I have always wanted children.
 
Even when I was in college, I was flying to the UK to mind my sister's children and babysitting at every opportunity. I knew I wanted to be a mama but I also enjoyed excelling in my line of work. And although it was always on my agenda to become a mum, I was aware that prioritising my career meant risking my chances of pregnancy in the future.
 
I am not alone.
 
Deep anxiety about the ability to have children later in life plagues many women. We hear time and time again that the longer we leave it, the harder it is to get pregnant. 
 
It is the unfortunate reality of our biology - It has a time-limit.
 
I am now the mother of three children. All born in my mid to late 30's. I feel very lucky. But difficulty conceiving is a real concern for many, which is reflected in a recent study we carried out amongst our mummy readers.
 
MummyPages surveyed* 161 mums on all aspects of their fertility and the results gave us pause for thought. 
 
 
A third of our mums admitted it took them over 12 months to get pregnant. Age was an obvious factor. Since a woman’s egg reserve halves every year after the age of 35, it is not surprising that 60% are worried about their chances of conception. 59% were most concerned about how their age will affect this. 38% are taking fertility enhancing prenatal vitamins to help with the process and over half of the women surveyed concentrate their sexual intercourse activity during their fertile window. 
 
Other findings we found interesting were that 37% of Irish mums are exercising more to get pregnant, 36% have changed their diet, with most adopting a low-sugar way of eating and 62% have cut-out or cut-down on alcohol to help their chances of getting pregnant. Surprisingly, only 1 in 10 smokers stopped to prepare for pregnancy.
 
32% of mums-to-be don’t leave anything to chance and track their ovulation using hormone predictor kits.
 
Importantly, it isn't always a case of delaying starting our families in favour of travelling and having fun - sometimes it financial constraints or unstable circumstances that push out our timelines. 
 
What does all this mean for a woman trying to decide when to have children? 
 
 
Do what is best for your own situation.
 
In my case, I cut down on alcohol and sugar, increased my exercise regime and began taking fertility enhancing prenatal vitamins (as did my partner).
 
You can also track your ovulation using hormone predictor kits, stop smoking and avoid those who remind you of the deafening tick-tock of your biological clock (hello, mum!) 
 
When it comes to getting advice on getting pregnant, online is the most popular avenue with 49% of mums-to-be researching websites and online forums for tips, recommendations and others’ real-life experiences. One in four mums visit their local GP for help, while in one in five consult a gynaecologist.
 
We know that most people seek medical help around the six-month mark of trying to conceive but take heart ladies, our findings also show that around 40% of us will get pregnant in the first three months of trying.
 
Good luck with your mission! 
 
 
 
*This survey was carried out on MummyPages, in conjunction with PROCEIVE®
Brought to you by
Proceive is a range of scientifically formulated fertility supplements for both men and women and is designed to support nutritional deficiencies associated with the reproductive system. It provides the most comprehensive formulations including Folic acid, amino acids, vitamins and minerals to support the nutritional needs of the body when trying for a baby

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