Last Updated on June 30, 2021 by Kimberly Stroh
When you take the plunge and decide to start trying to conceive, it’s such an emotional process. You can go from excited to anxious on a daily basis. There’s nothing like yearning for a baby after you’ve decided it’s time to conceive. While you and your partner can make it a fun period of time, there are still some common pitfalls you want to avoid. Check out these 3 trying to conceive mistakes that people make and how to prevent them from happening.
Related: How To Use The Apple Health App To Track Ovulation
Even though we have two boys, trying to conceive our third has been quite the journey. It’s like starting all over again. My cycle has changed and our lives are just entirely different. While I wish our 3rd baby would “just happen,” it’s not looking that way. We’re putting in the effort and making it our official business. I found myself starting to make some of these mistakes and I quickly remedied the behavior.
When you’re trying to conceive, months feel like years and the countdown to your missed period can feel like an eternity – I get it!
3 Common Trying To Conceive Mistakes (And How To Avoid Them)
You Don’t Track Your Cycle
This might seem like no big deal at first – especially if you’re just casually trying – but it can make all the difference in the world. Pinpointing your most fertile days will truly help your odds to conceive sooner. Gone are the days of using an old-fashioned calendar. There are so many apps that help you track your cycle for FREE. If you want even more accuracy, pick up an ovulation tracking kit on Amazon.
Tracking your cycle will help you be more in touch the signs that you’re ovulating. It has really helped me become more in touch with my body. Not everyone has a 28-day cycle either. After two kids, I discovered that cycle has changed a lot. That makes sense, giving that it’s been almost 7 years since the first time we tried to conceive.
Even if you don’t conceive after tracking your cycle for a few months, you can share the data with your physician. That might make all of the difference in the world when you’re deciding on infertility treatments.
Your Lifestyle Isn’t Conducive To Conceive
The biggest lifestyle change comes when you actually have your baby, but it’s a myth that your lifestyle doesn’t change beforehand. To increase your likelihood of becoming pregnant, you want to examine the type of life you’re living. Look at your environment, diet and daily habits.
Keep a journal (I use my phone) of what your lifestyle is like when you’re starting to try. Are you super stressed? Do you travel so much that it impacts you and your spouse being together during ovulation? Do you smoke?
So many lifestyle choices effect our chances of conceiving. Check out these 10 things to avoid when TTC article by The Bump.
Here is what I started tracking about my lifestyle:
- Caffeine Intake
- Daily Stress
- Daily Sleep
- My Diet (I want to ensure that my body is getting proper nutrition)
- My Weight
- Alcohol Consumption
- Daily Prenatal Vitamin Consumption (I started prenatal before trying to conceive)
You Obsess Over Conceiving
It’s so easy to get wrapped up in conceiving a baby. There is SO MUCH information and tips wherever you look. My girlfriends and I both admit to questioning every cramp or sensation our body has. When you’re yearning for something, and you’re hopeful, you hang onto every single symptom.
However, month after month, that can get really frustrating. If you’re disappointed every month when you get your period or you feel like you’re on an emotional roller coaster, it’s time to take a break. That doesn’t mean that you have to stop trying.
Focus on it less. Try to find the fun in conceiving again. Date your spouse and take the time to strengthen your own relationship. The last thing you want is this time period to feel like a chore. Of all the “trying to conceive mistakes” this one is so important. Cherish the time you have before your new family addition. Eventually, it can happen. If it doesn’t, let your physician know so they can stress over it – not you.
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