How to Keep the Romance Alive While Trying to Conceive

As women, we spend much of our lives trying not to get pregnant, but when the time comes that we’re ready to start a family, many discover that it’s not as quick to happen or easy after all.

When couples have been trying to get pregnant for a few months, something shifts in their relationship and immediately lovemaking becomes baby-making. While some couples can become closer, others may become distant. The emotional rollercoaster of trying to conceive can take all of the romance and intimacy out of sex. And, when you combine that with managing careers, social lives, and family obligations, stress levels can easily rise and can affect a woman’s fertility.

The more you stay connected together as a couple, the more able you’ll be to manage stress until it subsides. Couples need to keep connected not only physically, but emotionally and romantically as well.

Here are a few ways that couples can keep the romance alive while trying to conceive:

  Set aside some time when you are not totally exhausted or rushed to have sex.

  Try to put a priority on lovemaking the rest of the month.

  Begin with a back rub or a bubble bath together to relax.

  Spend more time cuddling.

  Schedule a date night each week to stay connected.

  Find ways to be physically intimate without having sex. Remember the fun of just kissing.

  Appreciate what your partner does for you each day.

There are other ways to decrease stress too, according to Obstetrician/Gynecologist Dr. Yoav Brill of Toronto East General Hospital, including knowing precisely when you are actually fertile.

"A commonly asked question that I receive from women is how long it will take them to conceive, and if there are any tools available that can help increase their chances," says Dr. Brill. "Your two most fertile days are the day BEFORE you ovulate, and the day of ovulation. Using a Clearblue digital ovulation test can be an important first step to increase your chances of getting pregnant. The majority of women don't actually know what days are best to try to conceive, and are missing critical days by not detecting their LH surge which occurs 24-36 hours before ovulation.”

Starting a family is an exciting time for any couple. Staying connected, keeping stress levels low and remembering to focus on each other can help you get pregnant sooner and help keep the romance alive in the process.