In addition to your joy, pregnancy comes with a variety of emotions such as excitement, worry, anxiety, and more. The responsibility of bringing your life into this world can be nerve-wracking and millions of questions swirling in your mind. Once you’re pregnant, it’s perfectly normal to have questions like this, is it normal for my pregnancy to progress week by week? What should I eat? What is the best diet for pregnant women? How much should you eat? What are the foods to avoid during pregnancy? These questions are enough to surprise you. What if your GP is not available?  Some doctors, especially those in high demand or only part-time, can book a week in advance. If your GP can’t be found right away and you don’t want to wait, consider making an appointment with another local doctor. He or she will be able to confirm your positive pregnancy test and help answer any initial questions or concerns you may have. Topics to discuss  make the most of every visit with a doctor or midwife. Discuss with your doctor or midwife: Your personal and family health history, including any chronic (long-term) health problems you’ve had or surgery How to take care of yourself when you need medical attention – such as high blood pressure, dizziness, swelling , pain, bleeding or contractions when and where to perform emergency care during pregnancy. Any prescription and over-the-counter medicines you take, as well as vitamins, supplements, and herbs for healthy weight gain during pregnancy  These visits are also a good time to discuss: how your thoughts on pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding How to Get help buying food when you need it – including how to get help from a program called WIC (Women, Infants and Children) To understand the big picture of your pregnancy care, discuss with your doctor the basic number of prenatal appointments you can expect. They will want to schedule appointments regularly, and the frequency will increase as your pregnancy progresses further. The actual number will depend on your individual needs, but in general, you can expect to see your doctor closer to your due date.

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.