Before Getting Pregnant
Preparing for a healthy pregnancy and baby starts with taking good care of yourself—through exercise, diet and lifestyle habits. Our Obstetrics and Gynecology team at NorthShore can help guide you through your pregnancy, and provide you with expert information and personalized care throughout each trimester.
If you are planning to become pregnant, learning when you ovulate and being aware of when you are most fertile can be very helpful. There are a various fertility awareness methods to follow when trying to get pregnant, including the calendar (rhythm) and basal body temperature methods. Often the best way to get pregnant is to combine multiple methods.
As you start planning for a child, your physician can help you determine how to stay healthy throughout your pregnancy. By partnering with your physician, you will discuss various factors that can influence your pregnancy, such as:
- Chronic illnesses, such as diabetes, asthma, depression, obesity and others
- Nutrition
- Exercise
- Tobacco, alcohol and drug use
Throughout each trimester of your pregnancy there will be numerous prenatal tests as well as visits. These appointments are when you can address any other health concerns or questions.
Trouble Getting Pregnant
Fertility can be influenced by many factors, and becoming pregnant after only a month or two of trying may not always happen.
If you and your partner have problems becoming pregnant after a year of trying while actively following fertility awareness methods, you may wish to talk with your physician about some simple fertility tests, such as:
- Blood tests to determine hormone levels
- Physical examination, including a review of medical history
- Semen analysis
- Pelvic ultrasound
At NorthShore, we recognize that fertility problems can be stressful, overwhelming and frustrating. Depending on the results of your fertility test, our team will work with you to determine the best treatment option. Whether your treatment involves a tubal procedure, in vitro fertilization or reproductive surgery, our team will work with to help ensure the best outcome.