Thinking of having a child? Sometimes the act of conception is just not enough.  There are more factors that can keep us waiting for days, weeks and even months before we know that it is not working. In addition to that doctors rarely give you a infertility test until a full year of failure has gone by.  With some foresight and careful planning you can help your chances immensely in your abilities to conceive a child. Below are 6 steps to help you in the process.

Step 1: It is always important to meet with your OB/GYN for an initial exam. He or She can make you aware of issues that would cause you to be less fertile thus decreasing your chances in conceiving a baby. This initial visit is just to make sure that you are ready to carry a child safely. In addition to getting a clean bill of health you will want to include or schedule your annual pelvic exam and check for STDs and cancer.

Step 2: Practice healthy nutrition, "your body is your temple" and you need to remember your getting ready for another resident. Giving up some of our habits can be extremely stressful so you will want to start this step as soon as possible.  This means you should stop: drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes, taking drugs and believe it or not coffee! By not taking your morning coffee your blood pressure will be lower thus increasing your chances of becoming pregnant.

Step 3: Get a Basal Body Thermometer. There are two types of basal thermometers, digital and traditional (glass). In my opinion the digital is easier and faster.

Step 4: While you are taking your temperatures for step 3 make sure you are charting your body's temperatures. Taking good records on a Fertility Chart  will allow you to know exactly when you are ovulating and when the best time you will be fertile.

It is important to starting the readings (with your Fertility Chart and Basal Body Thermometer) on the first day of your cycle. Take a temperature when you first wake up, hopefully at the same time, before you get out of bed and moving around. This will insure that your temperature is consistent to your resting body temperature. 

The first half of your cycle, estrogen is the most prominent hormone and will this hormone will surge before ovulation. On average your basal temperature will be in the low range normally around 96-97. 

After you ovulate your temp will rise roughly .4 of a degree. This happens because your body releases progesterone.  Your temp will stay the same until either your next cycle or it could mean that you are pregnant.

A good Fertility chart can be: premade by hand, found in the back of a book or can be found online.

Step 5: If you properly charted your cycles then make sure you are have intercourse several times a day before ovulation (when you are in that 96-97 degree range). In addition, you should continue having intercourse for a couple days after ovulation. 

An egg will only live for 12 to 24 hours after ovulation. Male sperm can live up to 5 days. During this time remember to drink lots of water and if you can take prenatal vitamins which can be bought at a  pharmacy or vitamin store. These vitamins will help in the development of a new baby and decreases the chances of a baby having Spina Bifida (a neural tube defect).

Step 6: Relax take it one day at a time! Anxiety and stress have been proven to raise blood pressure and make your chances to conceive drop.

To find  more detail about conceiving. Look at these guides found on www.conceiving-a-baby.com