Natural ways to improve your chance of conception #fertility

Natural ways to improve your chance of conception

Mums Tips

Pregnancy & Birth

Published on Tuesday, 29 October 2019 14:19

Last Updated on 04 November 2019

MarcShipman

0 Comments

It’s a big decision that a couple makes together when they decide they want to start trying for a baby – a decision that can go on to change their lives. While there are some things that you, as a couple, quite clearly need to be doing *ahem*, there are a number of natural ways that you can boost your chances of conceiving.

Prepare your body

It sounds obvious, but preparation before trying to get pregnant is very important. The earlier you prepare your body for conception, the more chance you have when it comes to catching within the first few months. Evaluate all areas of your life and start to make steps and changes where possible: eat healthier, exercise more and book an appointment with your doctor to discuss your lifestyle and what steps they think you can take.

Increase your intake of folic acid

Not only does folic acid make healthier blood cells, it also helps decrease the risk of birth defects in pregnancy, such as spina bifida. Spinach, avocado and broccoli are some of the main foods that are proven to be rich in folic acid – so it’s probably best to stock up on these. You can also, if you wish, buy folic acid supplements to help boost your intake, especially handy for those who don’t like foods rich in folic acid.

Surround yourself with essential oils

Stress is a huge contributing factor to infertility, so you want to reduce your stress levels as much as possible (easier said than done when you’re trying to make a baby, we know). There are many essential oil ingredients that can help with this: cardamom promotes a feeling of calmness and warmth, lavender relaxes and soothes the body and mind, bergamot helps promote inner calm and sweet orange is deeply relaxing, promoting wellbeing. All of these can be found in the ‘B.Calm’ essential oil inhaler stick, combining all benefits into one convenient product, but there are various essential oil products on the market, including aromatherapy oils and also in the form of food and drink.

Use an app to gather information

Period trackers are so popular now and easily accessible to those with a smartphone. Inputting your personal data and dates into apps such as this will tell you when your period is due, when your ovulation days are and even when you’re at your most fertile – allowing you to maximise your time and ensure you’re increasing your chances of falling pregnant.

Limit your alcohol intake

Even though you’ll be going a full 9 months without alcohol or cigarettes when pregnant, it’s a good idea to start cutting back on the amount of alcohol and cigarettes that you consume now. Not only does drinking alcohol make a woman less fertile, it has also been found that females also ovulate less when they are heavy drinkers. What’s more, heavy drinking can reduce a man’s libido and the quality of his sperm. Cutting out alcohol altogether would be a healthy decision when trying to get pregnant; it also helps with keeping down excess weight gain. Likewise, quitting smoking while trying for a baby can help to boost chances of infertility, as well as reducing the chances of your new-born being born prematurely.