Trying to fall pregnant?

Have you been trying to conceive in vain? The solution could lie in a few tips that you could have been ignoring in the last few months. However, according to Dr Gathari Ndirangu, a gynaecologist, at least three in every 10 pregnancies end up being lost in the first trimester.

“Our bodies have a way of rejecting pregnancies that may not necessarily result in a healthy baby,” Dr Ndirangu points out.
And in some cases of the early miscarriages, the woman may not even be aware that she was pregnant in the first place, he adds.

First women hoping to conceive must ensure optimum timing when their bodies are ready to carry a pregnancy to term. When below 18, the body is not fully prepared for child bearing while those above 34 need to consult a doctor who will monitor your progress during the pregnancy.

A two year space between pregnancies is advisable, he says and adds, “Avoid stress-free lifestyle.”This can be reduced by avoiding unnecessary squabbles at home, at work or elsewhere. Stress often affects conception.

A new study in the  UK, has revealed women were less likely to conceive when they showed elevated levels of a stress-related substance called alpha-amylase.

It has been suggested that stress may increase with the disappointment of several failed attempts at getting pregnant, setting off a cycle in which pregnancy becomes even more difficult to achieve.

If you are on a contraceptive method and hoping to conceive, Dr Ndirangu advises that upon withdrawing from it, fertility should resume within 24 hours in the case of hormonal methods like the injections and implants.

However, this could be dependent on the duration that one has been on the method, the type of method and the individual’s reproductive system.
People who have chronic conditions like diabetes and hypertension should also visit the doctor before they fall pregnant or immediately they realise they are pregnant in order to advise them on better management of both the baby and themselves until full-term while keeping the condition in check.

Medical check-ups are also healthy at this stage as some underlying conditions that had earlier not been detected and can be diagnosed and medical interventions given at this time.

HIV positive women should enrol for the Prevention of Mother To Child Transmission in order to be advised on healthy living that will prevent the child from contracting the virus.

For families where genetic conditions like albinism, sickle cell anemia, diabetes, heart conditions among others are known to exist, Dr Ndirangu advises that couples go for genetic counseling to be advise on chances of having a child with the inherited condition.

Diets rich in vegetables, fruits and minerals like iron and folic acid are essential at all stages, the doctor advises.
Folic acid prevents conditions like spina bifida. Iron and calcium are also crucial components of a diet.

Once a woman realises she has conceived, it is important that she begins ante-natal clinics in the nearest health facility where she can be advised further.

“By the 12th week of pregnancy, one should have visited the clinic at least once even in remote areas,” the doctor advises. Male involvement, especially the partner is also crucial, as it is the support network for the woman during the nine-month period that the woman’s body is undergoing both hormonal and physical changes.

And if one does not conceive at all, then Dr Ndirangu advises that the woman should visit a gynaecologist for further tests and information.