It's difficult to say exactly how long it will take any
couple to get pregnant. Factors such as your age, general and reproductive
health, and when you have intercourse all impact your chances of
conceiving a child. Statically normally fertile couples have a 25 percent
chance of getting pregnant each cycle, and a cumulative pregnancy rate of
75 to 85 percent over the course of one year. It may still take more than
a year for healthy couples to get pregnant.
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Many experts suspect that the missionary position (man on
top) affords the best opportunity for baby-making, though no definitive
studies have been done. This position allows for the deepest penetration
and, as a result, places sperm closer to the cervix. Some experts also
believe that a woman can further increase the likelihood of conception by
remaining in bed for up to half an hour following intercourse, preferably
on her back and with a pillow under her pelvic region. In theory, this
provides the sperm with additional travel time up to the Fallopian tube
along with help from the forces of gravity.
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Experts recommend that you avoid having sex while sitting,
standing,
or with the female on top. These positions defy gravity and may
discourage the upward mobility of sperm.
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To increase your chances of getting pregnant, you need to
make love during your fertile period, near the time of ovulation. Some
couples start with the calendar: If your periods are very regular, you can
pinpoint a likely time of ovulation by counting backward from the date you
expect your next period. You need to know the length of your cycle, which
can be anywhere from 24 to 36 days long. You will ovulate from 12 to 16 days
before your period begins. You should time having sexual intercourse
during the period spanning 72 hours before ovulation to about 24 hours
afterward. The reason for this is that sperm can live for 72 hours, but an
egg survives no more than 24 hours after ovulation. Unless, fertilization
occurs.
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No, but your feet may. A lot of pregnant women find that
their shoe size grows by a half or even one full size, and stays that way
even after the baby's born.
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There are all kinds of expensive creams available, but --
in spite of their claims -- they can't prevent stretch marks. That's
because stretch
marks are an alteration in the deeper connective tissue, which makes them
untreatable with topical creams. You can try using A-vitamin cream
for fading the marks and moisturizing creams with vitamin E added for
keeping the skin more supple.
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There is no reason to do so. The only reason to cut down
on exercising would be if you're exercising so much and eating so little
that you're not menstruating and not getting enough energy to keep you
body functioning properly.
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Smoking, illicit drug use and alcohol use are never save
during pregnancy. These substances increase your risk of having a
miscarriage, a baby with birth defects or a premature baby. Fetal
Alcohol Syndrome is a VERY serious problem during pregnancy so
stopping during conceiving is important. Children whose
parents smoke have a greater chance of dying from sudden infant death
syndrome (SIDS), and they also have more colds and ear infections while
growing up. If you use alcohol and drugs during pregnancy, it can affect
you child's ability to learn and can even result in mental
retardation.
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Figure out when your next period is due to begin and count
back 12 to 16 days. This will give you a range of days when you will
probably be ovulating (for women with a 28-day cycle, the 14th day is often the
one). To use this method, you must know how long your cycle usually lasts.
You can also buy one of these ovulation predictor kits to help you
determine when you are ovulation and what are most fertile days of the
month for you. More...
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See
the Babiesdirect Online Weight Gain Chart
How much you should gain during your pregnancy depends on
your height and how much you weighed before you conceived. If you are
underweight your pregnancy weight gain should be 28-40 pounds; if you are
at a normal weight for your height, you should gain about 25-35 pounds; if
you are overweight you should gain about 15-25 pounds; and if you are
obese you should gain about 15 pounds. Check with your doctor for the
appropriate weight gain for your type of body.
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