LIFESTYLE TIPS to sustain pregnancy It’s important to prepare your body and adjust your lifestyle to maximize your chances of conceiving. Here are some tips that can really improve your fertility. Water Drinking plenty of water (about 8-10 cups a day) is very important when trying to conceive. This helps the kidneys flush waste products out of the body and increases fertile cervical fluid. Avoid alcohol It’s a good idea to avoid or strictly limit alcohol consumption as it reduces fertility. The Department of Health advises avoiding alcohol entirely if trying to conceive or during pregnancy. Caffeine Caffeine is believed to restrict a developing baby’s growth by constricting blood vessels and reducing blood flow to the uterus. Currently, the recommendation is to limit caffeine intake to under 300 mg per day, which is equivalent to 4 cups of instant coffee, 3 cups of fresh coffee, or 6 cups of tea. Smoking According to a report published by the British Medical Association (BMA), women have a 40% reduced chance of conceiving when they smoke. Smoking decreases sperm count and increases sperm abnormalities in men. Ask your GP or office nurse for help with quitting. Exercise Women who exercise regularly are less likely to experience the nasty side effects of pregnancy (back pain, hemorrhoids, swollen ankles, etc.), gain excess weight, and are more likely to feel comfortable in their changing bodies. A fit, healthy body also copes better with childbirth. Find a balance, however, because excessive exercise can lead to fertility issues like irregular periods and an ovulatory cycles (cycles without ovulation). Stress less There are so many people who worry excessively about getting pregnant and once they release that stress, their body responds to the new peace by creating a new life. So try not to worry and enjoy the fun of getting pregnant. Addition Taking a dietary supplement specifically designed for the pre-conception period will provide you with 400mcg of folic acid and other nutrients like L-arginine, vitamin D and vitamin B12 to help meet the nutritional needs of women trying to conceive. To get pregnant. Sex Have sex often, at least three times a week, the more you try the better your chances of getting pregnant. Laying down Lying down for at least a few minutes after sex increases the chances of the sperm making their appointment with the waiting egg. STDs Make sure you have been properly screened for STDs. Pelvic inflammatory disease is common in women, with the most common cause being an untreated sexually transmitted disease

Conception is the time when sperm travel through the vagina to the uterus and fertilize an egg found in the fallopian tube. Where does conception take place? Sperm normally fertilize the egg in the fallopian tube. This is a pathway from the ovary to the uterus of a woman. According to the University of California San Francisco, it takes an egg about 30 hours to travel from the ovary to the fallopian tube. As the egg travels down the fallopian tube, it stays in a specific section called the ampullar-isthmic junction. This is where sperm normally fertilize the egg. Normally, when the egg is fertilized, it quickly travels to the uterus and implants. Doctors call the fertilized egg cell an embryo. When and how does conception occur? Conception can occur just before or after ovulation. This is the point in the menstrual cycle when the ovaries release an egg. In a regular cycle, ovulation usually occurs about 10–16 days before a person’s next period. However, many have irregular cycles that change in length each month, so the exact day of ovulation often varies. Fertilization can then occur in several ways: Sexual intercourse: Sperm can enter the vagina during sex. From here it can swim up to the uterus and find its way to the egg. This can take several days, with healthy sperm surviving in the body for up to 5 days. Intrauterine insemination (IUI): This is when a doctor inserts sperm into the uterus through a thin tube. A doctor can do this for people trying to conceive through sperm donation or for those who choose surrogacy. Surrogacy occurs when someone other than the birth parents carries the pregnancy to term. IVF: This is where a doctor takes sperm and eggs from two people and combines them in a laboratory setting. IVF cannot guarantee fertilization, but creates the best possible circumstances for it.

Planning for a baby is one of the most important times in a couple’s life, but for many it can be confusing and complicated. Here we dispel some of the common fertility myths with justified facts  below. Myth: Having sex every day increases our chances of fertilization  Couples trying to conceive are advised to have regular intercourse to increase their chances of conceiving, but having intercourse every day is likely to exhaust you, especially since it takes many couples 6-12 months to conceive. However, because sperm can survive up to 5 days after release and ovulation prediction is an inaccurate science, most general practitioners advise having intercourse every 2-3 days to maximize the chances of sperm fertilizing an egg after ovulation be able. Myth: You can’t get pregnant while you’re on your periods While women cannot get pregnant during menstruation because the hormones that lead to menstruation are the opposite of those required for pregnancy, they can get pregnant through sex during menstruation because of early ovulation and sperm production can survive up to 5 days after release. Research in the US1 has shown that women can be fertile as early as day four of their cycle (day one is considered the first day of bleeding), so pregnancy can occur at any point in a cycle. Myth: You can only get pregnant on the day you ovulate Not true. The human egg is fertile for about a day after it is released from the ovaries. However, since sperm can survive up to 5 days after intercourse and women can produce more than 1 egg in 24 hours, technically a woman can get pregnant up to 5 days before or even up to 2 days after ovulation, i.e. for one week of each menstrual cycle. Myth: A normal menstrual cycle lasts 28 days That’s not true, that’s a myth perpetuated by the pill making all menstrual cycles regular and 28 days long. In fact, menstrual cycles can vary between 24 and 36 days, and not only vary between women, they vary significantly month-to-month for each individual woman. Myth: Lying down with your legs up after sex increases your chances of getting pregnant Although there is no scientific evidence to support this approach, some people claim it helps and since it is completely harmless it must be worth trying. Myth: Eating oysters increases my fertility There is a grain of truth in this, as oysters are a rich source of zinc, low levels of which can affect fertility. Take stock of your diet and make sure you’re eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, whole grains rich in antioxidants, and fatty fish (e.g. salmon, herring, sardines, etc.) twice a week. Cut down on caffeine and Alcohol, both of which can hinder conception if taken in excess. Don’t forget to stay active and if you’re a smoker, quit. Myth: You can get everything you need through diet and don’t need to take supplements This is definitely not true, and in fact, all women are advised to take a daily supplement of 400mcg of folic acid during attempts to conceive and for the first 3 months of pregnancy. Taking a folic acid supplement is important for the development of the baby’s neural tube. Since most of us fail to always have the perfect diet, taking a dietary supplement designed specifically for conception or pregnancy can help ensure adequate levels of all the vitamins and minerals essential for conception.

How common is premature birth? About 1 out of every 10 births in the U.S. is premature. The number increases in lower-income countries. Complications from premature births are the leading cause of death in children younger than 5. Why Are Babies Born Premature? In about half of all cases, the cause of a premature birth is unknown. However, some of the reasons why babies are born prematurely are: Problems with the cervix when it is too weak to support the weight of the baby and the uterus so it begins to open prematurely (called cervical incompetence) Multiple pregnancy (twins or more) The mother gets an infection The mother has a medical condition that requires the baby to be delivered prematurely, such as B. Preeclampsia Problems with the placenta such as placental insufficiency, placenta Previa, placenta accrete or abrupt placenta Premature  rupture of membranes when the amniotic sac spontaneously ruptures The mother has a health condition such as diabetes A History of Premature Birth Contact your doctor if you are less than 37 weeks pregnant and notice any of the signs of preterm labor such as or right away in the next delivery suite. It may be possible to slow or stop labor. But with each day the baby stays in your womb, the better its chances of survival. What are the signs of preterm labor? In most cases, labor will come on by itself, and the signs are usually the same as for full-term labor. Signs of preterm labour include: Pressure in pelvis, as if baby is pushing down Cramps in the lower part of the abdomen Constipation, nausea or vomiting Constant lower back pain A change in your vaginal discharge or more discharge than normal Your vagina leaks mucus, blood, or fluid Water breaks Regular contractions or contractions that occur more than 4 times an hour The baby’s movements slow down or stop Do multiple levels of prematurity exist? Four categories of preterm births exist: Between 34 and 36 weeks gestation; late preterm. Born between 32 and 34 weeks gestation, moderately premature. Born before 32 weeks; extremely premature. Extreme prematurity, or birth before 25 weeks. Are some women more likely to give birth early? Premature birth may be more likely in you if you: Are of African descent. Either have a minimum age of 20 or a maximum age of 40. Possess a personal or family history of premature births. Smoking throughout pregnancy. Were underweight prior to conception. Cervical cerclage can be an option for you if you have a high risk of preterm labour or delivery. Your cervix will be stitched shut during this surgical operation until your baby is born.