Trying to Conceive: Helpful Hints and the Emotional Rollercoaster

Caring for Yourself While Attempting to Create Someone Else

Author Elizabeth Stone is attributed with the quote, "Making the decision to have a child - it's momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body." For us, that decision was reached around the time we had been married for two years. We were stable, happy, healthy, and eager to start a family of our own. We never suspected that it might not be a quick and pleasant journey to parenthood. In fact, most couples wouldn't expect for something so natural and seemingly effortless to become so complicated.

Why do some people have a harder time conceiving than others? What can be done to achieve pregnancy faster? And what is it really like when your miracle doesn't happen right away?

"Why Me?"

Some women know well before they intend to have a child that conceiving may difficult for them, most often due to problems with their reproductive health. Those who have been diagnosed with endometriosis, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) or any form of cancer are likely very aware of the trials that lie ahead of them.

But what if you don't have any known health issues? Unfortunately, there can still be something holding you back from conceiving easily. Four of the main setbacks along the road to conception include ovulatory issues, age, weight, and cigarette, drug or alcohol use. The trickiest of these to pinpoint is ovulatory issues. Some women may ovulate irregularly (or not at all) and never realize it until trying to conceive. This can be caused by her weight - significantly over or under her ideal weight - although that is not always the case. Age, of course, is the most recognizable possible cause of delayed conception - over the age of 35 is considered to be "advanced maternal age", although advances in prenatal care ensure that even older women can usually achieve pregnancy with positive outcomes. Drinking, smoking and using recreational drugs is never a good idea when trying to conceive - as with issues of weight, you want to be sure that your body is as healthy as possible for the task you're about to undertake.