Pregnancy Q & A: Your Pregnancy Questions Answered

Q: Can drinking alcohol harm my unborn baby?

Absolutely yes, according to the National Organisation on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. Studies show that alcohol consumption can negatively affect your baby’s development in the formative first few weeks – even before your know you are pregnant. However if you did drink, before finding out you were pregnant, chances are your baby will be fine, but it is advisable to stop drinking as soon as you know you’re are pregnant. Despite extensive research there is no definitive safe level of alcohol consumption during pregnancy , so even though the odd glass of wine might be a preferred way of getting in the mood, fire up the imagination for guilt free ways of having fun. And remember if you drink, you risk spending the next nine months stressing over whether you have harmed your baby. And trust us there are much better things to be thinking about……..like chocolate!

Q: If my partner drinks can alcohol hurt or damage sperm?

There is no evidence to suggest that your partner’s sperm can give your baby fetal alcohol syndrome, however there are studies that show alcohol can interfere with his sperm quality. How you ask? In 1994 a study on rats indicated that male alcohol use prior to conception may impair the chances of falling pregnant or may lead to baby’s being born underweight, they may experience compromised immune systems and are more prone to behavioral or hormonal disturbances. Another study (using rats) linked male alcohol consumption to hyperactive children, however we are not rats and these studies can’t conclusively indicate that the same effects would be present in humans. So really it’s simply a conversation between you, your partner and your doctor who can advise on whether he should cut back his intake, and whether his current intake is excessive.

Q: Can a male partner’s age affect fertility?

Luckily for men, there is no definitive age when a man cannot reproduce because the number and concentration of sperm remains at a constant level throughout his lifetime. Basically the likelihood of pregnancy is dependent on the maternal age rather than the paternal age. As men age, even with decreases in semen volume, sperm motility and sperm morphology (shape and size of sperm) the male ability to produce sperm continues well into their senior years. However while the effects of paternal age on fertility and conception may not be as decisive as maternal age, it is generally thought the younger more vital the sperm the higher the chances of a successful conception.

Q: How long will it take to get pregnant after stopping birth control?

Once you have stopped your birth control, your ovulation could resume as early as the next menstrual cycle, however regular cycles (every 24 to 32 days) could possibly be delayed for a few months. Once your regular ovulatory cycle returns your chances of falling pregnant are around 20% per month, if your regular cycle doesn’t resume within six month’s of stopping your birth control, consult with you doctor.

Q: I’ve been trying to track when I’m ovulating, do Ovulation Predicator Kits really work?

According to the American Fertility Association and leading fertility clinics and experts worldwide – yes they do! The best OPKS (Ovulation Predicator Kits) work by measuring the surge of luteinising hormone (LH) which is detected via your urine stream. The detection of LH means the brain is screaming at the ovaries j-a-c-k-p-o-t!