researched fertility system called Pregnancy Miracle. So not only did I prove my specialist wrong, I immediately went and bought her the system too so she could help other couples desperate to get pregnant.
I discovered how to overcome my own infertility. I gave birth to two healthy babies. Why continue to struggle to get pregnant, when the Pregnancy Miracle has already taught thousands of women to regain their fertility and get pregnant naturally and quickly?
Former infertility sufferer, Lisa Olson, spent 14 years developing Pregnancy Miracle, a 100% guaranteed, clinically researched system which teaches you how to get pregnant quickly (within two months is possible) and naturally, allowing you to give birth to healthy babies. Her holistic and ancient Chinese system for getting pregnant can reverse both male and female infertility issues!
Briget's Pregnancy Miracle
So forget the heartache of having to watch friends get pregnant with ease. Forget the frustration at not conceiving despite really trying. Leave all that anger and hurt behind. Do you want to discover how to reverse infertility and get pregnant fast......
........ without drugs,
........ without unpleasant surgery,
........ without conventional fertility treatments,
........ and free of side-effects,
........ and conceive babies in the natural way?
Lisa Olson* personally guarantees Pregnancy Miracle and she has results from all over the world which prove it works. I tried it and it worked for me. Not once, but twice. Read Lisa's book and follow her program and you could be pregnant two months from now.
Click here to read the testimonies of women who have beaten infertility and how get to hold and cuddle their own babies.
* Lisa Olson (formerly infertile, gave birth to two healthy children at 43 years of age) is a Chinese Medicine Researcher, a Specialist in Nutrition and Alternative Medicine, and a Health Consultant. Her Pregnancy Miracle is a holistic and ancient Chinese system to help women (and men!) overcome infertility and discover how to get pregnant fast.
Step 1 in My ‘How to Get Pregnant’ Strategy
March 22, 2010 by Sarah Shepard
Filed under How To Get Pregnant
35 weeks pregnant
I know the pain of not being able to get pregnant. Getting pregnant was difficult for me, but I eventually discovered how to get pregnant in a natural, holistic way.
For me those days of infertility and heartache are over and I gave birth to two wonderful children: a little girl and a baby boy. I am just so happy and grateful that our infertility saga ended in two bundles of joy (one weighed in at just under 7 lbs and, 17 months later, the second one weighed a little over 8 lbs). Nowadays my goal is to help childless couples to get pregnant by sharing the simple, effective natural techniques I used.
Step One in My 'How to Get Pregnant' Strategy:
1) Raise the Odds in Favour of Pregnancy through Accurate Information
Let's get down to basics. First of all, I needed the best possible information on how to make myself and my husband more fertile. Secondly I wanted to ensure my body was an ideal environment for both conception and as a site for a successful pregnancy. I needed expert, how-to-get-pregnant, insider information.
There are several excellent books on human fertility and pre-conceptual care. I particularly liked 'Pregnancy Miracle' (by Lisa Olson, who also struggled with years of infertility before conceiving her two precious babies), and because it comes with my personal recommendation I've included it on my site. I know I was impatient to get started on my journey to successful pregnancy, and you will probably want to start immediately on your quest for fertility-enhancing tactics. Fortunately Lisa's 'Pregnancy Miracle' is available as a downloadable e-book, so there is no need to wait days for postal delivery. But the choice is entirely yours.
The first step in getting pregnant is knowledge. You will need to understand exactly when you are fertile, determine when you ovulate, raise your partner's sperm potency, know the right timing for intercourse and so on. If you are in any way fuzzy on these basic baby-making tactics you lower your chances in getting pregnant. Conversely, in-depth understanding of human reproduction greatly raises your odds in favour of pregnancy.
Teamwork: It takes two to Get Pregnant!
There is a second real benefit to having a how to get pregnant book. Getting pregnant is a team event. It takes two to make a baby. I made sure I included my husband, Karl, in all my plans to increase our fertility and optimise my body as a site for successful pregnancy. Getting him on side was a great way of ensuring both of us cooperated fully in our get pregnant fast plan.
Karl was equally upset when our longed-for pregnancy didn't happen. He had doubts of his own as to his role in our inability to conceive. He wanted to show me his love and support. Reading together about how to increase our chances at conceiving was not just informative, it united us in our quest for pregnancy. We worked as a team.
Standard literature on getting pregnant was often painful for us to read. It assumed we were a fully fertile couple and so insufficient attention was paid to couples like us who felt getting pregnant was a major hurdle.
The advantage in using a book written especially for subfertile couples is it focuses specifically on ways to overcome infertility. If, like us, you are prepared to do whatever it takes to achieve your own pregnancy miracle, you will probably work at enhancing your fertility through optimising your nutrition and ensuring your environment isn't compromising your fertility. Again, a sensitive, informative how-to-get-pregnant book will provide strategies for increasing your chances at pregnancy. If you both understand what you are doing and why, it is far easier to stay on track with lifestyle, nutritional and environmental changes.
Now I have shared my first step in getting pregnant faster with you. Karl and I benefitted from fertility-enhancing techniques and so will you. You can start your optimised pregnancy plan today if you opt to buy Lisa Olson's 'Pregnancy Miracle'. I used her book and now I have two beautiful babies.
Step Two of My 'How to Get Pregnant' Strategy looks at optimal nutrition for fertility and conception, including those nutritional supplements which are essential for getting pregnant.
How To Get Pregnant: Ways to Boost Sperm Quality
March 9, 2010 by Sarah Shepard
Filed under How To Get Pregnant
Are you wondering how to get pregnant fast? If you are experiencing delays in conceiving your longed-for baby, be aware that our male partners are responsible for approximately 50% of infertility factors. It takes two to make a baby, so if you are seriously considering how to get pregnant, it makes excellent sense to ensure your man's sperm is as potent as possible.
Plan ahead! Great sperm takes time!
It takes 70 days (or ten weeks, or almost two and a half months!) to produce mature, virile, tail-lashing sperm in prime condition for fertilisation. So any positive changes your man makes in lifestyle, diet and environment will take about three months to produce results. Furthermore your efforts to produce best-quality sperm need to be consistent and ongoing.
Here are some pointers to ensure his sperm are of premium quality when it counts most - two to three days prior to ovulation or about 14 days before your next period is due.
Start with great nutrition. Adequate protein at each meal, lots and lots of fresh fruit and vegetables, backed up by a daily multivitamin tablet should put the odds in favour of healthy sperm. He'll need trace elements like selenium, zinc and folic acid. Sperm is a quality product and you can't expect him to produce the best if what he is eating is sub-standard processed food. Be sure to wash all fruit and veg extra well to remove fungicides and pesticides. Cut down on extra fats and eliminate all junk food if you can. This may be a time to consider an organic lifestyle for both of you.
Analyse your partner's work and home environment for toxins. Research has shown that both workplace and household chemicals may reduce sperm quality and motility. Does he come in contact with solvents, pesiticides or other chemicals? Solvents are everywhere: keep him away from fast drying glues, paints, petroleum products, lighter fluid, aerosol sprays, surgical spirit and many cleaning substances. Investigate your garden shed, garage and kitchen and rid yourself of noxious chemicals. Toxins and sperm don't mix. Remember, when you want to get pregnant, alcohol, cigarettes and drugs are toxins too!
A healthy, lean and fit body is a factory for fitter sperm. Regular exercise is important but don't let him wear himself out: exhaustion is detrimental to sperm production. Stress too should be avoided as stress hormones are known to damage sperm: fortunately daily exercise is a great way to reduce stress levels. Get the man in your life to wear loose, cotton underwear to keep those testicles cool! No long sessions in hot tubs or showers as excess heat compromises sperm health!
There you have it. You can aim for better quality sperm. That means adjusting his (and your) diet, lifestyle and environment to promote sperm that is of higher quality and quantity and is more mobile than before. How to get pregnant ? For many couples it's just a matter of tipping the odds a fraction more in favour of numerous, healthy and virile sperm.
For more detailed information on how to get pregnant, I personally recommend " Pregnancy Miracle".
Relax to Get Pregnant (Health Tip)
September 17, 2009 by Sarah Shepard
Filed under How To Get Pregnant
The is great advice for anyone trying to get pregnant.
Posted via web from Sarah's posterous
Strange News: Can statues help you get pregnant?
September 1, 2009 by Sarah Shepard
Filed under How To Get Pregnant
I was fortunate to be able to easily conceive each time I wanted a baby. I did have a miscarriage in between pregnancies, which was, needless to say, very difficult. Going through this common but painful experience gave me a taste of what it must feel like to want a child but be unable to conceive or successfully carry a baby to term. I know people with fertility issues and see the struggles they go through, and often, the huge sums of money they spend on fertility treatments in attempts to get pregnant.
A piece of odd news I came across today made me think of such people. If I had fertility problems and wanted desperately to have a baby, I might just travel to the Ripley’s Believe it or Not museum in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
Last Thursday, a collection of fertility statues went on display there. The statues are voluptuous, five-foot tall wooden female figures. They were acquired by a US company on the Ivory Coast of West Africa in 1993. The company says they were first placed in its corporate headquarters in Orlando, Florida, and that within months, 13 women who touched them became pregnant.
The display of statues has been all over the world and according to their owner, more than 2,000 women have become pregnant since touching them. The statues will be in Myrtle Beach until March 1st. Couples wanting to get pregnant can touch them for free during business hours.
If this piques your interest, you might also want to look into bringing some fertility frogs into your home, burning a fertility candle while trying to conceive, or wearing a fertility crystal necklace. I read about these superstitions while doing a search online, after being intrigued with the news of the fertility statues.
I hope to hear plenty of pregnancy reports related to the Ripley’s Believe it or Not exhibit!
How to Get Pregnant - great article!
Posted via web from Sarah's posterous
Making Babies: The Fertility Shot (Pregnancy Health Guru)
August 27, 2009 by Sarah Shepard
Filed under How To Get Pregnant
How to Get Pregnant - Fertility medicines video.
Posted via web from Sarah's posterous
Fast-Track Your Conception
August 25, 2009 by Sarah Shepard
Filed under How To Get Pregnant
Fast-Track Your Conception
WebMD Feature
If you are anything like me (and most of my 30-something girlfriends), once you've decided that you are ready to get pregnant and have a baby, you want it yesterday. But most of us learn that conception is easier said than done.
It doesn't have to be that way. If you are otherwise healthy, many new cool tools (as well as knowing some conception basics) can help you maximize your chances of conception right now. Such tools include wrist watches that detect whether there will be a welcome mat for sperm in the female genital tract and digital aids that predict your peak and not-so-peak fertility days.
First: Conception 101
"The first thing couples need to do is to keep track of the intervals between day one of bleeding and day one of their next cycle," explains fertility expert Mark P. Leondires, MD, medical director of Reproductive Medical Associates of Connecticut in Norwalk.
The solution involves some simple math, he says. If a woman is aware of her cycle interval and has a regular 28-day cycle, "you take that number [28] and subtract 14, and that should give you the approximate day of ovulation. That is the day to work around," he tells WebMD.
Specifically, he adds, to get pregnant: "Take that day that you presume you are ovulating and have intercourse every other day around it, such as on days 12, 14, and 16 if you ovulate on day 14 of your cycle," he says. "Sperm can last two to three days and this way, there should be sperm there waiting to greet the egg."
You'll even find web sites that do the math for you, including WebMD and BabyCenter.com. Enter your first day of your last menstrual period as well as the average length of your cycle and hit "calculate."
These days, busy couples who want to be pregnant may only be having sex on the weekend and missing their fertile window, which is as small as three to five days, Leondires says.
"We have pretty good evidence to suggest that having intercourse close to ovulation will maximize the chance of conception," agrees fertility expert Randy S. Morris, MD, medical director of IVF 1 in Chicago and Naperville, Ill.
"Plotting ovulation has never been demonstrated to increase the chances for most individuals," he says. "Most people do well enough on their own, but for busy women who travel or whose spouses travel or who are not comfortable having intercourse repeatedly over time, ovulation predictor kits may help further reduce the time frame."
That said, there are a number of methods to help you plot ovulation and increase your chances of conception quickly, Morris says. They include:
Basal body temperature: "Basal body temperature charting is helpful for women who are not sure if they are ovulating," Morris says. Charting gives the women the best chance to conceive by optimizing sperm being present when the egg is released. It does have some limitations though. For example, "It's an inexpensive way to see if you are ovulating, but it does not predict when ovulation occurs," he explains. "It can only tell you after the fact that ovulation has occurred -- not before."
Good basic info on how to get pregnant from Web MD.
Posted via web from Sarah's posterous
How to Get Pregnant – Basic Steps for Everyone
August 24, 2009 by Sarah Shepard
Filed under How To Get Pregnant
Steps
Discontinue any form of birth control. Some birth control methods have a longer "readjustment" period after stopping than others, so the time it takes for a woman's body to be again ready to become pregnant varies. For example, women using Depo-Provera, an injectable contraceptive, usually do not get pregnant until 9-10 months after their last injection.[2] On the other hand, ceasing to use barrier methods has an immediate effect.
- Make healthy lifestyle choices. Maintain a healthy weight, exercise regularly, eat healthy foods, and keep stress under control. Illness and stress can both affect the timing of ovulation, making it difficult to predict.[3] The free radicals and harmful toxins which your body builds up, also have a negative effect on getting pregnant.[4]
- Both partners should eat a well-balanced diet, including foods high in anti-oxidants (e.g. fruits and vegetables) and vitamins, and consider eating less seafood, as it is associated with increasing blood levels of mercury, which has been linked to fertility problems.[5] Consumption of pesticides may also be linked to pregnancy difficulties[6] so now may be a good time for couples to choose organic foods. For women, taking folic acid (vitamin B9) supplements before trying to conceive to reduce the risk of spina bifida and other neural tube defects.[7]
- Visit a doctor for pre-conception planning to identify any necessary lifestyle changes, as well as to check if any of the medications either partner is taking can decrease chances of pregnancy or damage a developing fetus. There may also be vaccines needed to prevent illness or defects in an unborn child.
- Stop smoking. Tobacco affects cervical mucous in ways that may obstruct fertilization.[8] Smoking also reduces sperm count and sperm health.[9] Exposure to second-hand smoke can be just as counterproductive.[10]
- Sleep better. Sleep deprivation results in lower levels of the hormone leptin, without which ovulation may be affected.[11]
- Quit caffeine (or at least cut back). A recent study has shown that consuming more than 200 mg of caffeine (approximately two cups of coffee, but it can come from other sources like tea and soda as well) on a daily basis during the first trimester of pregnancy may increase the likelihood of miscarriage.[12] Since you don't know instantly when you're pregnant, you may want to consider quitting caffeine or reducing your intake to, say, a single cup of coffee per day.
- Record the first day and the length of menstruation every month.
- If menstruation consistently starts every 28 days, you can reasonably assume that ovulation occurs 14 days after the first day of menstruation.[13]
- If menstrual cycles are more than 28 days long but are consistent, subtract 18 from the average number of days in your cycles. For example, if menstruation begins reliably every 35 days, the difference is 17. On that day in the cycle is when ovulation can be expected to take place.[14]
- If cycles are short, irregular or unpredictable, this method won't work.[15] Move on to the next steps.
- Record your basal body temperature (BBT) daily. BBT is your body's temperature when you're fully at rest and can be measured with a thermometer specifically labeled for basal temperature.
- Make a graph on graph paper or on the computer, with dates on the bottom and basal temperature on the side. You can find and print fertility charts online, as well as sign up for a fertility charting service.
- Look for a gradual or sudden rise in temperature (between 0.5 and 1.6 degrees F).[16] Fertility is highest during the two to three days before your basal temperature rises[17] so if you can observe any month-to-month patterns in when your temperature rises, you can predict the best time to conceive.
- Observe changes in cervical mucus daily. At the beginning of a menstrual cycle, it's sparse, tacky, and dense; when ovulation is near, it starts becoming more slippery and plentiful, resembling raw egg white.[18] It gets like this in order to help the sperm reach the egg.[19] To check your cervical mucous, wash your hands, rub some toilet paper or your fingers over the opening of the vagina, examine the color and consistency of the mucous, and write it down.[20]
- Checking cervical mucous can reinforce observations about ovulation gathered in other steps. 22 out of 100 women practicing only this method for one year will get pregnant. It'll be less effective for women who naturally do produce very little mucous, or who use feminine hygiene products and douches.[21] Checking right after showering, bathing, swimming, or intercourse can also make this method less accurate.[22]
- If you're comfortable with it, you can also observe the position of your cervix to determine whether you are ovulating. Wash your hands, insert two fingers, and feel the end of the cervix. If it's hard and dry, like the tip of a nose, you haven't ovulated yet. During ovulation, the cervix will shift higher and feel softer and wetter.[23]
- Test your urine with an ovulation monitoring kit. These can be purchased over the counter and work by detecting the surge in hormones that takes place right before ovulation. Follow the instructions that come with the kit carefully. This method can be expensive, and is best used after the previous steps have been followed (see Warnings below) but have the benefit of giving you advance notice.
Try to conceive based on predicted ovulation. Have intercourse at least once a day in the days leading up to and during ovulation.[24] Have intercourse at least 2-3 times per week when ovulation is not predicted, just in case.[25] Don't refrain from intercourse because of concerns over sperm counts being depleted. While sperm count may be lowered by increased frequency of intercourse, there is still statistically a better chance of pregnancy if the couple tries to conceive more often.[26]
• Get in position. While it hasn't been scientifically proven, it's generally thought that positions which place the sperm close to the cervix are more conducive to pregnancy, specifically the "missionary position" with a pillow under the woman's hips. Remaining in bed for at least a half hour after intercourse may also increase the chances of sperm reaching the egg.[27]
• Enjoy your time together. Trying too hard to get pregnant, especially by strictly following a schedule, can cause stress and reduce physical and emotional intimacy between you and your partner. Many couples recommend being creative with intercourse and keeping it lighthearted and fun.[28]
Take a pregnancy test if you miss a period. Wait at least 28 days from the day you were supposed to get your period before using a home pregnancy test, or else you may get a false negative result.[29] A blood test administered by a doctor, however, can be taken as soon as a period is missed without any sacrifices in accuracy. Consult a doctor if both partners are in their early 30s or younger and in good health have not conceived after a year[30] plus the expected recovery time from a birth control method. Those who are older, experience menstruation cycles that are longer than 35 days, or have reason to suspect fertility issues may wish to visit a doctor sooner.
- Use assisted reproductive technology (ART), if not successful any other way. Sometimes, nature needs a helping hand. Fortunately, there are many alternatives how to increase pregnancy-chances with ART. Many ART procedures involve surgically removing eggs from a woman’s ovaries, combining them with sperm in the laboratory, and returning them to the woman’s body or donating them to another woman.
These are the basics that anyone can incorporate on the way to learning more. Definitely start with these steps.
Posted via web from Sarah's posterous
How to Get Pregnant: Our 5 Best Tips
August 21, 2009 by Sarah Shepard
Filed under How To Get Pregnant
For some women, conceiving can be as easy as tossing out their contraception, whether they're working on their first baby or their fourth. For others, reaching the goal of fertilization becomes a nightly chore, a mad mating dance that revolves around ovulation kits, specific sexual positions, and, more and more commonly, a succession of fertility tests to help pinpoint possible problems.Whether you've just started trying to become pregnant or have been at it for a while, heeding some common sense advice that's based on good science can help boost your odds of conceiving. Here, noted fertility experts from around the country have outlined the do's, don'ts, and don't-bother-withs of getting pregnant.
Have sex frequently. It may seem like a no-brainer, but given many couples' hectic schedules, it's easy to overlook this one. If you're not timing your cycles or you have irregular periods, you can cover your bases by having sex every other day, say fertility specialists.
Figure out when you ovulate. Women with very regular 28-day cycles can just count 14 days from the first day of their period to determine their ovulation date. If your cycles aren't regular (or even if they are), an ovulation kit can help you pinpoint your most fertile time.
Most ovulation kits measure the level of luteinizing hormone (LH) -- one of the hormones that signals the ovaries to release an egg -- present in your urine. LH begins to surge around 36 hours before you ovulate, but most kits don't detect it until 24 hours prior. A woman with a 28-day cycle should start testing her urine on day nine or ten after the start of her period so she doesn't miss her surge.
A new palm-size, electronic device called ClearPlan Easy measures LH and estrogen levels, and can signal ovulation up to five days in advance.
Monitoring cervical mucus is another way to track ovulation. "It's not as reliable as a kit," says Sandra Carson, M.D., professor of ob-gyn at Baylor College of Medicine, in Houston, "but it doesn't cost anything." This method involves checking your secretions for a few months until you notice a pattern. Estrogen causes mucus to thin after your period, while rising levels of progesterone right after ovulation make it thicken. Once you pinpoint when you ovulate, you can plan to have sex several times leading up to that day.
The drawbacks: Many women find this method inconvenient, or inaccurate since such factors as nursing and antihistamines, even fertility drugs, can dry up mucus.
Charting your basal body temperature is useful for figuring out when you ovulate. "Your temperature usually dips by half a degree 24 hours before you ovulate; then it goes up as you ovulate," says Pette Zarmakoupis, M.D., an ob-gyn and director of the Kentucky Center for Reproductive Medicine, in Lexington. But since basal body temperature can be thrown off by a number of things, such as illness, don't rely on it alone.
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