Fertility

Getting pregnant can be exciting. For some people, getting pregnant happens right away. For others, getting pregnant takes time and maybe a bit of luck.

Knowing when you're most fertile may make getting pregnant easier. And there are some simple steps you can take when you're trying to get pregnant. For example, being at a healthy weight and having sex often, mainly when you're ovulating, may help. Don't smoke or drink alcohol. Of course, healthy sperm counts too.

By having unprotected sex often, most healthy couples get pregnant within one year. If you have trouble getting pregnant, seek help from a fertility specialist or other healthcare professional. Not being able to conceive affects people of all genders. There are treatments for infertility.

Parental health

Parental health is key to a healthy pregnancy. After all, healthy parents are more likely to have healthy babies. Start with the basics. Make sure that your vaccines are current. Eat healthy foods. Take prenatal vitamins. Exercise regularly.

If you have a medical condition that might affect your pregnancy, parental health becomes more important. Work with your healthcare professional to manage your condition both before and during pregnancy. Taking good care of yourself is the best way to take care of your baby.

Parental health includes thinking about age too. If you're older than 35 and hope to get pregnant, talk to your healthcare professional. You may need to take certain steps to help ensure a healthy pregnancy.

Pregnancy symptoms

Symptoms that start early in pregnancy can include tender breasts and feeling very tired. But those symptoms might be due to something else too. An illness or the start of your period can cause these symptoms. The easiest way to find out why you have what seem like pregnancy symptoms is to take a home pregnancy test.

If your home pregnancy test is positive, make an appointment with your healthcare professional. You also might want to try a pregnancy due date calculator. When you're pregnant, having an idea of your due date is an important part of prenatal care.

Nov. 01, 2023