Preparing for pregnancy
Getting healthy for mums and dads-to-be
It is just as important for men to prepare their bodies for pregnancy as it is for women.
Quit smoking
We're all aware of the damage that smoking does to our own bodies, so the best thing you can do for you and your baby is quit.
Relationship considerations
Having your first baby initiates one of the biggest changes to your lifestyle that you will ever experience. While additional children will also bring changes, it is generally the first baby that causes the biggest shock!
Health
See your GP when thinking about getting pregnant
Make an appointment to visit your GP to discuss getting pregnant, particularly if you have any pre-existing medical conditions.
Develop and maintain physical fitness
Moderate exercise is important for good health, whether you are trying to become pregnant or not.
Achieve a balanced diet
To achieve a well-balanced diet you just need to follow some basic guidelines.
Healthy eating habits
Nutritional status of both parents prior to conception can influence the health and well-being of your baby and its chances of optimum health throughout life.
Limit caffeine intake
If you drink a lot of coffee it is better to reduce your intake now than to try and stop suddenly once you're pregnant.
Limit alcohol intake
Alcohol can damage both the sperm and ovum prior to conception, so consideration should be given to both you and your partner's alcohol intake if you are trying to conceive.
Drugs and conception - preparing for pregnancy
Make an appointment to see your doctor to discuss whether any medications you are taking could cause problems with conception.
News archive
What's the best age to have a baby?
Allison Tait When is the best age to have a baby? Whether it's your teens, 20s, 30s or 40s, each decade brings its own set of challenges and rewards - biological, material, emotional - as these four mothers tell Allison Tait.
Conceiving
Conceiving a baby
Having a child today as compared to having children 20 years ago is quite different. These days we can make a conscious choice about whether or not to have children, and we can also choose when we will have them.
Conception
The process by which an egg and your partner's sperm combine to create the beginnings of your baby.
Ovulation
What is ovulation? When do I ovulate and how can I use my cycle to help me fall pregnant? Your questions answered
Ejaculation
Of the millions of sperm contained in each ejaculation, only a few hundred actually reach the female egg in the fallopian tube.
A man's guide to conception
There are some pretty important basics that you should be aware of if you want to successfully conceive.
Your menstrual cycle
It’s probably been a good few years since high school biology and chances are your memory is a little hazy when it comes to explaining your cycle in detail.
Gender selection
Gender selection is a much-talked of topic among our forum users, especially those pregnant or trying to conceive. Whilst many consider gender selection something of an urban myth, others swear by it. Either way you have a 50% chance of ‘getting it right’!
Sexual positions for conceiving
When it comes to conception there is a lot of discussion about successful positions for ‘making babies’. Unfortunately there is no widely-accepted ‘best position’ but here are some answers to common questions surrounding the act of conceiving.
Misconceiving
Nicole Salinas Sex education is important for young adults but it can often leave one with a lasting impression that falling pregnant is easy. Whilst this may be the case for some on average it can take a healthy couple up to twelve months to conceive.
Helpful resources for those trying to conceive
Juliana Fridman The internet played such an important role in our research, and I cannot even start telling you how many things I found via web on trustworthy groups and websites.
Fertility
Fertility problems
Conception is not always immediate, in fact for couples not using contraception, only approximately 25% of women will conceive within the first month of trying.
Men's conception difficulties
Approximately one in six couples will have difficulties conceiving. Read more on conception difficulties for men.
Women's conception difficulties
Approximately one in six couples will have difficulties conceiving. Read more about conception difficulties that affect women.
Assisted conception and IVF treatments
Some couples may need to investigate the options provided by some form of assisted conception. Assisted conception means using reproductive technology to increase your chances of getting pregnant during the month that you undergo assisted conception treatments.
