There may be a long waiting period before you can get pregant. So it’s important to practice self-care while trying to conceive. Here’s how to do so effortlessly.
After a lot of serious conversations and heated debates, you and your partner have decided to have a baby.
Congratulations – it’s one of the biggest decisions you’ll make in your life.
But this is only the first step. Getting pregnant is sometimes easier said than done, and the highs and lows of trying to conceive can often be a tough journey.
Sure, some will conceive quickly. But for most couples, it can take several months, possibly even a year or longer. According to an article in Today’s Parent, less than half the women under the age of 37 will conceive within the first three months of trying. And the odds are even higher when you’re older.
So it’s perfectly normal to have a long waiting period before you can get pregnant. Bear in mind that after you conceive there will be another 9-10 months before you give birth. And then after that, the challenges of raising a child begin.
It’s a long road, girlfriend. So be prepared, and use this opportunity to build up your physical, mental, emotional and spiritual energy for the journey ahead.
Here are some tips to help you develop a self-care practice while trying to conceive. And hopefully, they’ll continue to serve you as you walk through pregnancy, motherhood and beyond.
Take a Little Time for Yourself Every Day
Trying to conceive can take on a life of its own. Suddenly you must track your menstrual cycles and plan when to have sex. You become obsessed about what to eat, drink and do to get pregnant. You fantasize about what you would name your child and how you’d decorate the nursery. At the same time, you feel anxious and depressed that the pregnancy tests keep showing up as negative.
To make conception a goal – something to achieve at all costs – can tighten your mind and your body and create unwanted stress in your life. As discussed previously, stress can interrupt the estrogen and progesterone balance – which is counter-productive for optimal fertility.
What you need most is to relax and to open yourself up to receive the precious gift of a child. Clenching your fists and tightening your jaws won’t help you make it happen. It doesn’t work that way.
So take your mind off your goal from time to time. Do something that’s all about you – that makes you happy. Something that has nothing to do with your partner or trying to get pregnant.
It could be reading a book, taking a walk, or watching your favorite show on Netflix. Or maybe it’s taking a bubble bath. Whatever it is, give yourself a break once a while – even if it’s only for 10 minutes a day.
Combat Stress and Anxiety Naturally
It’s natural to feel stress and anxiety if it’s taking you a while to conceive. But you can learn to manage these feelings.
For example, you can schedule a prenatal massage to relax your body and calm your mind. You can take a prenatal yoga class to stretch, unwind, and meet other women who might be going through a similar situation. And you can consult a fertility acupuncturist to help balance your body and improve your chances of conception.
Adjust your mindset and see it as an opportunity to bring your body and mind back to harmony. You’ll benefit from it – while conceiving, during pregnancy, and postpartum.
Take a Break When It’s Necessary
Sex can become a boring routine when you’ve been trying for a while. Many couples put a lot of pressure on themselves, turning the whole thing into a joyless chore. That’s really going to wear you both down after a while.
If you notice yourself or your partner feeling this way, it’s ok to take some time off and forget about the business of trying to conceive for a few days — or even a few weeks or months.
When you come back to it, you’ll both feel much happier about the whole process. As a bonus, many couples suddenly conceive when they stop trying so hard!
Side Note: Be sure to check out the best position to conceive a child, and the best fertility friendly lubricant.
Open Up About How You’re Feeling
Trying to conceive can bring up a lot of deep emotions that originate from your childhood and past relationships: fear, anger, resentment, doubt, guilt, shame, etc. It’s difficult to bottle up those feelings and try to process them all on your own.
It helps to talk to someone you trust about what you’re going through, whether it’s your partner, a close friend, or a family member. Their listening ears can help acknowledge your feelings and allow you to release them, a bit easier and faster.
During this time, you may also find it challenging to be around expecting friends or families, or babies and children in general. That’s perfectly normal, and it’s ok to tell them why. When you open up and share your feelings, you may discover that they’ve been through a similar process and are willing to offer added insights.
Destress Your Environment
When you’re trying to conceive, you’re essentially nesting – building a home for your future child. A nurturing environment can make you feel safe, relaxed and open – all conducive for conception.
So have fun with a little home improvement project. Decorate it with scented candles, comfy blankets, soft pillows, calming colors. Make it beautiful, cozy and inviting – create your own private getaway amidst everyday stress…
Take Care of Your Body
When you’re preoccupied and anxious about getting pregnant, it’s easy to forget about your body’s needs. Eating right is especially important right now because it will improve your chances of getting pregnant and having a healthy pregnancy.
Consider adding these top fertility foods to your diet, and make sure your body gets all the essential ovulation vitamins. You may also consider taking a high-quality prenatal vitamin. Learn why it’s important to supplement prenatal multivitamins while trying to conceive.
Alcohol and caffeine may cause fertility issues, so cut back or eliminate them altogether. Drink plenty of water and stay hydrated. Just make sure the water you drink is filtered so that it’s free of harmful chemicals.
Poor sleep can also affect your fertility and hormone levels. Adequate sleep, on the other hand, can help regulate your body’s biorhythms, restore your hormone balance, and enhance your fertility. So make sure you get around 8 hours of sleep every night.
Put Your Relationship First
Trying to conceive shouldn’t become the reason that ruins your intimate relationship. I’ve seen couples breaking up after successfully conceive a child – because their relationship was severely damaged along the way.
So use this opportunity to take good care of yourself and strengthen your bond with your partner. Try to enjoy the process.
Even though you don’t have the ultimate say about whether you’ll get pregnant or not, you can always give it your best shot – and make the journey a constructive and enjoyable one.
I hope you find these tips helpful. As always, please leave a comment to share your thoughts and experiences.
This post was written by Donna Maurer. As an experienced content creator, Donna has covered health and wellness topics for numerous publications. She is a former writer for an alternative medicine clinic and can often be found researching the latest industry approaches and trends and sharing the insight she’s learned while on her own wellness journey.
Conception Planning
Easy@Home Ovulation and Pregnancy Tests Kit
Fertility Supplements
Garden of Life Organic Prenatal Multivitamin (Specially formulated women’s multivitamin made from nutritious whole foods)
Vitex (Supports progesterone, regulate the menstrual cycle, and prevent miscarriage)
Royal Jelly (The only food for the Queen Bee, which enables her to lay up to 2,000 eggs each day throughout her life, and outlive worker bees 30 fold)
Pink Stork Fertility Tea (Comprised of 7 organic herbs including red raspberry, nettle, and chasteberry, designed to support fertility)
Recommended Reading
Taking Charge of Your Fertility, by Toni Weschler
Making Babies: A Proven 3-Month Program for Maximum Fertility, by Sami S. David
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