Get Pregnant

Once you’ve made that big decision to start a family, you probably don’t want to wait, right? If you’re hoping to get baby on board as soon as possible, one of the best ways to get pregnant fast is to put a little planning into your baby making. Since getting pregnant is all about timing, you need to figure out the ideal moment for that egg to meet the winning sperm. If your timing is off, you’ll have missed your chance to get pregnant for that cycle. Don’t worry though—we’ve got helpful tips on how to get pregnant fast, and even better, we promise to make the process informative and fun. Read on and get one step closer to that positive pregnancy test.

When is the best time to have sex if we’re trying to conceive?

You’re most likely to conceive if you have sex during the two days before you ovulate and on the day of ovulation. That way, it’s more likely there will be a healthy supply of sperm in your fallopian tubes when an egg is released.

How can I tell when I’m ovulating?

Read our article on predicting ovulation to learn more about the following three ways you can estimate when you’ll ovulate:

• If your cycle is the same number of days each time, you can try using our ovulation calculator to estimate your fertile window each month.
• You can use an ovulation predictor kit to test your hormone levels throughout your cycle, and the test will indicate which day you’re most likely to ovulate.
• You can track ovulation symptoms, such as changes in your basal body temperature and cervical mucus.

Sex positions for getting pregnant

You may have heard that some positions, such as your partner on top (missionary position), are better than others for getting pregnant. In fact, there’s no evidence to back these theories up. Experts just haven’t done the research yet.

What experts have done, though, is use scanning to show what’s going on inside when you’re doing the deed. The research looked at two positions: the missionary position and doggy style. (Doggy style being when you’re on all fours, and your partner enters you from behind).

Common sense tells us that these positions allow for deep penetration. This means that they’re more likely to place sperm right next to your cervix (the opening of your womb ).

The scans confirm that the tip of the penis reaches the areas between the cervix and vaginal walls in both of these positions. The missionary position allows the penis to reach the area at the front of the cervix. The rear entry position reaches the area at back of the cervix.

It’s amazing what some experts spend their time doing, isn’t it! Other positions, such as standing up, or woman on top, may be just as good for getting sperm right next to the cervix. Or they may make no difference at all. We just don’t know yet.

Ways to increase your fertility

To take measures into your own hands to boost your fertility and help increase your chances of getting pregnant, try the following expert tips.

Meet with your doctor

Your ob-gyn can talk to you about your overall health and suggest any necessary lifestyle changes to help you get pregnant fast. It’s also a good idea to meet with a doctor if you have a family history of infertility, since some fertility issues may be hereditary, says Dawn Stacey, M.Ed, LMHC (licensed mental health counselor).

Take vitamin

Your ob-gyn can prescribe a prenatal vitamin or tell you about the right over-the-counter one for you to buy. You also might want to take folic acid (or a prenatal vitamin with folic acid), which greatly lowers the risk of neural tube defects such as spina bifida in baby. Foods like strawberries, spinach, beans and orange juice are also high in folic acid.

Live a healthy lifestyle

That means maintaining healthy exercise habits, so you’re not at either extreme—over- or underweight. Eat a healthy diet rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains and manage stress to reduce tension and anxiety (consider trying yoga, meditation or acupuncture).

Visit your dentist

Gum disease is linked to underweight and premature babies. And once you’re pregnant, your mouth and teeth may go through the ringer. Your dentist can make sure you’re in good oral hygiene standing before you get pregnant.

Ways you might be hurting your fertility

You may have to give up a few things in the name of baby making. If you’re trying to conceive put the following habits on hold.

Don’t drink or smoke

Just skip these habits for the sake of your fertility and developing baby. While there’s no evidence to show that an occasional glass of wine can affect your fertility, consider playing it safe and passing on alcohol when you’re trying to conceive. And definitely ditch the drinks once you are pregnant—there’s no known safe level of alcohol that can be consumed during pregnancy. It’s also best for both partners to quit smoking if you want a healthy baby and pregnancy. Smoking is linked to increased risk of miscarriage, it makes you prone to ectopic pregnancies and lowers the quality and number of sperm.

Watch the java

Don’t break into a cold sweat at the thought of losing that morning pick-me-up. You don’t have to cut out caffeine completely. Stick to one to two eight-ounce cups a day; too much caffeine may lead to fertility issues.

Avoid strenuous exercise

Staying fit with moderate activity is fine. But overdoing it with vigorous and extreme exercise (think marathon running) may mess with your menstrual cycle and lead to infertility.

Check on your medications

Some prescription meds can make it harder to get pregnant or may be unsafe once you’re pregnant. Review your meds with your doctor before you start trying.

Skip the lube

They may make you more comfortable, but some lubricants can make sperm more likely to die before they reach the egg. Try a lubricant that’s “sperm-friendly” or consider canola oil. Or, maybe you just need to take the foreplay up a notch to pump up your own natural lubrication.

Don’t douche after sex

This sabotages your chances of getting pregnant and puts you at risk for pelvic infection. You should also avoid long runs, saunas, hot tubs or any activity that raises your body temperature right after you have sex.

If your heart melts each time you see a teeny tiny pink frilly tutu, you may be wondering how you can guarantee yourself a daughter. In truth, there is no way to naturally determine the sex of your baby. There are two scientific methods that claim some degree of success for gender selection, but these methods are contradictory in nature and may not work for you. Of course, the most important thing is a healthy baby. If you want to try to conceive a girl, here are some tips.

The Shettles Method

According to The Shettles Method developed by Dr. Landrum Shettles in the 1960s, X-chromosome (girl) sperm travel slower than Y-chromosome (boy) sperm and live longer, opening up your conception window. So don’t wait until you ovulate. Use our handy dandy ovulation calculator to help you plan to do the deed two or more days before ovulation. Or you could try The Whelan Method, named after Elizabeth Whelan, author of Boy or Girl, which is basically the opposite approach. The Shettles Method boasts a slightly higher success rate of 75 percent at conceiving the child of choice.

The Whelan Method

The Whelan Method The other commonly used method was created by Dr Whelan, and claims a 57 percent success rate for couples who wish to conceive a girl. Dr Whelan’s theory has slightly different timings, and to have a girl, she advises you to have sex two to three days before ovulation. For a boy, she suggests four to six days pre-ovulation to be the peak time. The Whelan and Shettles method are contradictory, and both have cheerleaders claiming success, but it is difficult to judge whether these successes were truly a result of the method, or simply that the outcome remained the same regardless of the method used.

Heat Up the Love

Another theory claims that girl-producing sperm prefer, or can at least tolerate, warmer temperatures. If you buy into this concept, you should encourage your partner to take a hot bath before intercourse if you want a baby girl.

Whether this works or not, don’t overdo it. General advice for increased fertility is to keep those guys on the cooler side. So frequent hot-tubbing or overly brief briefs may have a long term deleterious effect. Overall sperm count changes over about two months.

Slow the Pace

Indeed, during my research, I spoke with two different mothers who each have one girl and one boy. They both said basically the same thing in so many words: If you want to conceive a girl, have well-planned, romantic intercourse.

“Our daughter was conceived during a planned encounter with soft music and candlelight,” says Casey in Birmingham. On the other hand, she says her son was conceived on her husband’s lunch break from work. “No soft music, no candles—just a wham-bam, thank you ma’am, and get back to work.”

Holly from Atlanta tells a similar tale. “If you want a girl, you should have regimented, planned sex that correlates to your carefully counted menstrual cycle days,” she says. She explains that’s exactly how she and her husband conceived their little girl. On the other hand, her son was conceived in a very different manner. “If you want a boy, your drunken husband should attack you on the living room floor on a random weeknight and you should have no idea where you are in your monthly cycle,” she laughs.

Casey puts it simply, saying, “If you are trying to conceive a girl, have sex the way a woman would want it. Start with soft music, candlelight and all the time in the world.” What better way to bring a little girl into the world?

General tips to help conceive a girl

• Avoid having sex which involves deep penetration. The missionary position may be preferable because the semen/sperm are not deposited as closely to the cervix as the all fours position. A shallow position is preferable when trying to have a girl baby.
• Enlist your partner’s cooperation if you’re trying to have a girl. There may be changes from your usual sexual routine. Communication and shared decision making will go a long way towards avoiding misunderstandings at ‘delicate’ moments.
• It seems that girl sperm favour a more acidic environment. This is largely out of your control though there may be some foods which favour the acidic ph. Alkaline testing kits are available from pharmacies if you’re keen to find out what your individual vaginal ph may be.
• There is a theory that girl sperm are more prolific when a man is ejaculating daily. But just to confuse us, there is another theory which claims that it takes a couple of days for total sperm numbers to build up to maximum numbers after ejaculation.
• One option is to use condoms during sex which occurs over the woman’s most fertile days. These will limit the opportunity for any conception to occur, but does support Shettles theory of a greater likelihood of boy conception at the time of ovulation.
• Foods which are likely to support a more acidic vaginal ph are thought to be great for boosting the chances of having a girl.

To boost your chances of having a baby girl, try eating more of these foods:

• Green leafy vegetables. Be aware that some researchers claim mothers who are keen to conceive with a girl should avoid most fruits and vegetables, though in a dietary sense this is generally not advisable for anyone. Folic acid is an important nutrient in the first trimester and green leafy vegetables are one of the major sources of folate.
• Wholegrains such as breads, cereal and rice.
• Sweets, lollies, desserts and cakes. (Lucky you)!
• Avoid eating nuts, specifically almonds.
• Eat corn and blueberries.
• Aim to eat foods which are high and rich in magnesium, such as fish, fruit and grains.

There is some science to support the theory that women who have a higher energy intake in their diets are more likely to have boys. More kilojoules per day favours those little boys it seems. So the reverse may be true to help boost the chances of having a girl. Just remember, there are no guarantees.