Any tips on how to improve the chances of getting pregnant?

[atticus]

We have a 2 year old son and have been trying for our second child now for six months. Although I realise that at only 6 months into trying, and with one child already, we are not in as worse a position as others, we are feeling increasingly anxious and am hoping someone can help.

I realise these things take time (foolishly I timed things on the basis of the 6 weeks it took to conceive first time around) but I am getting increasingly panicky each month when the inevitable period arrives, feeling that I am letting my son down by not providing a playmate for him at the right time. I also feel everyone is looking at me and thinking why isn't she pregnant again. All my friends with 2 year olds seem to have had or are having their second child.

Does anyone have any tips on when and how to make love to optimise the chances of conception e.g. is it true that men should leave 48 hours between 'sessions' in order to allow their stocks to fully recharge, are there any vitamins or natural remedies that may enhance our chances?

We are trying to remain relaxed about this but would really appreciate any thoughts so at least we feel as though we are optimising our chances.

[elliott]

atticus, my sympathies - it is frustrating and worrying when things don't happen as soon as you hope, but try not to panic yet! Look at the thread 'anyone trying to get pregnant and want to talk about it' for some hints and links to other useful websites. I think the best advice is to 'go for it' about every 2 days during the critical week when ovulation is about to occur. Good luck!

[EmmaTMG]

According to various books I've read the 'right' time of the month varies from 9-15 days after the last period to 12-14 days. I know we are all different but we all fit into that somewhere or abouts I suppose.
Can you remember the date you concieved with your first? If you can, you could count how many days it was after your last period and try on and around that particular day. This method worked for us with DS2 and it took only 6 weeks to fall pregnant.
I can imagine it must be dissappointing each month but try not to worry, hard I know, as this is surely affecting it.


Good Luck Atticus

[SofiaAmes]

A doctor friend once told me that the most common reason for not getting pregnant is Not Enough Sex.
It wouldn't hurt for both of you to take one a day multi vitamins as well.

[Marina]

Good luck Atticus, Elliott is right - there is heaps of good advice on the Anyone Trying etc thread from numerous veterans of this campaign.
Personally I would recommend the TCOYF method mentioned on that thread - ie, monitoring temp and cervical fluid. Apparently it is pretty common for ovulation NOT to occur around day 14, as described in the "textbook" 28 day cycle. Following the TCOYF method for three months or so should hopefully give you a pattern which will tell you if this is the case, and you can adjust your timetable for making love accordingly...
All the TCOYF details are on that thread.
You should only bother with 48 hour gaps if you have reason to believe your partner is subfertile. Otherwise apparently you can go for 24 hour gaps...see if you can find a single Mumsnetter who has actually managed this - that sort of carry-on is a thing of the past for most of us, alas.

[bozzy]

Hi Atticus, there has been research done that says that making love every single day is not only physically and mentally exhausing, it doesn't do much to boost your odds of conceiving and every other day during the most fertile period are only less likely to conceive than those couples who have intercourse daily. Daily sex is not recommended when the male partner is subfertile and "every other day" conserves sperm...but abstaining from intercourse longer than that isn't a good strategy either...

Therefore, every second day seems to be the favourite!

I feel like a bit of a cheat because I invested in the ovulation kit from Boots (£18 for 5) - it helped me find out when I was fertile (pee on stick like a pregnancy test) and I got pregnant first time! (am now 9 weeks pregnant). It may at least confirm to you the best days of the month to try so you won't have to buy them every month....

Good luck!!

[bayleaf]

Just wanted to sympathise - I'm definitely a veteran of the ttc threads - and any advice I can offer is on the other thread as already mentioned.
I've been trying for 18 months now and am currently in the middle of my second ivf attempt ( despite dd being a natural baby)as we've realised that dh has a sperm problem. I know exactly how you feel - it really is mentally and emotionally frustrating and exhausting - but we're all here to moan to so feel free - I usually do!

[easy]

Hi Atticus,
I'm no expert, having (and wanting) only one child, but I took a year to conceive, aged 37. It just so happened that we had both started taking Zinc supplements a few weeks previously, to try to avoid catching bad colds. within about 5-6 weeks I was pregnant, and we later read that zinc can have a huge impact on fertility.

I would also suggest you try to stop worrying about it. I had assumed I wasn't going to get pregnant, opened up a new career avenue and taken out a huge loan for a beautiful expensive car, then got pg. Now SAHM with mediocre Ford (much better than no wheels at all you understand), if you see what I mean

P.S. Don't forget the folic acid

[SofiaAmes]

Yes, the man should be taking folic acid as well. And per Easy's Zinc story, it really is a good idea to take a multi-vitamin because there are all sorts of things that can affect fertility and better to cover all of them just in case with one vitamin. Good luck!

[atticus]

Thank you so much for all the feedback - it's given me a real boost. Any other top tips gratefully received - in the meantime it's back down to business !

Good luck to everyone else as well

[thumper]

Like Bozza we used the ovulation kit. I used it twice and on both occasions got pregnant, so if you haven't tried it, might be worth a go. Good luck and try not to get too stressed about it. (although I know it's easier said than done).

[snickers]

I used the "Persona" device (from Boots) for monitoring my days for most likely to get pregnant. Although it takes a few months and routine wee tests for the machine to fully work out your cycle (but I don't think it's any less faff than ovulation sticks and gives you something to do whilst waiting to conceive) it eventually tells you according to hormone levels, when you are ovulating. We used it as a contraception device for 3 years (only making love on "green" days) and began trying for a baby on an ovulation day (my husband saying "does the "O" sybol mean "uh oh, here we go!!") and lo and behold conceived there and then! it was quite remarkable!

The device is quite expensive, but in my opinion, utterly worth every penny, and can go back to being a drugs free contraception device afterwards... Hope this helps, and GOOD LUCK! (Don't forget to ENJOY the trying...)

[lilly72]

After 10 years of no contraception and small possibilty of having children...My partner and I had sex one evening and joked about an old wives tale of putting womens legs up the wall to give the sperm a chance to travel their long distance. I put my legs up the wall and nine months later had a little girl!!!I have no idea whether this is related or not...I am just happy to have had my baby...(who is now 18 months!)

Keep trying and relax. I wish you all the best in your efforts!

[bayleaf]

Atticus - have you looked on the other thread - there are quite a few web sites mentioned - some of which give good advice - which are worth looking at particularly www.fertilityplus.org

[bluestar]

Also try www.fertilityfriend.com. You can also buy ovulation kits/pregnancy tests cheaper on the internet. Try searching on ovulation.

[threeangels]

lilly72 does have a good point about giving the sperm a chance to swim faster. Maybe not the legs on the wall thing (which I thought was funny) but they do say to stay in bed after intercourse (maybe 15-20 min) with your butt and hips raised a little using a pillow. This will help with aiding the sperm to move in a larger quantity faster in its traveling distance. I did this with all 3 of my kids. It does make a lot of sense to me.

[Bex4567]

Hi op did u get pregnant after