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Preparing for Pregnancy

Are there certain ways that women can optimize their odds of getting pregnant as soon as they are ready?

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Dr. John Schmitt
Associate Professor of Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Virginia

Are there certain ways that women can optimize their odds of getting pregnant as soon as they are ready?

In this video Dr. John Schmitt answers questions on how to prepare for pregnancy during all three trimesters.

This expert: 65,220 views

This series: 28,686 views

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Baby

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Host: Are there certain ways that women can optimize their odds of getting pregnant as soon as they are ready? Dr. John Schmitt: Well, I mean there are still a lot of odds to the science of getting pregnant. So timing is important. If a woman has a 28 day menstrual cycle, from the first day of their period being day one and 28 being the day before their next period then according to all the textbooks you ovulate on day 14, but that said it's affected by stress, diet, exercise level, how much sleep you are getting. So there is a fertile period somewhere from around of say day 8-10 through about day 20 in a cycle that you are really optimizing your chances to get pregnant. Using ovulation predictor kits and things like that for busy couples that might not be in town or around at the point of ovulation it might help them. I think that puts a lot of performance anxiety and puts too much science into something that ought to be more fun and spontaneous but mid-cycle intercourse again, being healthy, getting plenty of rest, eating right, keeping your exercise to a reasonable amount and things like that will help.

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