How to Make a Baby

Are you trying to make a baby?

Trying to make a baby can be FUN and EXCITING but if things don’t happen as you would like it can BE STRESSFUL.

Knowing when you are fertile and your body is optimized to conceive is really important!

Interestingly, though, not many understand this well.

Conception (and subsequent pregnancy) is most likely when your egg has hatched and active – this is the time in your monthly cycle called ovulation.

Knowing when your body has hatched that egg (or fertile) is quite important if you are “trying to fall pregnant.”

Two IVF clinics in Melbourne conducted a study in 2009 and found that 54 % of people only had a vague understanding about when they were fertile with 11% having no idea at all.

54 % of people only had a vague understanding about when they were fertile with 11% having no idea at all

These statistics demonstrate that people are not being informed in a timely manner or are very confused.

I thought I would offer you my “no-frills”  explanation of the woman’s monthly cycle.

Firstly Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) is sent from the pituitary gland to one of your ovaries.

Did you know that only one ovary responds to FSH each month.

Rarely both ovaries may release an egg (or follicle) and generally the ovaries take it in turns to release an egg. Usually a few eggs will develop each month but generally only one will hatch.

HOWEVER, if you only have one ovary it will take over the role of both and ovulate every month.

Follicle stimulating hormone starts the egg development and leutinising hormone  (LH) “ripens” it and helps pop it out.

Ovulation

Around the 14th day of the cycle (day 1 is considered the first day that you have a period or menses) an egg is released.

The correct term for this is called ovulation.

During ovulation you may notice some physical changes; egg white vaginal secretions, slight rise in temperature, a twinge over your ovary, a pimple, a headache or an aroused sexual response.

Conception

There is a space between the ovary and the fallopian tube so sperm can collide with the egg far up the tube. Ideally the sperm and egg meet in the tubes or uterus.

If fertilization occurs in the tubes, one hopes that it travels down the fallopian tube and embeds in the uterine lining (womb). It generally does.

If the pregnancy continues in the fallopian tube it can lead to an ectopic pregnancy (pregnancy in the tube).

A termination or ruptured tube (both involve pain over the affected side, some spotting and cramping) may result.

Sometimes women are not aware they are pregnant and this will be the first sign they notice anything. If you have had an ectopic pregnancy you may have had one tube removed. You still have a chance (now a 50% less likely chance though) of falling pregnant via the other tube. If you have no tubes left (either ectopics, pelvic inflammatory disease) then you will need some artificial assistance.

Once the egg (corpus luteum) is in circulation it will produce two hormone; estrogen and progesterone.

These both prepare the uterus and your body for conception. If you want to fall pregnant, this is the critical bit of information.

YOU NEED to have some sperm near your eggs when they are most active and in circulation.

This means immediately before you ovulate or just after.

The egg can last for up to a week but is considered strongest just after ovulation. This is when you need to be having sex ladies!!!

I encourage couples to have sex regularly and often as  it  is  a  good  way  to  connect  with  your  partner  and certainly it helps to have sperm in the vicinity of the egg if you are trying to fall pregnant. Of course if you are trying to avoid falling pregnant, keep sperm away from the EGG!

The picture outlines how the uterine lining thickens up ready to accept a fertile egg.

If this doesn’t happen then the lining sheds which is commonly called a period.

To recap on how to make a baby:

The first day of the whole cycle is called Day 1.

Day 1 is the first day of your period.

After  the  period  has  finished  (the  bleeding  stops),  the vaginal secretions go back to clear to white and are not sticky.

Fertilization or commonly called “conception”  occurs when a sperm collides with your egg.

You need the introduction of sperm into the system for this to happen (i.e., sexual intercourse or artificial insemination.) Otherwise, you don’t just find sperm hanging around in a woman’s body, nor can you become pregnant from a toilet seat. It’s also highly unlikely that sperm can meander up far enough through oral sex or foreplay. It normally requires penetration for a “collision” of the sperm and egg.

At this point, one of two things happens:

1.Fertilization occurs  (i.e: a sperm collides with an egg), and a pregnancy may follow if it implants into your uterus.

2. No fertilization and no pregnancy.

With a fertilization or conception (the same thing), the egg+ sperm (now called a zygote), travels down into the womb and sets up camp for 9-10 months (40 weeks).

After this time, you should be rewarded with a delightful birth and baby. So my friends this is the miracle of life.

If you would like to read more about the miracle of making babies, purchase my ultimate FIT for Fertility Pack.

It outlines how to get your body optimally healthy for conception, pregnancy and child birth.

Good luck, Sam xox