If you’ve made it out of those crazy newborn days and are finally starting to feel like you’re getting a hang of this mum gig, you might find yourself having a surprising new thought: I want to have another baby.
But falling pregnant the second time around is a whole new ball game. Your days (and nights) now revolve around another little person, you barely have time for a bathroom break, and you probably haven’t had a decent night’s sleep in what feels like forever. Do you even have the time and energy to start trying again? You might also be worried about getting a bit older and starting to face some fertility issues.
With a lit bit of forward planning and support, it might be easier than you think. We’re here to help you on your journey from one to two with this simple guide to getting pregnant… again.
Mind the gap
The first thing to think about is when you would like to have a second baby. For a lot of mums, this comes down to one thing – how big a gap would you like to have between your children? Do you want to sneak in two under two, or would you like to pack your first off to school before starting over with a newborn? Both have their pros and cons, so it really comes down to what suits you and your family.
Just don’t forget, a baby is nine months in the making, and falling pregnant can take some months, so you need to plan well ahead and allow a little wiggle room in your ‘perfect’ timeframe.
Track your period
While you can always just get down to business and see what happens, if you want to take control of falling pregnant again, the first step is getting to know your cycle. Has your period returned after breastfeeding? Are your periods regular? Do you know your fertile window? Tracking your period will help you know when is the best time to try for your second.
Establish your fertility
Although your partner in crime might suggest you need to be at it like rabbits to get pregnant again, the reality is you only fall pregnant after you ovulate. So, if you’re busy, tired, and keen to fall pregnant as soon as you can, planning your special date nights for your most fertile days will help you get the most bang for your buck.
You can estimate your fertile window based on your menstrual cycle and when you ovulate – typically days 11-15 for an average 28 day cycle – or you can look out for physical signs. You may notice cervical mucus discharge similar to egg white prior to ovulating, experience premenstrual symptoms such as tender breasts or abdominal pain, or you may notice a small rise in your basal temperature after you’ve ovulated.
Take an ovulation test
If you’d like to take the guesswork out of predicting ovulation, try an in-stream urine Babystart Ovulation Test or Babystart Ovulation Microscope saliva-based test. With over 99% accuracy, these handy and easy-to-use tests detect increased hormones in your body, signalling that ovulation is likely to occur in the next 24 to 48 hours. And since sperm can live for up to five days, and an egg usually needs to be fertilised within 24 hours of release, that means it’s go time!
Test your fertility
One in six couples actually experience delays in falling pregnant. For an extra bit of peace of mind, you can even take an at-home screening test that can give an indication of fertility. The Babystart Fertility Testis a rapid screening test that measures the concentration of the follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) in urine. Rising levels of FSH can be associated with reduced fertility, so it can help you know if you might need to seek further medical advice to fall pregnant.
For the blokes, there’s also the Babystart Sperm Test, a unique at-home test that measures sperm concentration in semen and determines with over 97% accuracy if your partner’s sperm count is greater or less than the World Health Organisation’s fertility cut-off point. Both fertility tests also come in a Babystart Couples Pack.
Schedule a little time for love
Now that you know your fertile window, block it out. Clear the decks, synchronise calendars with your partner and set a reminder for some lovin’. Just be careful what your push notifications say when they pop up on your phone screen!
Ask for help looking after number one
Life with kids is unpredictable. So even if your mummy-daddy time is scheduled down to the minute, little people often lead to unexpected interruptions. Maybe your teething toddler might need to be held all night, or decide that your fertile days are the perfect time to start a sleep regression. Suddenly your everyday mum-life gets in the way, you miss your fertile window and you’ll have another whole month to wait to try again.
Save yourself some time and ask for a helping hand. Book a babysitter or drop bub off at Grandma’s and get away for a little adult time.
Think about your health
Stress and poor health can make it harder to fall pregnant. Try to take a little time out to look after yourself. Get as much sleep as you can, eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, limit your drinking and get light to moderate exercise. And do your best to keep your stress levels down.
Try to keep it fun
Even though you might have your eye on the prize, remember that making a baby isn’t a chore. It can be a wonderful time for you and your partner, and a bit of motivation can help give you a little boost in the bedroom if things are starting to feel a little routine. And don’t let it cause you stress if you don’t fall pregnant straight away. It’s quite normal to take up to a year to fall pregnant.
Enjoy the time – life will be a whole lot crazier when number two comes along.
(This is a sponsored article)
