You and your partner have decided that you want to start a family. That moment is very exciting and you literally cannot wait for the day when the baby is born. But the reality is, of course, that it is going to take nine months before a baby is born and the time before conception could be months. What are you to do before that time comes?

In short, take action and be patient. Firstly, visit your gynaecologist to advise you how long the contraception you’re on will wear off once you stop taking it. When you stop taking the contraception pill you could fall pregnant almost immediately. Of course this does differ from woman to woman as some take about month or longer. With the Mirena you could fall pregnant after a month.

If you don’t experience regular periods, you will have to get this checked. However, if your gynaecologist confirms that your reproductive system is healthy then it’s best not to be worried. It may take you a bit longer to conceive because your cycle is irregular, but just because it is irregular doesn’t mean that you’re not ovulating. Your body may work differently to someone else’s and there’s nothing wrong with that. It just means that you will need to be a bit more patient.

In the meantime it is a good idea to look after your body and your general health. You need to prepare your body to host a new human being so make sure that you are getting all the nutrition possible to give that little human being a good start in life. Start with taking folic acid supplements daily and eat your fruit and vegetables. You could also take a multi-vitamin at this stage if you are not able to get all the nutrients you need. Avoid alcoholic drinks and any unnecessary medications. Stop smoking. Cut down on your caffeine intake and drink a lot of water to keep your body hydrated. Enjoy light exercises but avoid heavy or excessive exercises.

After a year of trying to conceive and nothing has happened, it is advisable to go to a fertility clinic. The fertility doctor will run a number of tests to determine what the cause of infertility could be. Once it has been diagnosed, you can venture forward with the plan of action recommended by the fertility doctor.

Whatever your plan of action when it comes to trying to fall pregnant, it is important to remain calm and avoid stress. It can happen at any time.