Ok, ladies...for those who want to get pregnant:

1. Figure out whether or not you have a regular cycle. If it is a normal 28 day cycle, days 9-14 are the days you can conceive. If you have a 30 day cycle, still start what I advise for the regular gals on day 9, but keep it going til day 16.

2. Cut out the caffine. That includes soft drinks, tea, coffee and chocolate. Avoid mangos and papaya.

3. Start taking prenatal vitamins if you are even THINKING of getting pregnant. Need to get those mineral stores up before there is a bun in the oven.

4. Day 9, start taking one baby asprin (81mg of asprin, like St. Joseph's) a day, and continue to take until you get your period or a positive result when you POAS. If you have any kind of bleeding or blood disorders, do not do this! As with any medical advice, please check with your doctor before taking an asprin daily if you have any reason to believe that it may adversely affect you. Why baby asprin? A daily mild dose of asprin has been proven to not only help women get pregnant, but to also lower the chances of miscarrying for some women. I took the asprin until I hit 13 weeks with Billy, just to make sure he stuck.

5. Start taking regular 4-6 hour dosages of plain Robitussin syrup (Guaifenesin syrup) or store brand tussin (without the cough suppressant in it) on day 9 as well. Why? Because it thins out the mucus in your cervix and makes it easier for the little swimmers to get to where they are going. Continue to take this until day 15.

6. Make sure daddy-to-be ups his orange juice intake! The extra vitamin C in its natural form seems to help create stronger swimmers.

It seems to be that conceptions that take place within 24 hours of ovulation will result in a bouncing baby boy, while up to three days prior to ovulation can yield a little princess. Why? The male chromosomes are faster, stronger swimmers, but the female chromosome carrying sperm can live up to 3 or 4 days inside the cervix and fallopian tubes.

Avoid hot baths, hot tubs, and getting overheated when ttc. This is especially important for the daddy! Heat kills sperm, and it takes anywhere from nine to 12 days prior to the act for those little bundles to be produced. A great way to build up the count...MAKE HIM WAIT!!! The longer he goes without an ejac., the higher the count will be. Also, boxers really are much better than tightie-whities when ttc (not to mention they look much cuter)!

Finally, HAVE FUN!!! I know that pressure of "honey, its day 13...we have to make a baby!" Sure, its fun in the beginning and really exciting, especially if you've just come off birth control, but after the first 6 months, it can really become a chore. So change the pace a little. Got a great backyard? Set up a romantic "camping trip" on the patio (but don't you dare ttc in the swimming pool or hot tub!). Have a carpet picnic. Get some sexy big, fluffy pillows and a great blanket for the floor of the living room, just to change the pace a little. Most of all, be sure to enjoy those last days as a couple.

Once you see those lines on the stick, your life will never be the same.

Oh, I don't know about this one! I tried to stop drinking coffee and I turned into the wicked witch, my dh was begging me to drink a cup of coffee!!

Seriously, what great info! Thanks DA

Great post DA! I might also add Zinc is GREAT for the Daddy to be and his swimmers. A fantastic natural way to get this is pumpkin seeds. Yum!

i'm stuck on step 1. i don't have a regular cycle.

the end. game over. i lose

I have been using this site http://mymonthlycycles.com/ to help me remeber the start of my periods and when I'm fertile...my dh was getting annoyed with me asking him when was the start of my last period

i don't either, due to PCOS, and my dr. had mentioned in the past about putting me on clomid. tho, i have come to find out, i can conceive naturally. i know there is a higher chance of multiples due to more than one egg dropping at ovulation...maybe that sounds good to you??

have you ever thought about charting, also? taking your temps everyday to find out when your body is ovulating...a heck of a lot cheaper than going out and buying the ovulation tests.

When I read the title of this post, I said to myself "you mean other than the traditional manner?"

Great post, though, DA! Im sure very helpful to those trying to start a family. That ship has looooooong sailed for me (DH keeps asking for one more - our DDs are 14 and 9 and I keep telling him that his next kid will be with his next wife!).

Whoops, don't say that, he just might do it!

Also, these might seem obvious but it's best to cut out smoking, alcohol (though I've known more than one baby conceived on a drunken night) and to loose weight if heavy or gain weight if real skinny before trying to conceive. Also excessive exercise sometimes makes periods irregular so that might be something to cut back on too.

Also, I heard that stress can interfere with conception too. Especially if very stressed in some part of your life. So if possible, try to find ways to eliminate it or at least manage it better.

Acupuncture is a good way to cut stress and supposedly has helped some women having problems getting pregnant, conceive. That could be because they're relaxed but who knows?

Also, a woman should try to orgasm when her partner does. The contracting muscles "draw" sperm up to the cervix which opens at orgasm so that might be helpful. Some say that missionary position is best with hips on pillows to elevate them but ???

I bet any possible male readers are running from this thread right about now.

Blingaholic, I always had very irregular periods but got pregnant when I wasn't expecting too. So please keep positive thoughts.

I used to go for MONTHS without a period and not be pregnant! My fertility seems to range in few-year cycles. I'll be fertile for a year or two, then start getting periods later and later each month. For example...I got my periods this year on 1/1, 2/2, and 3/3. It would be a hoot if I get one on 4/4. Doesn't matter to me, I've been fixed!

I'm still trying to deal with the fact that I'll never be pregnant again, and my POS ex is running around fully in tact.

i do chart my BBT, which is how i know i'm not ovulating (other than the obvious sign of a lack of a monthly visit from auntie flo) if my body won't stop being lazy by this summer, i'm probably going to go beg my dr for some clomid.

i've also thought of acupuncture, but i'm deathly afraid of needles. they say it's slightly thicker than a strand of hair, but STILL. it just freaks me out.