What are the steps before conception?

[Leleophants]

Might seem like a strange question but our plan is to start in 6 months once moved. Are there things you should do e.g. come off pill early to get body ready, start taking folic acid, do something different with diet?

Also did anyone hear take breaks around certain months so that babies weren't potentially born at difficult times of the year?

[LRL2017]

I took folic acid for three months before we decided to start trying as advised by my doctor. I didn't come off the pill until we were ready and got pregnant straight away. Good luck :)

[katand2kits]

Ideally you should be taking folic acid before you conceive. Coming off the pill will help you get to know your natural cycles but obviously you run the risk of getting pregnant earlier than expected if you forget to use a condom. I wouldn't try to time when your baby is born.

[Snowydaysarehere]

For top sperm your dh should take 1000mg of vitamin C twice a day (soluble form). Sperm cycle is 96 days so get dissolving!!
And folic acid for you of course!!

[giraffesatthezoo]

Before we started ttc, I came off the pill and started temping using the Toni weshcler book, just to get a sense of my cycle.
Having read a lot more into fertility since then, is also put you both on a decent multivitamin for 3 months before you start, and maybe generally try to be a bit more healthy in terms of exercise, diet- quit smoking if you spoke being the obvious one.

Other than that, I would just try not to stress out. It can take a lot longer than planned, for no real reason: is just carry on as you are but i did find discovering more about how my body works to be helpful, regardless, and it didn't make me anxious, it just made me feel more informed.

[KnitKitty]

My doctor told me to start taking folic acid when I came off the pill, but many women do start on the folic acid and vitamins earlier, it won't harm!

I'd say just take care of your body; make sure you've got good eating habits with a balanced diet and that you're getting enough exercise. You can start cutting down on alcohol and caffeine if you want to feel you're doing something productive, and of course quit smoking if you are a smoker.

As for stopping the pill early or not... Some women come off the pill and get pregnant straight away, some take a while to regulate and get back to normal again. If you want to you can stop taking the pill early and let your body get back in to its own rhythm and start noting down cycle lengths and the signs you get when you ovulate or are expecting your period so you have something to go on to help you TTC when the time comes.

Also, mentally prepare yourself. TTC can be an emotional roller-coaster and patience is really hard but necessary, so I'd advise you to not expect things to happen straight away. It takes a year or two for many healthy couples.

Good luck for the future!!! :)

[stuffstuffeverywhere]

Take folic acid.

Hump like bunnies.

Go to the pub a lot.

[stuffstuffeverywhere]

Sorry, this before TTC.

Just go the pub. Also to restaurants, cinema etc.

[voxnihili]

I just started taking care of my body - folic acid, healthy ish diet and plenty of exercise. Initially I’d intended to take a break so I didn’t have an August baby to avoid them being the youngest in the school year and potentially struggling (I am a teacher - seemed a common thought amongst my teacher friends). Fast forward 2.5 years and I’ve had a diagnosis of low fertility and a miscarriage. I’m now pregnant with an August baby and am really not bothered by the time of year he/she will be born!