Pregnancy FAQ

How long will it take to get pregnant?

There's no single timeline that fits every couple. Age, overall health, how regular your cycles are, and how well timed things are around ovulation all play a part. For a couple with no fertility issues, the odds of conceiving in any given cycle run around one in four, and most healthy couples end up pregnant within a year of trying, somewhere in the seventy five to eighty five percent range. That still leaves plenty of couples for whom it takes longer than a year without anything being wrong. If you've been trying for a year, or six months if you're over thirty five, without success, that's the point to bring it up with your doctor.

Does the sex position we use actually matter for getting pregnant?

Probably not as much as the internet suggests. A lot of sites will tell you missionary position works best for conception because it places sperm closer to the cervix, but there's no solid research actually proving one position beats another for healthy, fertile couples. Sperm are built to swim regardless of the angle you started at.

The one piece of that advice that's actually been tested, lying still for a while afterward, didn't hold up either. A study following almost two thousand insemination cycles found that women who got up and moved around right away got pregnant slightly more often than those who stayed lying down for fifteen minutes afterward. If a particular position is simply more comfortable or enjoyable for you, that's plenty of reason to use it. Getting pregnant on its own isn't one of them.

Are some sex positions worse for trying to conceive?

There's no strong evidence for this either. Older advice warns against having sex sitting, standing, or with the woman on top, on the theory that gravity works against the sperm. But sperm can swim upstream against gravity just fine, and pregnancies happen in every position people actually use. Timing intercourse around ovulation matters far more than which position you choose.

What's the best time to have sex if we're trying to conceive?

Timing around ovulation is where the real leverage is. Sperm can survive inside the body for up to five days under the right conditions, though three days is more typical, while an egg is only fertilizable for twelve to twenty four hours after it's released. That gives you a fertile window running from a few days before ovulation through about a day after it. If your cycles are fairly regular, counting backward from your next expected period can get you in the right neighborhood, or our ovulation calculator can do the math for you.

How do I know when I'm ovulating?

Count back twelve to sixteen days from when your next period is due. For someone with a typical twenty eight day cycle, that usually lands around day fourteen, though your own number depends on how long your cycles run. An ovulation predictor kit, which tests your urine for the hormone surge that triggers ovulation, can pin the day down more precisely than counting alone. Our ovulation guide covers a few other signs worth watching for too.

Is spotting normal in early pregnancy?

More often than you'd think. Somewhere between fifteen and twenty five percent of pregnant women notice some spotting in the first twelve weeks, usually from implantation, hormone shifts, or a cervix that's simply more sensitive than usual. It's not something to ignore, though. Mention any bleeding to your provider, and get checked right away if it comes with heavy flow, meaning you're soaking a pad within a few hours, along with cramping, fever, dizziness, or pain, since those can point to something that needs attention. Our signs and symptoms guide covers what else is typical in those early weeks.

Do your hips get wider after pregnancy?

Not really, though your feet might have other plans. Many women find their shoe size grows by a half size or more during pregnancy, thanks to a hormone called relaxin that loosens ligaments throughout the body, including the ones in your feet. For a lot of women, that size change sticks around even after the baby arrives.

What should I use to prevent stretch marks?

Nothing you can buy will actually prevent them, no matter what the label promises. Stretch marks form when skin stretches faster than the deeper connective tissue underneath can keep up, and that's happening below the surface, where a cream can't reach. A rich moisturizer can help skin feel less tight and itchy as it stretches, which is worth something on its own.

One thing to skip entirely is any retinoid or vitamin A based cream or treatment. These are generally advised against during pregnancy over a possible link to birth defects, the same family of concern connected to the prescription acne medication isotretinoin. Check with your doctor before using any skincare product you're unsure about.

Should I cut back on exercise while trying to conceive?

Not for the sake of trying to conceive, no. Moderate exercise doesn't hurt your chances. The situation to actually watch for is the opposite one, exercising so much and eating so little that your body doesn't have the energy to keep your cycle running normally. When that happens, periods can become irregular or stop altogether, which obviously makes timing conception harder. If your cycles are regular and you're not running on empty, there's no fertility reason to change your routine.

Is it really not safe to drink, smoke, or use drugs during pregnancy or while trying to conceive?

Correct, none of the three have a safe amount during pregnancy. Alcohol, smoking, and illicit drug use all raise the risk of miscarriage, birth defects, and premature birth. Drinking during pregnancy can lead to fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, a range of lifelong physical and learning difficulties that are entirely preventable by avoiding alcohol altogether. Smoking raises a baby's risk of sudden infant death syndrome and leaves kids more prone to colds and ear infections later on. Drug use during pregnancy can affect a child's learning and development in ways that last well beyond birth. If you're trying to conceive, stopping before you get pregnant, rather than after, gives your baby the most protection from the very start.

Is caffeine safe during pregnancy?

In moderation, yes. Most guidance puts the limit at under two hundred milligrams a day, which works out to roughly one twelve ounce cup of coffee. That total covers coffee, tea, soda, and chocolate combined, so it adds up faster than people expect. Staying under that number hasn't been linked to problems in most studies, but going well over it regularly has been tied to a higher miscarriage risk in some research. Our pregnancy nutrition guide covers other everyday food and drink questions like this one.

Can I dye my hair while pregnant?

Most providers consider it low risk, especially after the first trimester. Very little of what's in hair dye actually gets absorbed through the scalp, and the research connecting it to any pregnancy problem is thin. If you'd rather be extra cautious anyway, waiting until after the first trimester, working in a ventilated space, and wearing gloves are easy ways to lower your exposure even further.

Is it safe to sleep on my back while pregnant?

Earlier on, it's fine. Later, side sleeping works better for you. Once your uterus grows enough, usually somewhere around twenty weeks, lying flat on your back can put weight on a major vein that carries blood back to your heart, which can leave you lightheaded or short of breath. Sleeping on your side, left side is often recommended but either side works, keeps that pressure off. Don't panic if you wake up on your back. Just roll over and get on with your night. Our third trimester guide covers a few other comfort issues that tend to show up around the same time.

Can I still travel, especially fly, while pregnant?

For most healthy pregnancies, yes. The second trimester tends to be the easiest stretch to travel in, since morning sickness has usually eased and the risks of early pregnancy complications are lower. Flying is generally considered fine up to about thirty six weeks, though some airlines set their own cutoff earlier than that, so it's worth checking with the airline directly. If you've had bleeding, severe anemia, or other pregnancy complications, talk to your provider before booking anything.

How much weight will I gain?

It depends on your weight before you got pregnant, not just how far along you are. If you started out underweight, twenty eight to forty pounds is the usual target. At a normal weight, that range is twenty five to thirty five pounds. If you started overweight, it's fifteen to twenty five pounds, and for a starting weight in the obese range, eleven to twenty pounds is typical. Your doctor can tell you where you fall and what makes sense for you specifically. Our Pregnancy Weight Gain Chart breaks it down further if you want to track it week by week.

When should I tell people I'm pregnant?

Whenever feels right to you. There's no rule here. A lot of people wait until after the first trimester, around week twelve, since that's when the odds of miscarriage drop considerably and a lot of parents feel more at ease sharing the news. Others tell close family and friends right away so they have support either way things go. Both are completely normal. This one is entirely your call to make.