Planning a baby is one of the biggest steps in a couple’s life. As one in every six couples face fertility problems in India, this process of making a baby ends up becoming strenuous and stressful for many. Well, even though some fertility problems are not preventable, there are certain vital actions one can take to help initiate your new beginning.

Dr Lavanya Kiran, Gynecologist at Narayana Healthcare’s Women’s and Child Institute, has you six smart tips for couples trying to get pregnant without success.

1. Eat healthy

While many couples don’t focus on this, food and fertility are closely linked. Help your body in conceiving by consuming a balanced nutritious diet of vegetables rich in vitamins & iron like spinach, broccoli etc., whole grains (whole wheat, brown rice, millets etc.) and protein like paneer, eggs, fish, soya etc. Also, reduce the intake of processed foods, maida and sugar from your diet.

2. Be fit and active

By this, we definitely do not mean over exerting yourself. But following a daily regime of doing moderate physical activity improves hormone balance, blood flow and maximizes your chances of getting pregnant. Avoid straining yourself in order to stay slim, instead maintain a healthy weight. Try brisk walking, light jogging, cycling and sports like swimming to help overcome infertility.

3. Track your fertile days 

It is possible to get pregnant only during a few days every cycle. That is why it important for couples to educate themselves about their most fertile days as every woman has her own unique cycle which is controlled by their hormone levels. Therefore, using fertility monitors which identify up to 6 fertile days of your cycle can help you a lot. Fertility monitors from brands like Inito, Daysy etc. are gaining popularity as they can help you identify up to 6 fertile days of your cycle. These are at home tests that make tracking your ovulation cycles easy and convenient and have been proven to increase chances of getting pregnant naturally.

4. Reduce stress and anxiety

We know how daunting the process of getting pregnant is. However, letting yourself get affected by the constant pressure of starting a family can affect the chances of getting pregnant. Stress and anxiety tend to reduce the release of fertility hormones and can even suppress ovulation. So, the next time you think your stress levels are reaching for the roof, try meditating or doing yoga to calm your nerves.

5. Share your feelings and talk about it

Building up emotions within oneself is really not ideal for getting pregnant. Talking about it out to your partner or a confidante will not only help you relieve yourself of the built-up tension but they might be in a better position to share a viable solution. Many times, talking to friends and family and sharing your inner thoughts can help you combat bouts of anxiety.

6. Reduce caffeine and stop alcohol consumption

Cutting down on caffeine and eliminating alcohol can also improve your chances of conception. While moderate amounts of tea or coffee is safe, you shouldn’t have too much. Alcohol, on the other hand, is definitely a no by all means and can aggravate problems like irregular periods and lack of ovulation.

Fertility issues are very widespread these days and affect millions of couples in India. These simple tips of following a healthy lifestyle and tracking fertile days using fertility monitors can go a long way in helping couples conceive naturally.