OK, so the most obvious start for trying for a baby is stop using contraception, but… There are plenty of other little things you can do to optimise your chances and give your unborn baby the best possible start.
1. Know your cycle
It is wrong to assume that you have an average 28-day cycle, especially if you have never tracked it. At the very least keep a record of your menstrual dates so that you can see how long a cycle you have and have an approximate idea of when you ovulate. If you invest the time to chart your waking temperature and other fertility signs, you'll have a much better understanding of your cycle, you'll be able to predict ovulation far more accurately. If you do have problems conceiving then the more information you can give to your doctor about your cycle, the better.
2. Have sex!
It may be stating the obvious but the best advice for couples just starting off trying to conceive, and in no particular rush, is to have sex frequently, particularly in the first half of your cycle, and enjoy the novelty of not worrying about becoming pregnant.
Expert Tip
With a low sperm count, leaving a couple of days between sex will give more time for sperm levels to rise again.
Charting your cycle in detail, you can time intercourse for the days leading up to ovulation when other fertility signs are positive, such as your temperature, cervical mucus and cervical position.
If it's already established that the man has a low sperm count then intercourse can be timed even more precisely to try to ensure that an optimal amount of sperm is delivered at the optimal time. With a low sperm count, leaving a couple of days between sex will give more time for sperm levels to rise again.
3. Get your weight in check
No, we don't necessarily mean dieting. There's evidence that women who are very over weight or very underweight can have problems conceiving and may have difficult pregnancies if they do conceive. If you fall into either one of these groups then you might want to consider either putting on some weight (not through hoovering up junk food!) or losing weight before thinking about trying to conceive.
4. Watch your diet
The better condition your body is in, the better chance you have of conceiving and having a healthy pregnancy. At the very least make sure that you are taking a folic acid supplement every day. Try to cut down on fast food and other empty calories and get a well-balanced, varied diet.
5. Get fit
Getting fit is part and parcel of being healthy to conceive and stay pregnant. If you're not currently exercising at all then try to introduce exercise slowly, building up to three or four sessions of at least 20 minutes each week.
6. Cut out toxins
Alcohol, smoking and other drugs can all affect fertility and many could damage the foetus if you do become pregnant. If you're a smoker or take recreational drugs, try to stop completely and if you know you drink a little more than you should then try to cut back, particularly in the second half of your cycle. We're not saying you shouldn't drink at all when you're trying to conceive, if a glass of wine helps you relax and enjoy sex then so be it.
If you use any prescription or herbal drugs you should discuss these with your doctor before you start trying to conceive.
And finally…
7. Relax
When you're busy trying to prepare your body and optimise the chances for conception it's easy to become obsessive, which can take the joy out of lovemaking and make both partners stressed, which is not conducive to conception! Try to make changes to your diet and fitness levels into a normal part of your everyday routine that will improve your life all-round, rather than only associating them with having a baby.
If you've started out charting with a view to conceive then think of it as a good way to get to know your body, not just for aiding conception, but perhaps being useful to prevent conception later on. And if you are timing intercourse to achieve conception then take a month or two off every now and then to remind yourselves that sex isn't just about making babies.
