How to Get Pregnant and How to Know You are Pregnant

So you are thinking of getting pregnant. For some this happens as soon as you stop using contraceptive methods, for others it becomes a long, torturous journey leading to such methods as IVF after years of trying. In this article we will be looking at what you should do once you decide to get pregnant and how you will know you have succeeded, assuming your experiences will lie in the middle ground.

If you are thinking of starting, or continuing, with your family it is a good idea to visit your doctor to get a checkup. He or she can discuss your current health, any issues that might affect your ability to get pregnant or cause issues in pregnancy. You can also get advice on diet. sleep. etc to ensure you are ready for the challenges a pregnancy can give the body.

As you have probably worked out by now, your body is on a monthly cycle, with a period about every four weeks. Conception actually occurs about two weeks before your period so for many people you will be pregnant for a few weeks before you know it.

Is this a problem? Well this comes down to preparation. Your baby is at its most sensitive to harm in the first 2 to 8 weeks of its existence. If you are intending to change your diet, alcohol intake or smoking habits during pregnancy then maybe you should be starting before your pregnancy is confirmed to ensure the safety of your baby.

Ok you've done your preparation, you've been having intercourse (another prerequisite for pregnancy), how do you know that you have been successful? The symptoms can vary from woman to woman but I have listed below the most common ones of which you will probably experience several from the list.

1. Changes to your breasts, often they will become swollen and tender to the touch. Your areola (skin around your nipples) can darken.
2. Skin Changes, patches on your forehead or cheeks.
3. Frequent Urination, I know I had this one, you get to visit the toilet more often.
4. Food cravings, not always a definite sign but combined with others can point to pregnancy.
5. Fatigue, this was another of mine, you suddenly feel very tired each day.
6. Morning sickness, I got to miss out on this one, it can happen at any time of day (despite the name) and varies from nausea to full on vomiting.
7. Missed period, this is getting into the serious signs of pregnancy, if this happens try a home pregnancy test.
8. Home pregnancy test, these are pretty accurate these days.

If you get to the positive home pregnancy test then it's off to the doctor to confirm and set you on the path to a successful pregnancy.

This article is a really brief overview of getting pregnant and is not meant to replace qualified medical opinion. From my experiences and memories, particularly of your first pregnancy, it is a time of many questions mixed with some anxiety overlaid with anticipation and excitement. I thoroughly recommend purchasing a comprehensive guide book or ebook which covers all of this stuff and can step you through your pregnancy, answering your questions at every step of the way. It's a great way of ensuring you have the answers at your fingertips and don't have to wait until you next see the doctor.

On such resource that I recommend is A-Z of Pregnancy, an ebook by Dr Irina Webster. As a doctor and a mother she has a wonderful insight into this exciting time in your life. The beauty of being an ebook is that you can search for specific issues easily and quickly on an electronic copy.

All the best on your journey to become pregnant!

To learn more visit
http://birthdefectcauses.blogspot.com
http://www.pregnancy-guidelines.com