Pregnancy & TTC Learning Center

When you’re trying to conceive, knowing when you are most likely to get pregnant is crucial. Each month, there is a short window when an egg can be fertilized and implant in the uterus. Learn how to calculate these best days to conceive by tracking ovulation and seizing the opportunity on your most fertile days.

Roughly 5 million women in the United States of reproductive age are living with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), according to the CDC. PCOS is a condition where higher androgen levels in the body can lead to irregular periods, ovarian cysts, thinning hair, excess facial hair (hirsutism), and often a harder time getting pregnant.

Many people focus on missing their period as one of the first signs of early pregnancy. You might be surprised to learn that a small amount of blood and some cramping – known as implantation bleeding – can be a sign of pregnancy as the fertilized egg attaches to the uterine lining and your 9-month journey begins.

When you’re trying to conceive, knowing when you are most likely to get pregnant is crucial. Each month, there is a short window when an egg can be fertilized and implant in the uterus. Learn how to calculate these best days to conceive by tracking ovulation and seizing the opportunity on your most fertile days.

Knowing you are pregnant sooner affords you an early start on a healthier pregnancy for both you and your baby. Most women know the basic early signs of pregnancy, especially a missed period. But that's not the only sign. If you're wondering whether or not you're pregnant, it's probably time to take a pregnancy test – especially if you're experiencing any of the following early pregnancy symptoms.

Embarking on the journey of fertility and pregnancy often involves encountering a maze of acronyms and pregnancy abbreviations.

Knowing you are pregnant sooner affords you an early start on a healthier pregnancy for both you and your baby. Most women know the basic early signs of pregnancy, especially a missed period. But that's not the only sign. If you're wondering whether or not you're pregnant, it's probably time to take a pregnancy test – especially if you're experiencing any of the following early pregnancy symptoms.

Why Early Pregnancy Detection Matters The first few weeks of pregnancy are critical to fetal development, so early prenatal care is important to healthy birth weight and baby survival.

Elizabeth Yepez, MD is a board certified ObGyn and Clinical Instructor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Illinois at Chicago School of Medicine. Dr. Yepez has focused much of her career in eliminating racial and socioeconomic health disparities.

Elizabeth Yepez, MD is a board certified ObGyn and Clinical Instructor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Illinois at Chicago School of Medicine. Dr. Yepez has focused much of her career in eliminating racial and socioeconomic health disparities.

You pee on a stick and then a few minutes later the answer to one of the biggest questions in a woman’s life appears, seemingly almost by magic, in a small window. But how does it all work?

From the earliest moments of conception, your body is already starting to undergo monumental changes. One of the very first is production of the pregnancy hormone, hCG (human Chorionic Gonadotropin), which can be detected in your blood and in your urine.

Mary Jane Minkin, M.D. is a board-certified obstetrician/gynecologist in private practice in New Haven, Connecticut, and a Clinical Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Yale University School of Medicine.

For obstetricians, three is certainly a magic number. We tend to think of pregnancy in trimesters, each composed of about 13 weeks. A lot happens in each trimester, and here I’ll outline what is occurring and what you might notice, during each of these phases.

Prenatal vitamins are a definite DO when you are in your reproductive years and when you’re pregnant. But there are so many out there, it’s hard to know which vitamin is right for you. Getting the facts about prenatal vitamins will help you avoid confusion.

Some of the most anxiety inducing moments in my life have been when I was taking a pregnancy test. Both when I had been trying to conceive, and that time that it turned out ot be a surprise.

By Danielle Davis Danielle works in partnership with First Response to share her pregnancy stories. This story was originally featured on her blog,Today’s the Best Day.

Many healthy changes that a woman makes before pregnancy will not only impact the health of her pregnancy, but also her ability to get pregnant in the first place. I often find that when asked to think about their future baby, women often make lifestyle changes more willingly.

If you’re pregnant, or trying to get pregnant, you may have heard of DHA. But what is DHA? DHA is an acronym for the nutrient docosahexaenoic acid, an Omega-3 fatty acid.

You pee on a stick and then a few minutes later the answer to one of the biggest questions in a woman’s life appears, seemingly almost by magic, in a small window. It reads either “pregnant” or “not pregnant.”

Let's start with the truth: There is no perfect time to have a baby. There will almost always be something that’s out of sync with your biological yearnings: your career, your age, your relationship (or lack thereof), your financial status, your tiny apartment – the list of potential barriers goes on.

Confused about how you can access infertility treatments during the COVID-19 Pandemic? Well, so were we, but we listened to the community, asked doctors in the field and looked at how states were treating medical care.

New Haven, CT: Pregnant, trying to conceive couples and those within weeks/months of giving birth are questioning the safety of going to the hospital, doctor’s office, labs and clinics. Mary Jane Minkin, Clinical Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology at Yale University and founder of MadameOvary.com offers tips and tells women to stay calm but be prepared.

Hope and joyful moments will guide us through these uncertain times. There is so much joy in bringing a new life into the world. So wherever you are in your pregnancy journey, First Response is here to reassure and support you.

Confused about how you can access infertility treatments during the COVID-19 Pandemic? Well, so were we, but we listened to the community, asked doctors in the field and looked at how states were treating medical care.

New Haven, CT: Pregnant, trying to conceive couples and those within weeks/months of giving birth are questioning the safety of going to the hospital, doctor’s office, labs and clinics. Mary Jane Minkin, Clinical Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology at Yale University and founder of MadameOvary.com offers tips and tells women to stay calm but be prepared.

For many women, getting pregnant can be a frustrating and anxiety-filled experience. Here are some tips for women who are trying to conceive.

When you’re actively trying to conceive (TTC), things can get a little stressful. Seeing that disappointing “negative”, month after month can really take a toll on your spirit. It may be hard to maintain that positive outlook when you feel like you’re just not getting anywhere.

When you’re actively trying to conceive (TTC), things can get a little stressful. Seeing that disappointing “negative”, month after month can really take a toll on your spirit. It may be hard to maintain that positive outlook when you feel like you’re just not getting anywhere.

Danielle works in partnership with First Response to share her pregnancy stories. This story was originally featured on her blog, Today’s the Best Day.

Deciding to begin trying to conceive is one of the biggest and most exciting choices you’ll ever make. That’s why you should give it plenty of thought before you begin.

Trying to conceive (TTC) can be an emotional roller coaster. At times it can be exciting and enlightening (“we’re making a life!”), but it can also be stressful and frustrating (“we have to have sex how many times?!”).

The job of a gynecologist is to help keep women from getting pregnant when they don’t want to be pregnant, and to help them conceive when they want to have a baby.

When you’re trying to conceive, you’ll do anything to help you get pregnant. Use a fertility lubricant like Pre-Seed to support your pregnancy journey.

When you’re ready for a baby, it seems pregnancy can’t happen soon enough. Whether you and your partner are planning to get pregnant during a specific time of year, balancing work schedules and vacations, biological clocks, or are just anxious to get a little one in your arms — the waiting game can get old quick.

When you’re ready for a baby, it seems pregnancy can’t happen soon enough. Whether you and your partner are planning to get pregnant during a specific time of year, balancing work schedules and vacations, biological clocks, or are just anxious to get a little one in your arms — the waiting game can get old quick.

It’s a question many of us ask ourselves, often before we are even trying to conceive. The problem? There’s tons of conflicting information out there. So we’re going to sort through the noise.

By Brandi Jeter Brandi works in partnership with First Response to share her pregnancy stories. This story was originally featured on her blog, Mama Knows it All.

When you're trying to conceive, you can't leave it up to chance. Your body runs on cycles with fertile windows. An ovulation predictor kit can help you identify the two days of the month when you're most likely to conceive.

Cervical mucus, often abbreviated CM, may not have the most pleasant sounding name but it is an important part of your everyday bodily functions. It has huge importance to TTC couples, which is why it’s important to know how to check your cervical mucus, identify when it’s most fertile and how to improve it.

A late or missed period can make you hopeful (if you’re trying to get pregnant) or worried (if you’re not). While pregnancy is one cause of your period not arriving on schedule, it’s not the only reason you might be late or you might skip a cycle. Myriad factors from stress or miscounting to larger underlying medical reasons can cause your period to be delayed or missed.

By Brandi Jeter Brandi works in partnership with First Response to share her pregnancy stories. This story was originally featured on her blog, Mama Knows it All.

Whether you have just started trying to conceive or you have been trying for years, there are things you can do to give yourself the best chance of getting pregnant. In general, couples have about a 20% chance of conceiving each month.

The selection of your physician or other healthcare provider will be one of your first important decisions in planning for a baby. Choose a doctor with whom you are comfortable, whose outlook and treatment of pregnancy is closely aligned with your own beliefs.

There's no research or clinical evidence to support that "worrying" hinders conception. Extreme stress can affect your ability to ovulate in very rare cases. "Worrying about it," on the other hand, can be useful if it moves you to action in the form of determining your ovulation and then timing intercourse to coincide with your most fertile time.

Congratulations! You’ve decided to have a baby and that’s a very exciting time of your life. But remember, making a baby can take time. So be patient, especially when your friends seem to constantly be sharing their good news and the in-laws are asking, ‘Are you pregnant yet?’ every time they see you.

I am not pregnant yet. But I hope to be, and I’ve found that even carrying around that hope in my heart has changed parts of my life in big and small ways.

Trying to conceive can easily become an all-consuming pursuit, but don’t let the stress of the conception rollercoaster keep you from having fun and enjoying your loved ones

Let's start with the truth: There is no perfect time to have a baby. There will almost always be something that’s out of sync with your biological yearnings: your career, your age, your relationship (or lack thereof), your financial status, your tiny apartment – the list of potential barriers goes on.

The worst part about checking the mail used to be expecting bills; now you have the same feeling in your stomach when you receive a baby shower invitation.

Your personal health plays a vital role when trying to get pregnant. When you’re TTC, you have to start taking better care of your body in order to prepare it for carrying a baby.

I remember walking out of the Infertility Clinic in Omaha, Nebraska, eight years ago armed with syringes, a red “Sharps” container and prescriptions for injectable medications to stab in my thigh and butt for two weeks.

When you’re actively trying to conceive (TTC), things can get a little stressful. Seeing that disappointing “negative”, month after month can really take a toll on your spirit. It may be hard to maintain that positive outlook when you feel like you’re just not getting anywhere.

An Open Letter to Women In the Infertility Clinic Waiting Room Shelley Skuster Open letter By Shelley Skuster Shelley works in partnership with First Response to share her pregnancy stories. This story was originally featured on her blog, Shelley Writes

If you have been trying to get pregnant for 1-2 years without success, you may decide it’s time to take things to the next level in your baby making journey. Fertility clinics can help by assessing your medical and sexual history, identify potential causes of infertility, and recommend treatment.

The guidelines state you should seek the advice of a specialist if you are under 35 and have had unprotected intercourse for 12 months without a pregnancy. However, if you are over 35, you should only wait 6 months to seek the advice of an infertility treatment specialist.

1 in 8 couples have trouble getting pregnant or sustaining a pregnancy. You are not alone. If you’re living with infertility and looking for support, you may want to consider finding a support group in your community.

Whether you have just started trying to conceive or you have been trying for years, there are things you can do to give yourself the best chance of getting pregnant. In general, couples have about a 20% chance of conceiving each month.

I am super excited to share 10 helpful tips and tricks that carried me through my infertility journey - and I hope you find this list as a source and guide to help you through as well.

He thought we’d wait for a blood draw at the RE’s office two weeks after his swimmers were shot up my you-know-what with a catheter. But I had my own plan of seeing those two pink lines in the comfort of our bathroom and surprising him early with the news of impending fatherhood.

Every couple mired in infertility, every woman who has ever spent hours scouring the Internet for new breakthroughs and conception tips has had the same wish: For a clear-cut, easy-to-follow program that would guarantee a healthy pregnancy.

The decision of when a couple decides to start a family is a deeply personal one, and a host of professional and personal factors go into your family’s own ideal timetable. And even when a man and a woman agree that the time is right, there is no predicting how long the journey of trying to conceive might take.

The job of a gynecologist is to help keep women from getting pregnant when they don’t want to be pregnant, and to help them conceive when they want to have a baby.

If you are trying to conceive, you have probably heard many tips for getting pregnant and have a hard time discerning fertility fact from fiction. Which suggestions may actually help when you are trying for a baby?

Most women know their own bodies very well, with great insight into its ebbs and flows. But how well do you know your ovaries? Without them our lives and our bodies would be very different indeed.

When you're trying to conceive, you can't leave it up to chance. Your body runs on cycles with fertile windows. An ovulation predictor kit can help you identify the two days of the month when you're most likely to conceive.

Cervical mucus, often abbreviated CM, may not have the most pleasant sounding name but it is an important part of your everyday bodily functions. It has huge importance to TTC couples, which is why it’s important to know how to check your cervical mucus, identify when it’s most fertile and how to improve it.

A late or missed period can make you hopeful (if you’re trying to get pregnant) or worried (if you’re not). While pregnancy is one cause of your period not arriving on schedule, it’s not the only reason you might be late or you might skip a cycle. Myriad factors from stress or miscounting to larger underlying medical reasons can cause your period to be delayed or missed.

Prenatal vitamins are a definite DO when you are in your reproductive years and when you’re pregnant. But there are so many out there, it’s hard to know which vitamin is right for you. Getting the facts about prenatal vitamins will help you avoid confusion.

Your school might have poured considerable planning and resources into its sex education program, but chances are good it was similar to most sex ed classes.

The first phase of your cycle is called the follicular phase. This begins on Day one of your cycle, which is the first full day of menstrual bleeding when the lining of the uterus starts to shed.

First, determine the length of your normal cycle. It could be anywhere from 20 to 45 days long. Start counting on day one of your period (the first day of bleeding or spotting) — and stop counting on the first day of your next period. This is the length of your cycle.

An Open Letter to the Expecting Mom Open letter By Danielle Davis Danielle works in partnership with First Response to share her pregnancy stories. This story was originally featured on her blog, Today’s The Best Day.

Most families have a story about an aunt or a grandmother who was expecting to have a baby of one gender, based on how she was feeling during the pregnancy, how she carried her weight, etc.–and ended up with a baby of the opposite gender.

I Didn’t Wait to Share My Pregnancy on Social Media.Brandi works in partnership with First Response to share her pregnancy stories. This story was originally featured on her blog, Mama Knows It All.

It’s almost time to lighten up and shed those bulky, winter layers. Welcome in the season and celebrate your beautiful baby bump with these fresh spring styles.

Elizabeth Yepez, MD is a board certified ObGyn and Clinical Instructor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Illinois at Chicago School of Medicine. Dr. Yepez has focused much of her career in eliminating racial and socioeconomic health disparities.

Congratulations! You’re pregnant! Hold onto your maternity jeans, because lots of changes lie ahead. Fortunately, we have some tips to make your pregnancy journey a little more comfortable.

For obstetricians, three is certainly a magic number. We tend to think of pregnancy in trimesters, each composed of about 13 weeks. A lot happens in each trimester, and here I’ll outline what is occurring and what you might notice, during each of these phases.

Can you afford to have a baby? Sure, it’s an age-old question that people have been trying to accurately answer, for generations. Or, at least since paid maternity leave was a thing.

It’s hot outside, and you’re pregnant. For those of us who have weathered the sweltering heat and humidity at seven, eight, or nine months pregnant, we know just how sticky, swollen, and uncomfortable the summer months can be.

Many healthy changes that a woman makes before pregnancy will not only impact the health of her pregnancy, but also her ability to get pregnant in the first place. I often find that when asked to think about their future baby, women often make lifestyle changes more willingly.

If you’re pregnant, or trying to get pregnant, you may have heard of DHA. But what is DHA? DHA is an acronym for the nutrient docosahexaenoic acid, an Omega-3 fatty acid.

Let's start with the truth: There is no perfect time to have a baby. There will almost always be something that’s out of sync with your biological yearnings: your career, your age, your relationship (or lack thereof), your financial status, your tiny apartment – the list of potential barriers goes on.