- my iParenting
- quick clicks
- preconception articles
- preconception q&a
- community & groups
- research baby names
- prepare a birth plan
- content channels
- ip channel rss feeds
- read birth stories
- read parenting stories
- recommended books
- e-newsletters
- safety recalls
- ip diaries
- ip store
- mom of the month
- dad of the month
- editor's letter
- letters to the editor
From Our Sponsors
- e-newsletters
- Sign up to receive our free weekly e-newsletters
- award-winning products
The iParenting Media Awards program helps parents find the best products for their families.
Baby Steps
A 5-point Plan to Help You Conceive
By Teri Brown
It's time. You have discussed it, and you and your partner have come to the conclusion that it is time to start a family. Now for the sex, right? Not necessarily.
There are a few things you should consider before jumping into bed – and into pregnancy. Women should take the time to evaluate their overall physical health, their birth control method, learn a little bit about their cycle and educate themselves on reproductive sex. These 5 "baby" steps will help.
"I had been told by my doctor that it could easily take six months for all of the residual effects of the synthetic hormones to work their way out of my system and for my period to become 'normal,'" Millsap says. "I quit taking birth control pills in February and didn't have a period in March. I had a period in April and then two weeks later, I had one day of cramps and spotting."
The up and down of her periods confused Millsap and her husband, but persistence paid off and she was soon able to conceive their first child.
There is conflicting information regarding how long you should wait to conceive after birth control pills are stopped. Dr. Kenneth Burry, vice-chair of the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Oregon Health & Sciences University in Portland, Ore., believes the commonsense approach is best.
"There is some concern that the miscarriage rate may be higher the first cycle after stopping the birth control pill, but you should not be overly concerned if pregnancy occurs immediately, since most will continue without problems," Dr. Burry says.
Depo-provera, on the other hand, is long acting and may disrupt normal cycles for more than six months. Dr. Burry says there is a concern of an increased incidence of birth defects if exposed to this progestin during early pregnancy. He suggests that women should seek medical advice if menstrual cycles have not returned to normal within two months after ceasing birth control pills or six months from the last Depo-provera shot.
Want to see more?
Comments
Found 1 comment
Displaying all 1 comments below
|
Post As:
|
||
| Enter your comment below: | ||
| Title | ||
| Comment Text | ||
| CAPTCHA | ||
| Please note that any comments submitted become the property of Disney Family / iParenting and can be edited and posted at our discrection. | ||
Baby Steps by joanna on 08/17/2009 08:32PM
im trying to have a baby with my spouse ive been having all the syptoms now i have a 14 year old son and i heard all pregnancys are different.