Refer a Friend and Earn Offers! - Beli Prenatals are HSA/FSA eligible!

Top 6 TTC/Pregnancy Questions for First-Time Parents-To-Be from an OB

Deciding to become a parent is the beginning of a thrilling/terrifying experience, and it’s normal to have a zillion questions along the way. For those who are new to the pregnancy game, you may be wondering what exactly you can or should be doing so those two pink lines make their exciting debut. We’ve got you covered! We checked with Dr. Steve Rad about the top six TTC/pregnancy questions for first-time parents-to-be.

1. Do we need to track my cycle? And … how do you do that?

Figuring out when you’re ovulating can help boost your odds of becoming pregnant because you can time when to get busy, so tracking your cycle isn’t a bad idea. If it sounds like a lot of work, feel free to skip it!

If you decide you want every advantage for becoming pregnant, including this one, you have a few options. You can track cervical mucus, use the calendar method, or go the tech-savvy route with an ovulation predictor kit.

2. When should I start taking prenatals?

We love this question! Part of the mission here at Beli is educating people on the importance of preconception care, and prenatal vitamins play a key role. If a baby is in the cards, starting prenatal vitamins early – three to six months before you hope to conceive – is all about optimizing your health with nutrients shown to support fertility for a better chance of a healthy conception and pregnancy. Folate, for example, supports egg quality and reduces the risk of birth defects. Choline reduces miscarriage risk by protecting against neural tube defects. Vitamin D supports embryo implantation. You’ll find all of these nutrients – and more! – in a high-quality prenatal vitamin like Beli for Women.

Starting prenatals early has another benefit as well. The majority of women don’t know they’re pregnant until they miss their first period, typically between four and six weeks of pregnancy. This is the same time period that brain and spine defects often occur. By starting prenatal vitamins three to six months before you hope to become pregnant, you can be certain that your baby will have all of the nutrients necessary for proper neural tube development.

One more time, for the folks in back – as soon as you decide you’re trying for a baby, it’s time to start prenatals. 

3. Are men’s prenatals a thing?

Yes, yes, one thousand times yes. The preconception health of both hopeful parents-to-be affects everything from conception to the health of the next generation. Prenatal vitamins formulated for men are designed to support male fertility, and that means promoting sperm health. As it happens, a nutrient shortage is the most common reason behind sperm deficiencies – a fact that really clarifies the importance of a men’s prenatal vitamin! 

In Beli Vitality for Men, we use 14 handpicked ingredients based on the most current research on men’s fertility nutrition. The right minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants can support sperm health across all parameters, including motility, morphology, and quantity.

Bonus – taking a prenatal vitamin is also an easy, tangible thing your partner can do to feel involved in the process of becoming a father. It’s a nice little side benefit.

4. Do we need to make any lifestyle changes to increase our chances of getting pregnant?

Definitely! Remember, the health of both parents prior to conception has direct implications on everything to come, beginning with a healthy conception. And while prenatal vitamins for the both of you are important, so is committing to healthy lifestyle habits. That means a nutritious, varied diet. It means adequate hydration. It means nixing bad habits, like too much alcohol and recreational drugs (and yeah, probably CBD too). It means consistent exercise and stress management and plenty of sleep. The fact is, our fertility health is very closely tied to our health as a whole. So anything you do to improve your general health will benefit your fertility too.

5. How quickly can we realistically expect to get pregnant?

Literally no one can answer this question definitively. However, there are some generally accepted statistics that may be helpful as a guideline. Among pregnant women under age 37 who have no known fertility issues, roughly 45% of them will have conceived within three months of trying. Eighty-five percent will try for a year, and 93% will try for a year and a half. But remember that every couple is unique, and guidelines are really just that.

6. Should we see a doctor if we’re not pregnant within a certain timeframe?

The general recommendation is to try for at least a year before seeking an expert’s take. But for your own peace of mind, give yourself the freedom to speak to your doctor well before that if you think it will help! At the very least, you’ll get a little reassurance that time is all you need. At best, your doctor will test your partner’s sperm and your hormone levels to rule out any potential issues.

More questions? Check out our FAQ page or send us a message on social!

Shop the Story

Additional Resources

The long, lazy days of summer aren’t just prime vacation days. Summer could actually be an especially fertile season, which may be of interest to couples who are interested in starting a family. If you’re angling for parenthood this summer, here’s what to know about the season of fertility.

Read More

The summer heat really can have a temporary effect on male fertility, so doing what you can to keep cool, especially if the goal is becoming a dad, is really important. Here are tips to keep you and the boys cool this summer.

Read More

If you’re no stranger to the telltale signs of seasonal allergies—sneezing, itching, nasal congestion, irritated eyes, the works—you’re likely familiar with antihistamines. When you’re actively trying to conceive, there’s more to understand about histamines, seasonal allergies and how it affects your fertility.

Read More

When the plan is a baby, but you’re having a hard time conceiving, it’s normal to start wondering why. While there can be a number of issues in play, one tends to be overlooked: sleep quality. Specifically, men who have the sleep disorder sleep apnea could be at greater risk of fertility issues. Now, new research is drawing a more definitive link between sleep apnea and male fertility. Let’s review.

Read More

Fact: You can’t look at a guy—or eyeball his semen sample, for that matter—and determine his fertility. It just doesn’t work that way. The only way to truly assess sperm health is with a semen analysis. But there are a few lifestyle choices and truths that may indicate whether a man’s sperm is healthy and happy. 

Read More

While PCOS can be a challenging condition to manage, natural supplements like inositol that are included in Beli Preconception Boost offer a beacon of hope. Inositol's ability to improve insulin sensitivity, hormone balance, and ovulatory function makes it a valuable tool in the PCOS management toolkit. 

Read More

The concern that hormonal contraception affects future fertility is making the rounds on social media again. But research continues to show that all that worry is for naught. While birth control doesn’t cause long-term fertility issues, it can mask them by creating an artificial cycle—something that’s important to understand.

Read More

While it’s lumped into the “bodily fluid” category, semen is a complex cocktail of compounds designed to support fertility. Like sperm quality, semen health can be influenced by lifestyle factors—an important realization for couples trying to conceive. From color to consistency, here’s what healthy semen looks like.

Read More

There’s a lot of chatter when it comes to male masturbation and what it says about a man’s fertility or whether it’s an issue when a couple is actively trying to conceive. And in the interest of clearing up the confusion, we’re taking a facts-based approach to the topic of men, masturbation and fertility.

Read More

For many of us, our twenties and even thirties are a time when the focus is on pregnancy prevention. And that’s okay! But even when the idea of motherhood is miles away there is tremendous value in understanding your fertility health and what you can do to support it during these young, carefree days.

Read More

We’re thrilled to introduce Beli Women Preconception, a complementary fertility supplement designed to support fertility health by promoting egg quality, supporting ovulation, balancing hormones, regulating your cycle and helping to manage symptoms of both PCOS and PMS.

Read More

Once a month, PMS symptoms make their unpleasant presence known. And while knowing what’s happening won’t make PMS magically disappear, it can help you manage symptoms by balancing hormones and supporting your reproductive health. Let’s review.

Read More

Raise your hand if you already know that you have a biological clock. From age 35 and beyond, there is a natural decline in testosterone and sperm quality. Just as people lose muscle strength, flexibility and endurance with age, sperm also tend to lose their "fitness" over the life cycle. But what does that mean—and does it really matter?

Read More

It’s an easy assumption, but you’re much better off thinking that every prenatal vitamin is wildly different in terms of composition, nutrient quality and, importantly, nutrient amount. Not only is that actually true, it puts you in the smart consumer mindset of understanding what matters in a prenatal vitamin—and why.

Read More

If you have endometriosis, you can already recite its lengthy list of pretty terrible symptoms. And the standard options for managing those symptoms — medications, hormone therapy, hormonal birth control, estrogen blockers, surgery —  aren’t always great. But there is evidence that a so-called “endometriosis diet” can help.

Read More

Men really do benefit from specialized nutrition in the form of a prenatal vitamin that’s formulated to support sperm health. Here’s what that looks like, and how specific nutrients can impact a man’s fertility health before fatherhood.

Read More

Shilajit is finally getting the credit it’s due, and we’re proud to point out that our proprietary formula was the very first to include this powerful Ayurvedic compound. Here’s why shilajit is rapidly becoming the darling of the male fertility world–and what you’re missing if you’re skipping it.

Read More

Ever wondered why men produce so much darn sperm, especially if only one of them will ultimately fertilize the egg? There are millions of sperm in normal ejaculate because it increases the likelihood that one will reach the egg and seal the deal. It begs the question, what exactly happens on the journey to the egg?

Read More

Optimal nutrition plays a pivotal role in enhancing fertility and supporting a healthy pregnancy. A diet rich in essential nutrients, such as vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and healthy fats, lays the foundation for reproductive health.

Read More

Is there anything unsexier than scheduled, pressure-ridden, trying-like-hell-to-conceive sex? But good news. We’ve found handy workarounds and tricks of the trade, so forget the basal temperature chart for a second and read on for four ways to keep things hot when you’re TTC.

Read More

Just as women’s bodies need to be prepared for pregnancy, men’s bodies need to be ready to contribute healthy sperm for conception. Nutrients are the foundation that support the normal structure and function of sperm and men's fertility health. Taking Beli’s male prenatal supplement is a proactive way to strategically fuel your body to optimize fertility contributing to your overall chances of conceiving and supporting a healthy pregnancy.  

Read More

Diet has been suggested to have an influence on the quality and function of human sperm. More specifically, the results of a randomised trial have shown that including nuts as a component of a regular diet improved the quality and function of human sperm.

Read More

A shot to the balls may be played for laughs on screen, but testicular impacts really aren’t a joke. Worse case scenario, getting hit in the balls can affect fertility thanks to complications like sexual dysfunction, low testosterone and other issues. Let's discuss.

Read More

With the New Year upon us, there are all kinds of articles and videos making the rounds with predictions of the Zodiac signs most likely to get pregnant in 2024. But here at Beli, we take a much more scientific approach to conception. Here are the top eight things people will do to get pregnant in 2024.

Read More

Research shows that the overall health of both biological parents during the preconception window plays a huge role in everything from conception to pregnancy health to the lifetime health of their baby. Luckily, there are simple steps you can both take to improve your health together.

Read More

When it comes to becoming parents, good habits really will take you where you want to go. Now, new science is giving us insight into exactly how long it takes to form those good habits. We're breaking down all the ways you can build healthy habits to boost your chances of conception. Think of it as life-hacking, but for grown-ups.

Read More

Preparing for a baby means doing everything in your power to nourish your fertility health. If you’re totally on board but wondering what that actually means, we’re breaking down the do’s and don’ts for planning a pregnancy.

Read More

Somewhere between the “let’s have a baby!” conversation and seeing those two pink lines, you’re going to end up researching prenatal vitamins. And trust us when we say you’re going to have a ton of options to wade through. Consider this your handy guide to the best prenatal vitamins for men and women in 2024.

Read More

Here at Beli, we’re working hard to raise awareness of the important role men play in the baby-making equation, which brings us to today’s topic of men’s preconception health and specifically, sperm health. Knowing what you’re working with can save you a lot of time, but is at-home sperm testing considered an important part of men’s preconception health? Let’s break it down.

Read More