Are You Ready For Another Baby?
By Elizabeth Geiger

Having a baby is one of the most important decisions a couple can make. Today, we have more control over whether or not we have children than any other generation and it can be difficult to decide on the right time to try for a baby.

Is this the right time for you?

Having a baby is one of the most important decisions a couple can make. Today, we have more control over whether or not we have children than any other generation and it can be difficult to decide on the right time to try for a baby.

In the 1990s, more women are having children later in life. And although it is still most common to have a first child during your twenties, patterns of motherhood are definitely changing.

A woman is at her most fertile in her early twenties and her fertility tends to decline quite rapidly after the age of 35. So the longer you leave it, the harder you may find it to conceive.

But no matter whether you are in your twenties, thirties or forties, once you've made the decision to try for a baby, there's a lot you can do to improve your chances of conception and ensure your child gets the best possible start in life, even before it's born.

How long does it take to get pregnant?

Many women feel it is important to know that they are fertile to allow them the opportunity of planning their life.

When you consider that many of us have grown up with the mistaken belief that you can get pregnant at any time of the month, it's easy to understand why some women are devastated if, having made the decision to try for a baby, they then experience problems conceiving.

The facts of life

If your own fertility and that of your partner is normal, there is roughly only a 1 in 3 chance of becoming pregnant each menstrual cycle. On average, it takes couples about 3 to 6 months to conceive. There is a 15 - 20% chance that a woman may not have achieved pregnancy within a year. 1 in 6 UK couples have lower than average fertility, and take more than a year to conceive.

I'm Not Pregnant Yet: Now What?

I know too well what it is like. Before I got pregnant with my daughter, I was constantly buying home pregnancy tests, searching for signs. It wasn't until I stopped worrying about getting pregnant , that I finally did get pregnant. I think it was my anxiety that prevented it. My advice to you is to RELAX. Maybe all you and your partner need is time together. Take a short vacation. But relax.

You have a greater chance of conceiving when you are most fertile. Keep track of your menstrual cycle. Note the first day of each period. Ovulation usually occurs at the midpoint of your cycle. This is when you are most fertile. For example. The 14th day in a 28 day cycle.

Physical signs of ovulation

Temperature is first low in the morning, and then abruptly rises. Vaginal mucus is clear, and jelly like Cervix turns from pinkish to bluish. Or you can get that new ovulation predictor kit in a drugstore.

Prepare your body

Get a complete physical. Tell your doctor that are trying to get pregnant. S/he may have some advice for you. Improve your diet. Eliminate junk food. Eat whole grains, fruits and vegetable. Getting enough folic acid before conception can prevent certain birth defects. Start and exercise program. Tone and strengthen your muscles for pregnancy. But avoid overheating. An overheated body is no place for a new baby.

E-mail: elizabeth@thebabycorner.com
Author's URL: http://www.thebabycorner.com

Elizabeth Geiger is mother of two girls, Cassi and Hannah. She is also the editor of The Baby Corner website (http://www.TheBabyCorner.com), a supportive community for Moms, new Moms, & Moms-to-be, which she runs with her husband, Scott. Together they enjoy spending time with their girls, cooking, and working together on their site. Visit their website at   http://www.TheBabyCorner.com. To subscribe to Baby News, The Baby Corner's weekly html newsletter, send email to babynews-request@thebabycorner.com with the subject labeled subscribe.

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