How to Support Your Partner While Trying to Conceive
The trying to conceive journey is beautiful and exciting but when it drags on it can get overwhelming and exhausting. For couples in the peak of their fertility, there’s only a 20% chance of conceiving each month – so it’s possible that creating your little bundle of joy may take longer than expected. In this article, we’ll share how you can support your partner through it all for a smoother experience.
Address your emotions
There will be highs – but also lows. Waiting for pregnancy to happen is hard, especially if everyone around you seems to be getting pregnant just by looking at each other. You will both experience the emotional aspect of the journey in your own ways and potentially on a different timeline. This is normal and neither of you is to blame. Make sure to leave space for conversation, for both of you to share what you’re feeling and to support each other along the way.
Stay engaged
Stay engaged with the process by joining your partner to doctor’s appointments, and making joint lifestyle changes that can increase your chance of conception. If your partner is following a healthier diet or taking vitamins and supplements, find out how you too can make changes to improve your fertility (this article can help!). While the physical aspect of pregnancy falls solely on your partner, It takes two to make a baby and your general health matters as much as hers.
Leave space for fun
Scheduling sex to match your partner’s peak fertility plays havoc on romance, turning something beautiful into a chore. Bring back some spontaneity into the equation: go on date nights or a special trip away, buy her flowers and make her feel special. Simple, loving gestures can remind the both of you that there’s more to your relationship than making a baby.
When to seek help
It’s possible that you may have differing views on when to seek help. As noted by psychologist William D. Petock, PhD, “infertility cuts into a man’s feelings of masculinity”, so it may be harder to make that first step towards outside help. In general, the CDC recommends that women under 35 try to conceive for a year before seeking help. For those over 35, the recommendation is 6 months. However, you don’t necessarily need to wait that long. Address this subject with your partner and share how long you’re comfortable waiting before seeking help. In the meantime, you can also test your sperm in the privacy of your own home (especially if the thought of producing a sperm sample at the doctor’s office scares you!). YO Sperm Test measures your viable sperm and reports quality results which you can keep personal between the two of you or share with a professional. This gives you a better idea of where you stand and what you can do to improve your fertility.
Bottom line is – the trying to conceive journey can be exciting, but also isolating if it’s a long one. Navigating this time as a couple, aware of each other’s feelings, concerns and wishes makes it all smoother and ensures you remain united through it all.