The first step towards sucessful conception begins with understanding your fertility cycle and resolving the barriers to a healthy pregnancy.  With great sensitivity and skill Dr. Deanine Picciano will assist you and your partner in increasing your capacities for natural conception as well as increasing your sucess rate during IVF.  I have worked with many couples who have found my unique and integrative program  sucessful in correcting common barriers to conception and at the same time establishing a solid foundation for a healthy full term pregnancy.

TIPS FOR GETTING PREGNANT

1. Get both partners healthy and balanced-physically, mentally and emotionally.

Make sure you are in good health and have had a regular check up from your OBGYN or medical provider. Untreated infections, sexually transmitted diseases, or poor health can affect your chances of getting pregnant.

Take care of chronic digestive and other problems prior to getting pregnant. Detoxify your body and get each partner as healthy as you can and should be. Both partners should work on their health issues creatively, receive bodywork, acupuncture and other modalities. Herbs, homeopathics, nutritional supplements and prenatal vitamins can be used safely to enhance your reproductive capacity without side effects prior to conception.

In general at least 3 menstrual cycles are necessary to correct most GNY problems in Oriental Medicine philosophy. If problems are more complex or deep deficiency is present, I may recommend that you wait an additional 1 or 3 month cycle to stabilize your ability to carry your baby for 9 months.

Having a baby is like planting a seed, watering and growing a plant. You are the soil. Be patient with yourself. Many people have difficulty conceiving due to small nutritional, hormonal deficiencies, irregular menses, "cold in the womb" and even muscular/fascial constrictions. I am committed to help you isolate and correct your deficiencies.

This may seem like common sense but many partners do try to get pregnant while smoking, drinking or using drugs. Smoking, drugs, and alcohol can affect your fertility. It will also affect your unborn child. It is important to stop smoking or excessively using drugs and alcohol before getting pregnant. Acupuncture can help.

2. Communicate with your partner and answer some questions honestly. Take a deep breath, listen to each other and look within.

* Do you trust your body?
* Is the fear instilled in you from well meaning people and medically defined norms-
greater than your faith in your ability to conceive a child?"
* Do I or my partner want a child because we are "supposed too" or feeling
pressure from others?
* Have you visualized your self conceiving, carry the baby for 9 months and
delivering? What comes up for you?
* Do you really feel as though you deserve to have a child?
* List any fears you may have about carrying and delivering a baby.
* List any fears you may have about being a parent.
* Is the fear and the fear instilled in me from well meaning people- greater than my
faith in my ability to have a child?"

3. Have enjoyable sex.

Sometimes when couples are trying to conceive, sex becomes a job or function of reproduction and is not as enjoyable. How you are feeling sexually may factor into your chances of getting pregnant. Having enjoyable and regular sex and intimacy is the best way to get pregnant. Couples often try to time everything perfectly for ovulation but do not have sex when they think they are not ovulating. This can build underlying resentment and anxiety.

Researchers believe that for women, having an orgasm during sex increases your chances of getting pregnant. The spasmic movements of orgasm will help pull the sperm into the uterus and for men- better more powerful orgasms may increase the man’s sperm count.

4. Have sex before ovulation (not after).

Sometimes couples get confused about the best time to have sex in relationship to ovulation. You have a small window of time each month to get pregnant. After a woman ovulates the egg will survive approximately 24 hours. Sperm, on the other hand, will live for up to three to five days. This is why having sex two to three days before ovulation will increase your chances of getting pregnant. Don’t wait until the day you ovulate to have sex. Your partner’s sperm will last longer than your egg.

5. Use a combination of methods for predicting ovulation.

A lot of couples have heard to have sex around day fourteen of your cycle. This is based on the calendar method and assumes that you have a regular 28-day cycle and ovulate mid-cycle. Although this is better than just picking an arbitrary day to have sex, it is not a very accurate way to predict when you ovulate. Many women do not ovulate on day fourteen and knowing precisely when you ovulate will help you time intercourse better.

6. Have sex in positions that keep sperm inside the vagina longer.

The missionary position is a good position to use when trying to get pregnant. Avoid positions where the woman is on top. Gravity will allow sperm to leak out with these positions. Also try placing a pillow under your hips to help tilt your pelvis and keep the sperm in longer. Don’t get up right after sex. Try to relax and allow the sperm to stay in the vagina as long as possible.

Be peaceful after sex. Rest and visualize that you have already conceived your baby!

7. Turn off the "ticking clock".

Most couples get pregnant within a year of trying. If you have not gotten pregnant within a year don't be discouraged especially if you haven't tried alternative methods.
If age is an issue, know that I have seen many women over 40 have had babies, large, strong and healthy ones at that. Personally I think the pressure on women to "hurry up" and conceive before they are 35 is very stressful for women today.