I want a baby now – nailing it!

The honeymoon has taken another gear. You fee! you know you partner at least well enough to now allow the ushering in of your dream child. As much as that may be as easy as ‘one, two, three’, sometimes issues stand in the way making your dream quite evasive. You need to be well informed in the baby-making arena so that your lovely venture has less anxiety.

Conceiving facts

Ovulation generally occurs about two weeks before your next menstrual period.

» A mature follicle in the ovaries raptures and releases an egg causing ovulation.

» After ovulation, the follicle develops into a structure called the corpus luteum which secrets hormones progesterone and oestrogen.

» Progesterone prepares the endometrium (lining of the uterus) for implantation by the embryo by thickening.

» The egg (zygote) is released into the fallopian tubes where it travels until sperm can penetrate it during fertilization

» The egg can be fertilized in 24 hours after ovulation.

» The egg released from the ovary can be split by one sperm m the process of being fertilised causing identical twins sharing the same placenta.

» Two eggs that are fertilised by two sperms result in fraternal twins with separate placentas and amniotic fluids.

» If there is no sperm to fertilize the egg, the corpus luteum (structure involved in production of progesterone) degenerates causing the endometrium to shed off in menstrual bleeding.

» At the time of fertilization, your baby’s genetic make up is complete including its gender.

» If a Y sperm fertilizes the egg, the baby is a boy-XY. If an X sperm fertilizes the egg, the baby will be a girl-XX.

» After fertilisation, the egg remains In the fallopian tube for about three days.

» The fertilised egg divides rapidly into many cells before it attaches itself to the endometrium (implantation).

» You may notice spotting for one or two days around the time of implantation.

» Your baby is known as an embryo from conception to the eighth week of pregnancy and a foetus from then on until birth.

» Most doctors calculate the start of pregnancy from the first day of your last menstrual period.

Increasing the chances

» Avoid using lubricants since this can be extremely hostile to sperm.

» Stay away from chemicals found in scented tampons, arousal oils, douching and other freshening sprays or creams.

» Limit or give up alcohol, caffeine, tobacco and drugs like marijuana which cause disruptions to your menstrual cycle.

» Keep healthy weight by being neither obese nor underweight since these can cause hormonal imbalances.

» Avoid too much exercise as this can reduce your chances of ovulation,

» Take fertility drugs when It is absolutely necessary or under the guidance of a doctor.

» Monitor your basal body temperature to help you determine exactly when you are ovulating, Your temperature should rise during this time.

» Experiment with sexual positions that allow for deeper penetration and deposition of sperm as dose to the cervix as possible,

» Elevate your hips for about 15 minutes after sex to keep extra semen from leaking from your vagina.

» Eat more monounsaturated fats like olive oil and little vegetable fats.

» Increase intake of vegetable protein like soy and reduce intake of animal protein like red meat,

» Eat more high fiber, low-glycemic foods like whole grains, vegetables, fruits, and reduce the intake of refined carbohydrates and sugars.

» Consume moderate amounts of high-fat dairy products like ice cream, whole milk and cheese,

» Drink lots of water.

» Minimize your stress levels and relax.

Alternatives for conceiving

» If your partner is fertile but impotent, artificial insemination with his sperm gives a 50 percent chance of conception.

» If your partner’s semen does not contain any healthy sperm, artificial insemination with a donor’s sperm can be done.

» In vitro fertilization can be done once the egg Is fertilized with sperm in it culture dish and transferred back to the uterus for the baby to grow.

» If your uterus cannot nurture a pregnancy, the fertilized egg is implanted into the womb of a surrogate mother who can carry the baby to term.

» If your ovaries are not producing any eggs, a surrogate mother’s egg can be fertilized by your partner and she can carry the baby to term,

» Before choosing the surrogate option, get expert legal advice on who gets custody of the child.

Well, as much as these alternatives are scarce in East Africa, they are said to work. If you are in a position to adapt them, do not hesitate.

END:PG30/8-9