Having a baby is one of the most miraculous and life-changing things you will ever do. But what happens if you struggle getting that baby on board? It can be a huge source of worry and frustration, but don’t give up. Even if you haven’t fallen pregnant right away you have plenty of options for boosting your success of adding a baby to your family.

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Boost Your Chances of Conceiving Naturally

Many couples can be worried when they don’t conceive straight away. However, it’s worth noting that 85% of women conceive naturally within one year and 95% within two, so the likelihood is you will probably be able to have a baby naturally. If it’s still early days, there are a few things you can do to help boost your chances of falling pregnant. Both you and your partner being within a healthy BMI, exercising regularly, not smoking or drinking too much alcohol and eating a healthy diet can all improve your general health and boost fertility. Consider adding foods such as bananas, asparagus, almonds and citrus fruit to your diet which have been shown to be useful in fertility. If you work rotating shifts, now is the time to change your hours at work. Research found that women working these patterns had an eighty percent higher rate of fertility problems than those who worked steady day shifts. So isn’t something to take lightly.

Have IVF

If you’ve been trying to conceive without luck, your next step could be to consider having IVF. This is where an egg and sperm are manually fertilized in a laboratory dish to create an embryo, which is then transferred to the uterus. There are a number of steps involved, and the process can be complicated, but for many couples, it gives them the opportunity to have a baby that’s genetically both theirs. You could search IVF doctors in your area to find out the exact process, your likelihood of success and the costs involved.

Consider Donor Egg or Sperm Programs

If one partner is infertile and their eggs or sperm are unusable, you could consider using either a donor egg or donor sperm. While the baby will only be genetically related to one partner, it’s an option for those who aren’t able to have a baby by other means.

Use a Surrogate

A surrogate carries the baby, and generally uses her own egg. If the female partner is infertile but you want a baby that’s genetically the male’s, then this is a good option. Surrogacy can be complicated so be sure to do your research before considering this. Use a reputable agency rather than finding someone yourself as there’s less risk this way.

Adopt

Finally, if none of the other options are suitable or you decide against them as a couple then you still have the opportunity to adopt. You get to show a child an incredible life and be parents even if the child isn’t genetically yours. Fostering children is another option, and again you open your heart and life to a child who may not have had the best start.