From Humps to Bump: The Road to Getting Pregnant

What does it take to get pregnant? Well, you'll have to have sex of course! But getting pregnant, for some moms is not on voice command. Some mommies, like me, took a long road before getting there. But here's a thought, timing is key! When all the stars converge on that fateful moment , you'll get the two lines in that P test. Actually, sa tagal na din naming nag-try, dumating din sa punto na nagduda din ako sa sarili ko, baog kaya ako? Hindi rin pala ganoon kadali magbuntis. We’ve been actively trying for almost a year, wala pa rin? Naasar nga ako kasi at 28, diba dapat hindi ko pa ito pinoproblema?

[caption id="attachment_1186" align="aligncenter" width="300"] "Kung uukol, sadyang bubukol." This was our mantra before husband and i got pregnant.                                                    Source of Photo:slocounty.ca.gov[/caption]

Aside from waiting for the stars to converge in approval of your pregnancy, here's what you can do:

Have an OB workup

• Even before we got married, hubby and I had our fertility assessed. Para mayroon kayong idea kung anong steps ang dapat gawin. Some suggest going to the OB after one year of actively trying.


• Aside from the routing BP and weight check, the OB gave me a pap smear. I had to undergo physical exam and vaginal ultrasound.My hubby had to have a sperm count. We were ok on all our tests, happily.

Initially the OB will give you tips on getting the the "expecting" road. Among the tips we got from our OB:

• Put a pillow under you butt after sex, to help the sperms get where they're supposed to.


• Have a good rest on your fertile days, stress decreases your chance.

Know your fertile days.

• Your OB will assess your menstrual cycle. She'll plot your ovulation calendar and  your  fertile days. At this point i was kinda questioning the pleasure of sex. Imagine, may schedule na ang sexy time. Kaloka. Pero, dito na nga papasok yung timing eh.


• Here’s Web MD ovulation calendar if you want to get a general idea of your fertile days. You'll have to input the first day of menstruation and it's gonna calculate your fertile. Maswerte ang mga may regular menstrual cycle, madaling malaman ang kanilang fertile days.

Take multivitamins or supplements with folic acid.

• Take prenatal vitamins with folic acid. Folic acid is essential for  pregnant women. This prevents birth defects babies like spina bifida and clept lip.


• Take folid acid even before you get pregnant. According to womenshealth.gov by the time a woman finds out she is pregnant and is not taking folic acid, it may be too late to prevent those birth defects.If i remember correctly, i was taking vitamins with folic acid 2 months even before knowing we're having a baby.


• WebMD lists these food as good sources of folic acid from:
  
  
  
  • Leafy green vegetables, like spinach, broccoli, and lettuce
  
  
  • Beans, peas, and lentils
  
  
  • Fruits like lemons, bananas, and melons
  
  
  • Fortified and enriched products, like some breads, juices, and cereals

Eat healthy.

• The OB did not say if there are foods for moms hoping to get pregnant, or for aspiring dad, too. But i guess since eating more fruits and vegetables makes your healthier, then this increases your chances of getting pregnant!

Exercise!

• Overweight women tend to have difficulty getting pregnant.


• Women falling in the healthy catergory have better chances of getting pregnant. To check your ideal wait, use this body mass index calculator. Your BMI should be in the normal level. Nasa borderline ako ng normal at overweight before i got pregnant. So medyo nag jogging, biking ako ng konti.

Go for a healthy lifestyle.

• Quit smoking.


• Limit caffeine.

Before moving ahead....  This was what went through my mind... And i think every couple should think about this too. Consider these questions: 

What's your ideal age to get pregnant?

My parents used to say, the mid20s was the ripe age to have kids! Kumbaga your body and status is at its "prime". My friends and i went philosophical discussing this.  Well,  I believe there’s really no RIGHT AGE when it comes to having a baby. What matters most is whether or not you are READY – emotionally, physically and financialy. Sino ba ang magsasabi na READY ka na?

Am i financially ready to raise a child?

Raising a child calls for so much expenses - like the hospital bill from giving birth, buying baby products, regular immunization shots, etc. It can get crazy when you try to put a number on this one question - how much is needed to raise a kid?  Pero kailan ba magiging sapat ang kinikita natin, para magka-baby? I think i can't really put a number on the amount i need to raise a child. Right now, we getting by ok naman...

Gaano ba ka-ready ang gusto mo? i think that's the question. When the right time comes, you'll be ready.  Every pregnancy is different. You'll just have to move on and learn as you go!!! It's true what most moms say, having a baby is worth the wait!

***