Posted: 18 Dec 2009 10:19 AM PST

Have you been having a hard time conceiving? Couples who have been trying to get pregnant for 6 months but are not succeeding are advised to go see a doctor. This is because so many factors affect fertility. Aside from the diseases that predispose you to becoming infertile, other factors still contribute to your chances of getting pregnant. Two of these factors are: body weight and stress. To increase your fertility, you must be able to manage these factors.

Body weight

It has been established that people who are underweight or overweight find it hard to conceive fast. Why? Because a woman who is underweight has very low estrogen levels; and a woman who is overweight has increased estrogen production. Thirty percent of estrogen comes from fat cells. This is why the amount of fat in a woman's body can affect estrogen levels. Estrogen is an important reproductive hormone. For the woman's body to be at the best condition to conceive, she must have normal estrogen levels. If you want to increase your fertility, you must achieve your ideal body weight.

Stress

Stress has also been established to affect fertility. If you have a stressful life, it will be difficult for you to find the time to become passionate. Also, stress has been shown to affect hormone levels. And if your hormone levels are not in sync, it will be difficult for you to conceive. You must get rid of stress or learn how to properly manage it in order to increase your fertility.

Exercise

The best way to achieve your ideal body weight and to manage stress is through exercise. Yes, exercise has been used by many women around the world to increase their fertility.

To achieve your ideal body weight, you must exercise regularly and observe your proper diet. Exercise is a great way to lose those extra pounds if you are overweight. And if you also want to gain weight, certain exercise regimens can help you do that.

Exercise is also a great way to combat stress. When you exercise, your body releases endorphins which make you feel relaxed and calm. Exercise improves overall mental and physical health. With exercise, you can definitely increase your fertility.

Certain forms of exercises are recommended if you want to increase your fertility. These are Pilates, yoga, walking, cycling, and swimming. Remember that when you exercise, moderation is the key. Do not over-exercise as this can cause strain on your muscles and joints. Stay at a low impact exercise regimen because this will be less stressful to your joints and muscles. It is recommended that to increase your fertility, you must exercise for 30 minutes around 3 to 4 times each week.

Start exercising now to increase your fertility.

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Start of Nausea in Pregnancy

Posted: 18 Dec 2009 09:53 AM PST

Morning sickness (Nausea) comes unexpectedly during pregnancy. Almost 75-85% of pregnant women experience nausea in first trimester of pregnancy. The severity and the duration varies with every pregnant woman.

Some women have a feeling of anxiety in the morning while some may vomit in the morning.

When does it start?

Nausea usually starts in the first month of pregnancy and continues until the 14th to 16th week. Fifty percent of sufferers experience it until the 16th week of pregnancy.

Some Causes

Nausea has been related to an increase and change in hormone (estrogen) levels in a womans body. Though the estrogen level is supposed to be the main cause, medical experts believe that there are other factors that trigger nausea in pregnant women. Some of the factors that are considered responsible for nausea are:

• Low Blood Sugar

• Other Hormones such as progesterone. Progesterone hormone prevents early childbirth by relaxing the muscles in the uterus. But these hormones may also relax the stomach and intestines which leads to excessive stomach acid.

• Increase in human chorionic gonadotropin hormone.

• Increase in sensitivity to odors.

• Increase in HCG, a pregnancy hormone.

Medical experts also believe that nausea is an evolutionary measure to protect the embryo during pregnancy. Pregnant woman generally experience mild nausea in the preliminary stages of pregnancy. As the days pass, the feeling of nausea becomes stronger. Though, nausea is referred as morning sickness, the feeling of sickness is not only limited to morning. Sometimes women complain about the sickness feeling throughout the day as the pregnancy progresses. Anecdotal reports by doctors indicate that pregnant women carrying twins or triplets experience more morning sickness than women carrying a single child.

Some women are unable to bear the morning sickness feeling. Frequent vomiting makes the condition worse and many pregnant women don't feel like getting out of bed.

Following some easy tips helps to keep nausea under control. Some of the tips that pregnant women can follow are:

• Eat saltine crackers before getting out of the bed.

• Consume several small meals in a day instead of three large meals.

• Keep your body hydrated by drinking liquids before or after your meal.

• Do a small amount of exercises designed for pregnant women.

• Get plenty of sleep in the night and take adequate rest during the day.

• Eat sour tasting fruits like lime and lemon to settle the stomach.

• Go for a walk or do some exercises that are considered safe for pregnant women.

• Avoid strong smells and odors that trigger nausea.

• Avoid caffeine, spicy foods and fatty foods.

• Eat something before going to bed.

• Consume protein rich snacks.

• Avoid hunger pangs by eating small amounts of food regularly.

• Add fresh ginger while cooking the food, eat ginger cookies or drink ginger tea.

Many pregnant women also find relief by wearing acupressure anti-nausea wristbands. Lying on the right side while sleeping also helps to reduce nausea symptoms.

Though the tips given are time tested and effective in preventing and curbing nausea in pregnant women, there is no sure way to guarantee which tips will work for which pregnant women. It is always advisable to consult a doctor if the symptoms of nausea are severe. A doctor is the right person to study a pregnant womans conditions and suggest medications accordingly.

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The Best Times to Get Pregnant

Posted: 18 Dec 2009 09:34 AM PST

The best times to get pregnant are during the ovulation that goes along with the menstrual cycle. During this time, the egg or ovum is released and ready for fertilization. The ovum stays fertile for about twelve hours prior to degenerating. To determine the best time to get pregnant, learn your body and document the distinctive physical signs of ovulation.

As the menstrual cycle progresses, cervical mucus increases in volume and changes texture. High volume and texture changes reflect rising estrogen levels. The best time to get pregnant is when the mucus looks like raw white egg whites and becomes clear, slippery, and stretchy. The mucus nourishes, protects, and guides the sperm through the uterus, into the Fallopian tubes and towards the fertile egg. For women with reduced mucus, lubricants create a sperm friendly environment that nourishes and protects sperm

In order to calculate the ovulation period and time intercourse in accordance with the release of the ovum, track morning body temperature with a quality body thermometer and document the results. A rise in body temperature of 0.5 to 1.6 degrees is an indication that the ovum has dropped creating a best time to get pregnant period.

The temperature rise results from the production of progesterone, a hormone stimulated by ovulation. The best time to begin intercourse is three days before the temperature peaks. Charting morning body temperature and timing the release of the ovum allows for proper planning improving the chances pregnancy.

Lower abdominal pain can be an indication that ovulation has begun, but only one-fifth of women actually feel the ovum drop with indicators ranging from mild aches to twinges of pain in the lower abdomen. In some women, a condition of server pain that accompanies the release of the ovum called mittelschmerz lasts anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours provides women with a wonderful ovulation indicator.

Stress affects fertility and extreme stress may affect the ovulation period. Wanting a baby and getting pregnant difficulties is one of the more stressful things a family may ever experience. So, relax, exercise, eat a balanced diet, and avoid harmful substances such as tobacco, caffeine and alcohol.

Stay healthily and use temperature and other personal indicators to calculate a best time to get pregnant period by simply counting the days of menstrual cycle. This is an easy process, just evaluate when the next period should begin and count backwards fourteen days. Start having intercourse at least three days before the projected ovation date. For most women with a 28-day cycle, the 14th day is often the best day to get pregnant. To know your best times to get pregnant estimate the natural occurrence of you unique menstrual cycle and design a plan of conception for many months in advance, and hopefully soon, you will hear the sounds of motherhood.

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The Easy Way to Get Pregnant

Posted: 18 Dec 2009 09:05 AM PST

The easy way to get pregnant is to relax and enjoy the process. There are limited days that a woman is fertile, and under the best of conditions, there is only 25% chance of actually getting pregnant.

Timing

Timing is an important factor. Do women always ovulate on day 14 of their cycle? Only if they experience a perfect 28 day cycle and ovulate in the middle. Many women have cycles that varying in length and there are no guarantees ovulation occurs at the halfway point. By maintaining personal awareness and figuring out what time of the month you generally ovulate, your chances of becoming pregnant improve dramatically.

The best way to get pregnant is to make sure the sperm is in place before the egg is released. Use a basal body thermometer and chart your temperature first thing upon waking every morning. A shift in temperature upward signifies that ovulation has begun. Once you have established a pattern, you have the best chance of predicting when ovulation begins. The sperm can live for approximately 3-5 days, but the egg only survives for 12-24 hours. So, remember to get the sperm in place ahead of ovulation

Using ovulation test kits are a helpful indicator of when ovulation will begin. When used correctly, the test predicts ovulation within 36 hours. Once the test turns positive, start having intercourse immediately and continues for the next several days. Becoming aware of ovulation cycles while timing intercourse appropriately is an easy way to get pregnant

Stress

Stress affects fertility and infertility s extremely stressful. When a woman is wants a baby and cannot become pregnant, that is probably one of the more stressful things she will ever experience.

Research conducted by Alice Domar out of Harvard University indicates that women who participate in mind body groups have increased fertility rates. Fertility mind and body groups range in time and duration. They teach women to relax, use imagery, focus on life, and to forget about getting pregnant. The results are clear pregnancy rates are higher for the women who experience mind body exercises.

Medical Conditions

Ovulation and menstruation problems accounts for 30% to 40% of all cases of infertility. Having irregular periods, no periods, or abnormal bleeding indicates a condition known clinically as anovulation. Although anovulation can be treated with fertility drugs, rule out other conditions that could interfere with ovulation, such as thyroid conditions or abnormalities of the adrenal or pituitary glands before starting treatment.

A medical problem that affects about 5% to 10% of women is polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). This hormonal imbalance prevents the ovaries from working normally. Symptoms may include:

No periods, irregular periods, or irregular bleeding
No ovulation or irregular ovulation
Obesity or weight gain
Insulin resistance
High blood pressure
Abnormal cholesterol with high triglycerides
Excess hair growth on the body and face (hirsutism)
Acne or oily skin
Thinning hair or male-pattern baldness

Endometriosis is a condition in the body, causing pain, irregular bleeding, and possible infertility. Many times, there are no symptoms. In fact, some women with severe cases of endometriosis have no pain at all, while some women with mild endometriosis have severe pain.

Possible Symptoms

Painful periods
Pain in the lower abdomen or pelvic cramps that can by felt for a week or two before menstruation
Pain in the lower abdomen felt during menstruation (the pain and cramps may be steady and dull or quite severe)
Pain during or following sexual intercourse
Pain with bowel movements
Pelvic or low back pain that may occur at any time during the menstrual cycle
Premenstrual spotting
Problems getting pregnant (infertility)

Personal Habits

"Stop drinking alcohol, or at least decrease it as much as possible because it is associated with both infertility and miscarriage risk......Caffeine has also been associated with infertility and miscarriage, so now is the time to cut it out or decrease it as much as possible," says fertility expert Randy S. Morris, MD

Smoking has a devastating effect on pregnancy rates. Women who smoke regularly have the pregnancy potential of a woman 10 years older than their actual age. Fertility decreases with advancing age and nicotine and other chemicals in cigarettes interfere with estrogen levels, the hormone that regulates ovulation.

Herbal supplements such as Echinacea have not been evaluated sufficiently so they may inhibit sperm penetration and may have real adverse effects.

The easy way to get pregnant is to relax, monitor personal habitats, avoid stressful situations, and time your intercourse appropriately.

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The Relationship Between Pregnancy and Weight

Posted: 18 Dec 2009 08:51 AM PST

One of the first considerations for all pregnant mothers is to take care of themselves. This is because you and your body are both preparing for the arrival of your baby. One of the key factors to having a healthy baby is to take care of your weight even before you get pregnant. This means you need to follow a healthy lifestyle and develop good eating habits in advance so your body is prepared when the time comes to carry your child.

A diet that is lacking in nutrition both before and during pregnancy can pose a problem for the child as well as you. A lack of nutrients can cause your baby to be underdeveloped and can also lead to a premature birth. Other effects of malnutrition are birth defects in the baby's brain and spinal cord, fetal distress and even death. As your pregnancy progresses, your body undergoes a whole range of changes and you need all those extra vitamins and nutrients for energy and keeping healthy overall.

If you are underweight even before you conceive a baby, you run the risk of having an underweight baby. Babies need to be of a certain weight else there is a risk of birth defects as well as serious complications. Very small babies have a low survival rate. If you are below your ideal weight, first get your own body weight on track and then think of getting pregnant.

If your weight is healthy before pregnancy you still need to take care of it when you get pregnant. During pregnancy many women think it is fine to eat very large amounts of food just because they are 'eating for two'. You should overload your body with too much food as well as unhealthy food items. Eat food that is rich in nutrients and does not add to your weight significantly.

If you start off being overweight even before you have conceived, you and your baby are prone to complications. You run the risk of developing gestational diabetes or preeclampsia. This can lead to further problems such as miscarriage, cerebral hemorrhage and placental defects. Your baby will be more liable to have birth defects. If you are overweight, the chances of having a cesarean delivery are higher. Your caregiver will need to monitor you closely throughout your pregnancy to ensure that your excess weight does not cause any severe problems.

Just by taking care of your body and making the right food choices you can gift your baby and yourself a healthier life.

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