How to conceive simplified

Are you trying to conceive? We try our whole lives NOT to get pregnant – then when we want to try to conceive, it can be VERY HARD! Read below to learn the science behind making a baby and understanding your body!

I was surprised to learn that most couples don’t know how to read their bodies when trying to conceive! And thinking back, I was only educated on this in nursing school. Did you know that there are about 3-5 days during your cycle when you are highest chances, actually fertile and able to get pregnant? But how do you know WHICH days?

Let’s start with ovaries:

Women have two ovaries. Ovaries release one egg once a cycle and switch off from ovary to ovary.

Your body, based on hormones, releases this ONE egg once per cycle and you have a time frame each cycle in which you are fertile – your fertile period. This can vary from person to person depending on the length of your cycle.

Can I track my cycle with an app?

With apps, they assume everyone has a cycle of about 28-30 days and ovulates about 12-15 days into your cycle. That’s actually not true for everyone! SO, don’t go solely by the app (I like the Glow App and some women really like Premom App to track ovulation!)

I recommend tracking your cycles for a few months to give insight of how long your cycles are.

• For example, after Finn, my cycle was 5 weeks on the dot. After Bee, my cycle was 3.75 weeks (ugh) so if I went by an app I would have been off on my most fertile days!

How do I start?

The most effective way to do this is a combination of a few things:

1. Tracking your cycles
2. Understanding your fertile period
3. Having sex before and during your fertile period
4. Tracking your basal body temperature and cervical mucous

Fertile period: 2-3 days pre-ovulation and day of ovulation (about 3-4 days per month)

What does the fertile period look like?

• Our cervix/vaginas release cervical mucous (CM) based on where we are in our cycle. This CM tells us if we are beginning to be fertile, fertile, super fertile, and not fertile.
• We don’t release this CM when we are on birth control because birth control prevents ovulation. So it’s normal to see a lot of discharge when you are not on BC!

Even though this image is a little graphic, I think it’s super helpful in understanding cervical mucous!

• Thick/tacky – the beginning of our cycle (once your period is over) you will have thick, tacky CM. This CM is not fertile because your body is not in ovulation phase yet. No need to have sex at this time. 
• Creamy/sticky – getting closer to ovulation, CM gets less tacky and a little bit stretchier.
• Cloudy/stretchy – starting your FERTILE PHASE! If you see this CM, start having sex. 
• Watery/egg white – super stretchy and feels like eggs whites- YOUR MOST FERTILE PERIOD! Have sex sex sex. 
  • Slowly your CM will become more tacky/less stretchy. You are done ovulating.
    • Expect your period in about 12-16 days, depending on the length of your cycle.

How to assess your CM:

Wash your hands and stick your fingers in there!!! I’m serious! Every. Single. Day. Assess it. Get familiar with the consistencies, the stretchiness, the color etc. It seems weird but it’s really important! Some may come out on your underwear and that’s normal too.

Track your CM in your app:

When you start to see fertile CM, take 1 ovulation test per day (these ones are more expensive but easier to read). Unlike the pregnancy test, you can take an ovulation test at any time of the day.

***FUN FACT*** 

Sperm have a lifespan of about 5-6 days. So by having sex pre-ovulation also, you increase your chances by a ton!

• Sperm literally swim – so they cannot swim in CM that is sticky or tacky – which is why you are not fertile during those CM periods.
• They swim and are nourished by egg white CM (EWCM) which is why it’s beneficial to have sex then!

Your basal body temperature

Your basal body temperature (BBT) is your core temperature when you are at rest. You can track this by taking an oral temperature as soon as you wake up in the morning. I like this oral thermometer.

Why it’s important:

Your BBT increases by 1-2 degrees F when you ovulate. So your BBT + your CM can determine your most fertile period better than an app can!

I only used the BBT + CM method for my pregnancies. I am very lucky to have conceived easily. I have explained this method to many friends and they were able to get pregnant after understanding their cycles! I hope that in understanding your cycle, the chances will be in your favor, too!

So now  what’s the plan?

• Get familiar with your CM
• Track your BBT
• Record your BBT and CM every day in the app
• When BBT starts rising slightly and you see semi-fertile/fertile CM, take an ovulation test and get busy!!
• Lay down 20 min post sex to let it all sink in (I’m serious!)

…and then? 

• hGC levels are what cause a POSITIVE(+) pregnancy test. Some people get + as early as 8 DPO (days post ovulation) but if you don’t, don’t get discouraged. I didn’t get + until 12 DPO (and then a surprise one when I was 7 weeks pregnant).
• You can start testing 8 DPO once at that morning pee.
• Morning urine has the highest levels of hGC so you’re more likely to have a + test in the morning but may not have one that evening if the levels are very low.
• I always used a cup to collect urine so I could do multiple tests. Some tests are more sensitive than others – meaning they will pick up smaller amounts of hCG.
• This Clear Blue pregnancy test is the most sensitive but they are expensive. I would suggest getting some of these cheap ones off of Amazon! And then some clear blue for when you are 10DPO.
• hGC levels should double every day for the first few weeks.
• Contact your provider if you get a + test!

You should always contact your provider before trying to conceive. Stay in contact with your provider if you are not seeing a positive pregnancy test in the first few months. We are here to support you! We know this can sometimes be a difficult time and conceiving isn’t easy for some couples. We see you.

Have more questions? Schedule a text or video chat consult with Kate, Lauren or Natalie (NICU RNs) and they can help answer any questions that you have!

**This post is educational and not meant to take the place of your provider. Bumblebaby makes a small commission on some of the items listed above