Preparing your body for pregnancy

[jo899]

Hi all. We’ve decided we’re going to be TTC our second in the next few months. Our first was a surprise so we didn’t prepare and I really want to be in the best health possible this time round as I was so anxious about everything and what I had and had not done. I’m 35 this summer, if anyone is wondering. My DS is turning one around the same time.

So please let me know how to best prepare. I know I can just Google the basics like diet, folic acid etc but I learn so much here and wondered if there were any lesser known tips. Eg I had a good conversation with a friend about acupuncture which she is convinced helped her finally conceive - but it doesn’t have to be something a bit more obscure like this!

Thank you so much.

Following as hoping to start trying in the autumn! I’m 25 hoping to have my 1st

In general try something that makes you relax? I conceived the month when work was minimal and I went to the coast for a few days just after ovulation and then a two week holiday after that. The holiday was planned months in advance though.

Also I tracked ovulation to have the best chance of covering the window. Which I’m really glad I did because the cycle I conceived I ovulated 6 days later than usual. We usually give up dtd for about week once I see ovulation signs. So it’s really good we tracked ovulation that month otherwise ds wouldn’t exist.

We are going to ttc number 2 this autumn. I’m 32 and ds is now 11 months old.

We’re ttc #2 atm. will also be 35 this summer and my first is 13months 😅

It took almost 10 years to get pregnant with our first and we tried so many different things that others had have had success with, nothing worked. Acupuncture being one of those alongside IVF (while relaxing it did nothing!). I took enough vitamins and supplements to rattle. Tried various fertility diets and smoothies 🤢

I guess the only thing that might have worked in the end was giving up and just carrying on with life. Around and leading up to the time we did conceive we both didn’t have the best of diets and regularly consumed alcohol. I had no idea when I was ovulated so no timed dtd.

Relaxing is probably the best thing if you can?

Though for me I have no bloody idea how to do it again, in my spare time ttc and dreaming of a sibling for #1 is all I can think about 😭

Get stronger. Your pelvic floor, stomach muscles and just about everything in your body is going to be under a lot of pressure and has probably been weakened from your last pregnancy and birth. You're going to want to pick up and cuddle your toddler when you're heavily pregnant (good chance you won't be able to at the end, but do as much as you can to be able to for as long as possible). It will also help with a quicker recovery.

Best of luck!

Take a pre-conception vitamin and vitamin D but other than that behave as normal really. Eat a balanced diet (no need to cut out alcohol or take-aways) and exercise regularly. You don't know how long it will take to conceive and depriving yourself of the joys of tasty food and a glass of wine here and there can just get depressing after a while. Best of luck to you!

No smoking, cut down/stop drinking
pre-vitamin, as PPs have said.

Acupuncture will do nothing except transfer your cash to someone else.

Thanks so much for all the replies and advice so far, all, and good luck to those TTC. I find it interesting when people say “We’re TTC at this particular time” as some have here. We will be in the summer as my little one will be one and I had a CS. I was advised to wait a year to heal fully and lower the risk of uterine rupture - although I know it’s not the end of the world if you don’t waist the full suggested year.

@givingitanothergo , I know two friends who conceived once they hid their thermometer and stopped tracking ovulation, another who conceived when they went from DTD every single day 🙈 to every two days. I think you definitely may be onto something for some couples. Of course some unfortunately have a specific problem that needs addressing before being successful and all the relaxation in the world won’t make a difference.

I've read being more relaxed with your diet (if you tend to eat very ‘clean’ and exercise a bit excessively, not if it’s already unhealthy!) can help regulate your cycle. If this applies to anyone reading, the book ‘No period. Now what?’ is very good on this. Also worth reading if you get your period but suspect your cycle isnt functioning optimally. It’s mainly about diet and exercise but also about the impact of stress - which diet and exercise obviously can present as.

Ps I am reading a book about hormones atm and I was reminded that cortisol (the stress hormone of course) competes with progesterone (obviously crucial in pregnancy hence pro-gestation). A sobering reminder when I think of how many stressors are in our lives.