Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Tips for New Moms: Preconception, Pumping & Parenting Support

Trying to get pregnant is not always as simple as it sounds. In couples of reproductive age, roughly 9% of men and 11% of women suffer from infertility. Although that number may seem small, if you’re included in these groups, it can be very painful and stressful. Whether you choose intrauterine insemination (IUI) or you’re still trying to conceive the usual way, you’ve likely already wondered about exercising during this time, and that’s what this article is here to help with.   Can You Exercise While Trying to Get Pregnant? The simple answer is “yes,” you can exercise if you’re trying to get pregnant, but since overdoing it can affect ovulation and therefore your ability to conceive, keep in mind that light or moderate exercise should be the norm. Studies have shown that if you exercise one hour per day, or seven or more hours per week, it can actually contribute to your fertility problems. Strenuous exercise when you’re trying to get pregnant, including when you’re going through IUI treatments, is a huge no-no. It puts too much stress on the body, especially your reproductive and other organs, and this can certainly hinder your efforts to conceive. Many doctors, in fact, recommend that you keep your heart rate under 130 beats per minute as you exercise. In addition, keep away from exercises that involve heavy lifting and high-intensity exercises, including running and skiing. Even if you’re used to high-impact cardio workouts, you should switch to low-impact exercises that keep your heart rate below 130 and don’t produce too much stress on your muscles and joints.   What Not to Do During Implantation Again, exercise should not be strenuous, in part because it can cause contractions that will prevent implantation from occurring. Yoga, walking, and light or low-impact are good exercises to do when you’re going through IUI treatments, but give up the jogging and tennis games. If you aren’t sure if your current exercise plan is acceptable, just consult with your doctor. Here is a list of important things that you should do during IUI treatment: Try to stay as healthy as you can. This includes getting regular exercise, drinking lots of water to stay hydrated, not smoking or drinking, reducing your stress level, and attending support groups if you think one is necessary. When you do conceive, the shape your body is in will directly impact the health of your pregnancy and the child you’re carrying, so get a head start by getting healthy before you get pregnant. Don’t skip your folic acid supplement. Folic acid is part of the vitamin B family and helps with brain development, not to mention the production of new cells and even the creation of DNA. If the fetus doesn’t get enough of this supplement, it’s possible there could be some type of birth defect. Folic acid is an inexpensive supplement as well, so it doesn’t cost you much to keep you and your baby a lot healthier. Make sure that you get familiar with all of your options. Simply put, IUI might not be the best option for you. Keep in mind that there are numerous other options, too. If you’ve just read about IUI or heard about it from your best friend, this doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s right for you. If you haven’t already done so, make an appointment with a fertility specialist and see what they have to say about it. In addition to all of this, keep in mind that now is not the time to diet or try and lose weight. Concentrate on your health instead. After all, once you get pregnant, you’re going to have to gain weight so the baby can grow properly. For now, forget about dieting and counting calories and instead, concentrate on doing what's best for both you and the baby.   Other Important Tips to Keep in Mind When it comes to exercise, you’ve already learned that low-impact exercises work best, even if you were jogging in the past. That being said, you can still change things up every now and then to get some variety in your workout routine. As long as you follow the exercise “rules” already mentioned, you should be safe. Just make sure that you don’t go overboard with your workouts. For instance, you can switch from yoga to stationary bike riding or swimming to walking. As long as you’re not overdoing it or doing anything that’s too stressful, you’ll be fine. It’s also better if you stick with each exercise for a few weeks at a time instead of doing a different exercise each day. Stay well hydrated at all times, and never participate in contact sports until you speak to your doctor first. And in case you’re wondering, you can also do core-strengthening exercises if you like. In fact, as long as it isn’t too strenuous, working on your core can be advantageous because it helps with both posture and balance, both of which are important when you become pregnant. It can even help you get back into shape faster once the baby arrives.   Conclusion If you participate in any type of IUI or IVF to help you get pregnant, there are some do’s and don’ts that you have to follow. This is especially important in the area of exercise. Strenuous or high-impact workouts need to be avoided, but you can still participate in moderate workouts three or four times per week. You should also stay hydrated, take vitamins, and start acting like you’re already pregnant so your body is healthy enough to accommodate a pregnancy.

If you’re trying to get pregnant but seem to be having trouble, there could be a variety of reasons why it isn’t happening for you. If you haven’t had a complete checkup yet but you’re still interested in learning what you can do on your own, remember that when you’re in good shape, it is much easier to conceive. This is a general statement, of course, since many factors are involved when trying to get pregnant. Still, keep reading to learn more about exercise and fertility.   Is There Really a Relationship Between Exercise and Fertility? First of all, there is a relationship between how much you exercise and your fertility, but it may not be what you’re thinking. Just as with anything else in life, fertility is made simpler when you get moderate exercise on a regular basis. It makes sense when you think about it: the healthier you are, the more likely it is that your body will work the way that it’s supposed to work, including becoming pregnant. That being said, there are two main points to keep in mind. The first is that you do not have to be in excellent shape for your workouts to positively impact fertility. If you get yourself in such great shape that you’re able to run a marathon, that’s great, but it isn’t necessary if all you want is to get pregnant. Exercising 20 to 30 minutes per day, three or four times a week does you just as much good. In fact, and this is the second point, sometimes, exercising too much can be detrimental to your efforts to get pregnant. Exercising one hour or longer per day can actually make it harder to get pregnant. Why? Because exercising too much can inhibit ovulation, which makes it much harder for women to conceive. This means finding a balance between exercising and exercising too much is important.   Consider Your BMI Number Your body mass index (BMI) number is a good starting point for determining if your weight is appropriate. Any number that is between 18.5 and 24.9 means that you’re at a healthy weight. From 25 to 29.9 means that you’re overweight, and anything over 30 means that you’re obese. You can go online and find the charts that help you determine your BMI. All that you have to do is enter your height and weight, and the chart calculates the number for you. One word of caution, though. Your BMI number is not the only thing to consider when trying to determine if you’re in good shape. Someone whose build is muscular may have a higher BMI number than a person whose build is average, but this doesn’t mean that they are overweight. Once you determine what your BMI is, check with your doctor to help decipher what it means for you. The bottom line is this: there are many benefits of exercise when you’re trying to get pregnant, but since there are other factors to consider if you’re having trouble conceiving, remember that moderate exercise is good and too much exercise can be bad. As long as you’re getting regular moderate exercise and keep your weight within the normal range, it will be an improvement.   How Else Does Exercise Affect Fertility? If you’re curious to learn more about the power of exercise while trying to get pregnant, consider these things: If your BMI is below 18.5, you are considered underweight and may suffer with infertility just the same as women who are overweight Exercise affects several hormones in women, including estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, insulin, and even cortisol While exercise affects fertility, it is only one of the factors that can affect if or when you conceive Exercise affects ovulation in numerous ways, including the release of eggs and even the outcome of your pregnancy If you’ve been trying to conceive for one year or more (six months or more if you’re over the age of 35), you should schedule a complete medical exam Regular exercise that is moderate can also affect your ability to conceive in other ways. It improves blood flow to various organs, including the reproductive organs; reduces the risk of experiencing certain conditions that lower futility, such as polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS); and helps ensure that all hormone levels are where they should be, which can help you conceive.  Regular exercise also helps reduce your stress levels and help you relax, both of which can help you get pregnant.   How Do You Start? If you’re not pregnant and you’ve never exercised, don’t panic when considering how you’re going to start. A good pre-pregnancy workout can be whatever you want it to be; just make sure you start out slowly and build up from there. Whether you like to ride a stationary bike, take an aerobics class, go jogging, or swim, start out with ten minutes per day of exercise and keep going until you’re exercising 20 to 30 minutes per day, roughly four days a week. You might also want to consider getting a complete checkup before you get started, not only so your doctor can give you some helpful tips but also to ascertain your overall health status and learn what your starting point is. Your doctor should know that you’re trying to get pregnant so they can recommend what type of exercise you should choose.   Conclusion While regular exercise can affect your ability to get pregnant, it isn’t the only factor to consider. Taking excellent care of yourself both physically and emotionally is a great start, and your doctor should always be involved in your important decisions.

While getting pregnant is simple for many women, for others it is challenging and difficult. To make things worse, the longer it takes, the more stressful it can become, and since stress levels can affect the ability to conceive, finding ways to reduce stress is important. Fortunately, there are now natural ways to increase the odds of conceiving, and this includes finding the perfect way to exercise when trying to get pregnant. Yoga is one of those exercises, so if you’re interested in trying fertility yoga so you can finally get pregnant, below are some good ones to consider.   Cat Stretch The cat stretch actually helps reduce menstrual cramps, so it’s a great pose to learn for many reasons. To start, get down on all fours and make sure your knees are below your hips. Next, inhale then round your back and make sure your navel is drawn inward. Bend your head and place your chin on your chest, then slowly move back to the starting position while exhaling.   Cobra When it comes to easy and amazing yoga poses that boost fertility, this one can be done by almost anyone. You start by lying on your mat facing down, making sure your feet are hip-width apart and your hands are by your side. Place your hands on the mat to push yourself up slowly until your shoulders and gaze are facing upwards, then hold the position for a few seconds.   Warrior 2 This is another common yet easy-to-do yoga pose that you should be able to do even if you’re a beginner. Stand up straight with your heels slightly apart, then exhale and place one foot to the side of the other one, stretching it out as much as you’re comfortable doing. Then spread your arms out to your side and change the position of the foot you moved so it’s perpendicular to the foot you didn’t move. Bend the leg of the moved foot until it’s parallel to the floor but make sure that foot is flat on the ground. Keep this position for a few seconds, then inhale as you get into the original position.   Bridge Looking for yoga postures for conceiving doesn’t have to be a challenge, and this is another simple one for you to choose. Start by lying flat on your back with your knees bent and your arms lying by your side. Next, bend your hips upward and move the feet slightly apart. Your body should look like a diagonal line (a “bridge”). Stay this way for 12 to 15 breaths.   Legs up the Wall This exercise is not only simple but also super relaxing. Lie on your back and place the buttocks and hips against the wall and your legs straight and placed against the wall. Relax your arms to your sides and stay this way for 10 to 15 breaths before stopping. While you’re doing this one, your body should be at a 90-degree angle.   Reclining Bound Angle Relax on your back and if necessary, place a pillow under your neck for extra comfort. Spread your arms by your side with your palms facing up, and place your legs apart with your feet touching so they are open and look like a butterfly. Your feet will be together and your legs are flat against the floor. Remain there for 10 to 15 breaths before relaxing. This fertility exercise works in part because it relaxes the groin and inner thigh muscles.   Goddess This one is both relaxing and fun. You start by standing tall, then you spread the feet apart and bend your legs so you’re actually squatting. Place the arms out, bent at the elbow, with your fingertips facing the ceiling. If you need to, start by squatting only as long as you’re comfortable with and squatting further down as your muscles start to relax more and you get used to the pose.   Downward-Facing Dog Start on all fours with your arms and legs as close together as possible. With your back straight, spread your arms forward on the mat with your head in between them, and do this until your body looks like a perfect upside-down “V.” Make sure that your heels are flat on the floor, and you can bend the knees slightly if you’re too uncomfortable.   Relaxation This is the ultimate exercise for conceiving a pregnancy because it is a basic relaxation pose. Lie flat on your back with your legs and feet straight out on the mat and your arms relaxed by your side, palms facing up. Lie there completely still for five minutes, breathing slowly in and out so you’re completely relaxed the entire time.   Seated Forward Fold Sit on the mat facing forward, with your legs together and spread out in front of you. Bend the feet upward, then lean over slightly and gently place your arms on the mat on the side of your legs, with your palms down. Stretch gently as much as you can for one to two minutes. Never bounce as you stretch because it can pull or strain a muscle. Just relax and stretch as much as you can.   Conclusion The bottom line is this: several yoga postures for conceiving can be successful because they relax and open up several parts of your reproductive system. They help you relax, can stimulate blood flow, and increase circulation to areas such as the heart, abdomen, and the pelvic area. For many women, these yoga poses have helped tremendously.

Clinic data in the UK and across Europe suggests that blastocyst transfers have more likelihood of success than transferring young embryos. Either way, here are a few changes that take place as we pass by days from the implantation.  1. Light bleeding/spotting  This is a common symptom that can be found in many women during the early DPT period. As the blastocyst / young embryo digs deeper into the uterus, it is perfectly normal to experience this symptom.   2. Increased vaginal discharge With the blastocyst / young embryo digging deeper into the uterine walls, there will be an increased discharge from the vagina. This is also a normal experience. 3. Breast changes From the 6 DPT pregnancy test and onwards you can find some light Breast changes. Breast tenderness/sensitiveness can be an indicative way to know the embryo's development. 4. Elevated body temperature The body temperature is usually lifted which signifies the implantation. This remains as it is throughout the pregnancy as it provides a nice warm temperature for the fetus. The difference is minor upto 1-2 degrees only. If the implantation has not yet occurred, the temperature will be dipped.  5. Common pregnancy symptoms Apart from this, regular pregnancy symptoms such as fatigue, loss of appetite, weight gain, weight loss, constipation, etc are of course there throughout the pregnancy. Please note that not everyone experiences these symptoms. The absence of any of these symptoms doesn't necessarily mean that the process has any faults.  Can We Take a 6 DPT Pregnancy Test? Even though it is recommended to wait for 14 days, women are never able to wait it out that much. Many mothers-to-be start taking tests starting from 6 DPT and onwards. So yes, technically there is no harm in taking tests as early as a 6 DPT pregnancy test. However, know that the results that you get are not permanent. If you get a 6 DPO negative pregnancy test, it is possible that the fetus is still in the implantation process and is yet to develop properly. You can see some positive signs from 10 DPT onwards. If you can try a 10 DPT pregnancy test, you would be able to find the right results. However, these might be a little inaccurate as well. The only final and accurate pregnancy test result is after 14 DPT taken by your doctors. Ideally, mornings are the best time for testing. Whether you are doing a 6 DPT pregnancy test or a 14 DPT one, it is recommended to test in the mornings and that too using pregnancy tests which have a line indicator. The lines on the pregnancy test also indicate the intensity and strength of your pregnancy. If you see very faint pink lines and a positive result, try to eat healthier foods and keep your body warm and fertile so that these lines get darker over time and result in a healthy pregnancy. Please remember that there is always an element of doubt when you take home pregnancy tests. Your fertility medications or tricky bodily hormone levels can cause these tests to give out a false positive as well. Double-checking and consulting a doctor to confirm your pregnancy is the best way to be sure about it.  Final Words IVF Embryo Transfer has changed the lives of many. People are increasingly adopting IVF and the success rates of IVF pregnancies have also increased largely, from 35% for women under the age of 35 to a whopping 55% now. Women go through many changes and see a lot of symptoms during this time. Hope this has helped you get a gist of the 14 weeks to wait and what you can expect through your journey of IVF embryo transfers! 

Pregnancy is a miracle in a woman's life. However, the time at which it occurs is the most crucial part of the experience. Whether it was planned or unplanned, are the parents ready or not, and many other factors then come into the picture. If you have had a 16 dpo positive pregnancy test, then here's what it means and what you can expect of it! What is DPO? Starting from the basics for those who are unaware of these terminologies, DPO means days past ovulation. Ovulation usually begins 14-16 days after the end of your period. The most common sign that you are ovulating is experiencing a heavy white discharge. The ovulation lasts for only about 12-24 hours. The days that are passed by after your ovulation has ended are counted as DPO. 2 DPO means 2 days post ovulation, 3 days post ovulation is 3 DPO and so on. Usually, 14 DPO is the time for your next period cycle again.   16 DPO - Pregnant or Not Pregnant? If you are not on your period by 16 DPO (Days past ovulation), that is not generally more than 2-3 days of delay. This can be considered normal as there are many other reasons which can cause your periods to become late. These reasons include increased stress levels, change in diet, decrease in physical activity and a lot more.16 DPO is not a huge delay. However, if you have had unprotected sex in the past month, there might be chances of a pregnancy. Positive pregnancy test 16 days after conception will mean that you are pregnant.    16 DPO Pregnancy Test Results If you want, you can take a pregnancy re-test just to be sure.   16 DPO Positive Pregnancy Test If you have taken a 16 DPO pregnancy test at home, these usually work by detecting HCG hormone levels in the urine. As 16 DPO does not include a long time since the fetus's implantation in the uterus, your body might not be having enough 16 DPO HCG levels . If you are pregnant but the fetus has not developed properly yet, the hormones might not be regulated and hence, the test might show a negative.Thus, there is always a chance of getting a false negative test due to low 16 DPO HCG levels. You can wait for your period for a few more days. If you don't get one then you can try taking a pregnancy test again after a few days.If you get a 16 dpo negative pregnancy test and you feel like you might be pregnant, it might be a good idea to consult a doctor or take a proper blood pregnancy test (BPT) at a lab rather than a home test. If you experience symptoms such as swollen and tender breasts, fatigue, morning sickness, nausea, and/or excessive peeing and moodiness, your hunch might be correct!All of these are some early signs of pregnancy. If you experience these signs, you are most likely to become pregnant. However, if even a proper 16 DPO pregnancy test at a lab showcases a negative, you might be facing an issue of irregular periods. Periods are considered to be irregular when they are later than a week or two from the expected date.However, remember that if it is a negative, you still have a chance to try again. Conception takes time for many. Take it slow and enjoy the process! Negative Test Results at 16 DPO but No Period If you have taken a pregnancy test which has come out to be negative, there are still many reasons why the test results might be altered. A 16 DPO negative pregnancy test is not your final result!After 20-24 DPO, a repeat test at home or a proper medical test can be conducted to check the status of the pregnancy. If you are worried about not getting your periods on time, this could be due to several reasons relating to managing HCG levels in your body.It can be considered normal to get a delayed period once in a few months. However, if this issue persists after every cycle or if you never get your periods regularly, it might be a good time to talk to your doctors. Final Words 16 DPO is a tricky period where many women feel confused about whether they are pregnant or just experiencing a delayed cycle. Taking a pregnancy test and interpreting the results correctly becomes crucial at 16 DPO.Meta description - A 16 DPO positive pregnancy test generally means that you are pregnant for real. If you have some doubts or think this could be a false alarm, read how to find it out!