Trying for a baby in Ireland

When am I most fertile?

• Ovulation usually happens 12 to 16 days before your next period.
• You are more likely to get pregnant if you have sex around the time you ovulate.
• Sperm can live for up to 7 days inside the body, so sex in the days before ovulation can still lead to a pregnancy.
• Having sex every 2 to 3 days is the best way to boost your chances of getting pregnant.
• About 4 days before ovulation the fluid from your cervix turns wet, slippery and stretchy, a bit like egg whites.
• Your body temperature usually rises when you ovulate and stays higher until your next period, which a basal body thermometer can help you spot.
• Ovulation prediction kits are sold in pharmacies, but they can be expensive.
• No particular sex position has been proven to increase your chances of getting pregnant.

How much folic acid should I take?

• If you could get pregnant, take a 400 microgram folic acid supplement every day.
• Start folic acid at least 3 months before you get pregnant and keep taking it throughout your pregnancy.
• Folic acid supports your baby's brain and spine development and lowers the risk of neural tube defects such as spina bifida.
• Your GP may prescribe a higher 5 mg dose if you or your family have a history of neural tube defects, if you have obesity or if you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes.
• A history of neural tube defects in your partner's family also raises the risk, so mention it to your GP.
• Ask your GP before taking folic acid if you have had an allergic reaction to it or another medicine, take prescription medicines or have vitamin B12 or folate deficiency anaemia.
• Folate is also found in green leafy vegetables, legumes and citrus fruits, and some foods have folic acid added.
• It is a good idea to start folic acid 3 months before you plan to get pregnant, so think about it before you stop your contraception.

How long does it take to get pregnant?

• About 4 in 5 couples who have regular unprotected sex every 2 to 3 days get pregnant within 1 year.
• About 1 in 6 heterosexual couples have fertility problems, and infertility does not mean you cannot have a baby.
• Women are most fertile in their early 20s, fertility starts to fall after 30 and it falls faster after 35.
• At 30 you have about a 1 in 5 chance of getting pregnant naturally each month, and at 40 it is less than 1 in 20.
• You are unlikely to get pregnant naturally after age 45.
• Men's fertility may start to fall in their mid-40s, with less sperm and poorer sperm quality.
• After condoms, the copper coil, the hormonal coil, the implant or the mini pill, fertility usually returns very quickly.
• Many women conceive soon after stopping the pill, patch or ring, but it can take several months before your body releases an egg each month.
• After the contraceptive injection it can take up to a year for your fertility to return to normal.
• You can start trying straight after stopping the pill, ring or patch, but you may be advised to wait for 1 natural period so your pregnancy is easier to date.

What can I do to improve my chances?

• When you are trying to get pregnant, the safest choice is not to drink alcohol at all.
• Even small amounts of alcohol can affect fertility in some women, and in men alcohol can lower testosterone and affect sperm production.
• Women who smoke are more likely to have fertility problems and take longer to conceive, and smoking can damage sperm.
• Keep caffeine under 200 mg a day, which is about 1 to 2 cups of filter coffee or 2 to 4 mugs of tea.
• Being underweight, overweight or obese can affect ovulation and make your periods irregular.
• A healthy BMI is 18.5 to 24.9, or 18.5 to 23 if you are from an Asian, Black or Middle Eastern background.
• If you are carrying extra weight, losing 5% to 10% of your body weight over 3 to 6 months can improve your chances of getting pregnant.
• Talk to your GP or pharmacist about any medicines or supplements you take before you start trying.
• Illegal drugs reduce fertility and can be dangerous in pregnancy.
• Regular moderate activity is good for you, but very intense exercise may lower fertility.
• Stress can affect sex drive and sperm production, so it helps to find ways to manage it.
• Untreated chlamydia or gonorrhoea can lower your chances, so get a sexual health check before you stop using condoms if either of you might be at risk.
• Make sure you are protected against rubella, and get the MMR vaccine at least 1 month before you get pregnant.
• Take a vitamin D supplement before you get pregnant and during pregnancy.
• Fill about half your plate with vegetables, salad and fruit, and drink about 6 to 8 cups of fluid a day.
• Eat iron-rich foods every day alongside vitamin C foods, avoid tea or coffee with those meals and aim for 3 servings of calcium-rich foods a day.

When should I see my GP?

• If you are 35 or under, see your GP if you have been trying for more than 1 year without getting pregnant.
• If you are 36 or over, see your GP if you have been trying for more than 6 months without getting pregnant.
• If you or your partner have any health conditions, talk to your GP after 6 months of trying.
• See your GP sooner if you have had cancer treatment or have had chlamydia or gonorrhoea.
• See your GP sooner too if you have no periods or your periods do not come every month.
• Endometriosis, PCOS, a previous ectopic pregnancy, past surgery on the testicles, cervix or pelvis and a family history of menopause before 40 are also reasons to see your GP sooner.
• It is worth seeing your GP before you start trying if you are 36 or over, have a long-term condition or take medicines.
• Your GP may ask how long you have been trying and about your periods, health and lifestyle, and may arrange blood tests and STI checks.

Can I get IVF free in Ireland?

Yes, if you meet the criteria. The HSE funds fertility assessment and treatment at regional fertility hubs, and eligible couples can get 1 round of IVF or ICSI at an approved clinic. Read who qualifies for free IVF in Ireland and how to get it.

What are the early signs of pregnancy?

• Early signs of pregnancy include a missed period, feeling sick or vomiting at any time of day and tender or swollen breasts.
• You might also notice extreme tiredness, a stronger sense of smell, food cravings or dislikes, changes in discharge and needing to pee more often.
• Taking a pregnancy test is the best way to know if you are pregnant.
• Light spotting is very common and happens in around 1 in 2 pregnancies in the first 12 weeks.
• Implantation bleeding can happen about 3 weeks after your period, when the fertilised egg attaches to the lining of your womb.
• Spotting is usually pink, red or brown and too light to cover a pad, and it settles within 1 or 2 days.
• Cramps and period-like pains are very common in early pregnancy and are usually caused by hormone changes and your growing womb.

When should I do a pregnancy test?

• You are more likely to get an accurate result if you test on the day of your missed period or any time after.
• Some very sensitive tests can pick up a pregnancy as early as 8 to 10 days after conception.
• A positive test is almost always right, but a negative test can sometimes be wrong.
• A negative result may be wrong if you tested too early, did not wait long enough for the result (often 3 minutes), your wee was very diluted or the test was faulty.
• Leaving a test too long can show a faint evaporation line that is easy to mistake for a positive.
• If your test is negative but you still think you are pregnant, test again a few days later and contact your GP if you are still unsure.
• If your test is positive, see your GP to confirm the pregnancy and sign up for antenatal care.
• You can get pregnancy tests from pharmacies, supermarkets, GPs and family planning clinics.
• If you are unsure how you feel about a pregnancy, My Options offers counselling and support.

If your test is positive, see your GP to start your free maternity care, then work out your due date and follow your pregnancy week by week.

What if I have had a loss?

• Almost 1 in 4 pregnancies end in miscarriage, and most early miscarriages happen before 10 weeks.
• Most miscarriages are not caused by anything you did or did not do.
• Miscarriage is not caused by exercise, lifting, working, sex, flying or spicy food.
• Contact your GP, maternity unit or hospital urgently if you have heavy bleeding from your vagina or severe tummy pain.
• Heavy bleeding means needing to change a pad with blood clots every 15 minutes for more than an hour.
• Outside normal clinic hours, contact a GP out-of-hours service or an emergency department.
• Sometimes a miscarriage cannot be confirmed after 1 scan, and you may need another scan 7 to 14 days later.
• An ectopic pregnancy grows outside the womb and affects about 1 in 80 pregnancies in Ireland.
• Ectopic symptoms usually start after week 6 and can include pain low down on one side, bleeding, pain when peeing or pooing and pain at the tip of your shoulder.
• Go to the ED of your nearest maternity hospital or call 112 or 999 if you have sudden sharp tummy pain, feel dizzy or faint or feel very unwell and pale, cold and clammy.
• After an ectopic pregnancy, wait until you are cleared to try again, and next time ask for an early scan, ideally at 6 weeks.
• Recurrent miscarriage means losing 2 or more early pregnancies in a row and affects about 3 in 100 women.
• There is usually no right or wrong time to try again after a miscarriage, but your GP or midwife may suggest waiting for at least 1 period.
• Support is there from Pregnancy and Infant Loss Ireland, the Miscarriage Association of Ireland and HSE Live on 1800 700 700.