A woman's body goes through many changes over the nine months of pregnancy, with the developing baby making increasing demands. Being as fit and healthy as possible maximises the chances of a healthy pregnancy.
Many women re-evaluate their health and lifestyle once they know they are pregnant. However, by the time a woman has missed her first period, she is already two weeks pregnant, so it's best to prepare for a pregnancy before trying to conceive.
Stopping Contraception
Contraception allows couples to plan the timing and spacing of children. It is important to consider plans for pregnancy when deciding on a method of contraception.
Some methods such as the condom and diaphragm can be stopped immediately. Also, there is no significant delay in return to fertility after stopping the pill or having a coil removed.
However, women who use the contraceptive injection need to be aware that because the contraceptive is released slowly over time, return to
fertility can be delayed for up to nine months.
Timing of Conception
A woman is generally most fertile in the five days leading up to ovulation. Although there are a number of ways to predict when this is, they are not entirely reliable. The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists advises couples not to try to time intercourse but to have intercourse at least two or three times a week throughout the woman's cycle. 70% of normal, healthy couples conceive within six months, and 95% of couples conceive within two years.
More on Pregnancy Preparation:
© Basic Conception Guide
