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Information supplied by ProHealth Care's Birthing Centers.
If you're expecting to be expecting, ProHealth Care offers these tips to help you prepare for one of life's greatest journeys.
Getting Ready
One of the first questions you probably have is "how long does it take to get pregnant?" Here are some answers and points to consider:
- If fertility is normal for both you and your partner, there is roughly a 1 in 3 chance of becoming pregnant each menstrual cycle.
- On average, it takes couples 3-6 months to conceive.
- It's only possible to become pregnant on five or six days of your monthly cycle around your ovulation time. Ovulation generally starts 14 days after the first day of your last period. You're only fertile on two or three of these mid-cycle days, so be sure to plan your intimacy time accordingly.
- Don't get too discouraged if you're not pregnant within the first six months: there is a 15-20% chance that a woman may not achieve pregnancy within a year.
When To See Your Doctor
If you're trying to become pregnant, consult your doctor if any of these factors apply to you or your partner:
- You've been trying to conceive for more than a year, or for six months if you are over age 35.
- You have absent or irregular periods.
- You've had abdominal or pelvic surgery in the past.
- Your partner has had surgery in the region of his groin and scrotum.
- Your partner experienced a previous injury to his testicles.
- Either you or your partner has had, or may currently have, a sexually transmitted infection.
- You know of any genetic reasons why you could have a hard time becoming pregnant (i.e. your blood relatives have experienced difficulties conceiving).
- You feel for any other reason that there may be a fertility problem.
Determining Your Due Date
Amidst all the excitement and anticipation, finding out your due date is the easy part. Assuming your cycle is 28 days long, start with your last period and add nine months plus seven days. For instance, if your last period started on December 1, your due date would be September 8. Please remember that few babies are born exactly on their due date. Delivery up to three weeks before or two weeks after the due date is perfectly normal and still considered full term. A full-term pregnancy is typically 280 days or 40 weeks.
- Information supplied by ProHealth Care's Birthing Centers.
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