Deciding to try for a baby after 40 was both exciting and nerve-wracking for me. I had heard all the concerns about fertility decline, but I knew in my heart that it was possible—and I was right! At 40, I conceived naturally and had a healthy pregnancy.
I’d love to share my experience and the steps I took to make it happen!
Can You Get Pregnant After 40? Sure You Can!
While fertility naturally declines with age, getting pregnant after 40 is absolutely possible. I am living proof that it can happen! I actually had my last three kids after the age of 37.
Women in their 40s conceive every day, and advances in medical care, lifestyle choices, and fertility treatments have made this journey more attainable than ever! You can do it too ❤️
However, it’s important to acknowledge that conception may take longer, and the chances of pregnancy per cycle are lower compared to women in their 20s and 30s. Egg quality and quantity decline with age, and there is a higher risk of complications such as gestational diabetes, high blood pressure, and chromosomal abnormalities. But don’t let that discourage you—there are ways to enhance fertility and improve your chances of a healthy pregnancy.
5 Tips That Helped Me Get Pregnant After 40
1. Optimize Your Diet & Lifestyle
The foundation of fertility is a healthy body, and what you eat can greatly impact egg quality and overall reproductive health. Here’s what worked for me:
- Nutrient-dense foods like leafy greens, lean proteins, whole grains, and healthy fats (avocados, nuts, and olive oil).
- Antioxidant-rich foods to fight oxidative stress, which can affect egg health. Berries, dark chocolate, and green tea.
- Hydration—staying well-hydrated supported my cervical mucus production and overall health. I try to drink mainly water and limit caffeine when I’m trying to get pregnant.
- Limiting processed foods and sugar because they can disrupt hormonal balance. Stick to whole foods!
Additionally, maintaining a healthy weight, exercising moderately, and reducing stress through yoga, and meditation.
I find walking to be such a great exercise. You don’t need any equipment, just shoes and somewhere to go. I also find walking a great way to boost my energy and creativity, I come up with my best ideas when walking!
2. Track Your Ovulation Closely
Since fertility naturally declines with age, knowing exactly when you’re ovulating is crucial for maximizing your chances of conception. Here are some great ways to figure out when you’re ovulating.
- Ovulation predictor kits (OPKs) to detect the luteinizing hormone (LH) surge. That happens when you ovulate! (I love these Easy@Home ones! They are cheap and work just as well as the expensive drugstore ones. They also come with tons of pregnancy tests for when it comes time to see if you did make a baby. Again, those are just as good as the pregnancy tests in the stores but wayyyy cheaper)
- Basal body temperature (BBT) tracking to confirm ovulation. When you ovulate your temperature goes up and it stays higher until the end of your cycle. If you’re pregnant it stays higher! It’s important to measure your temperature with extreme accuracy and to track it every day at the same time before you get up in the morning. You can get a special thermometer that provides that accuracy.
- Fertility tracking apps to monitor my cycle. I currently use Clue, but there are lots of helpful apps out there for you to choose from.
Cycles can also become irregular with age, so being proactive about timing intercourse during the most fertile window (a few days before and during ovulation) made a big difference for me. If you know your partner’s sperm count is normal you can do it once a day during that window. If their count is a bit low some fertility specialists recommend having intercourse every other day.
For an even better idea of when you’re ovulating, I would recommend cycle tracking using the FAM/symptothermal method. It takes a few cycles to get the hang of it but pinpoints to the day when you’re ovulating and combines all these methods above.
Fertility awareness methods help you track your menstrual cycle so you’ll know about when your ovaries release an egg every month. This is called ovulation.
The days near ovulation are your fertile days — when you’re most likely to get pregnant.
There are a few different FAMs that help you track your fertility signs. You can use 1 or more of these methods to predict when you’ll ovulate:
- The Temperature Method: you take your temperature in the morning every day before you get out of bed.
- The Cervical Mucus Method: you check your cervical mucus (vaginal discharge) every day.
- The Calendar Method: you chart your menstrual cycle on a calendar.
It’s most effective to combine all 3 of these methods. When used together, they’re called the symptothermal method.
3. Get a Preconception Checkup
A visit to a fertility specialist provided insight into my reproductive health. Important tests included:
- AMH (Anti-Müllerian Hormone) test to check ovarian reserve.
- FSH (Follicle-Stimulating Hormone) test to assess egg quality.
- Ultrasound to check for fibroids, polyps, or other uterine issues.
- Partner’s sperm analysis, as male fertility also plays a key role.
My doctor also recommended prenatal vitamins and supplements like CoQ10 to help improve egg quality.
More from Babytalk about which vitamins to take for ideal fertility!
4. Consider Fertility Treatments if Needed
If you’ve been trying for six months without success, it may be time to explore medical support. I conceived naturally, but I knew about options like:
- IUI (Intrauterine Insemination) – a simple procedure that places sperm directly into the uterus.
- IVF (In Vitro Fertilization) – where eggs are retrieved, fertilized in a lab, and transferred into the uterus.
- Egg donation – an option if egg quality is a concern.
Many women over 40 conceive naturally, but having these options can be reassuring. Talk about all the options when you go see your fertility doctor. It’s good to have it at the back of your mind that not all hope is lost even if you cannot conceive naturally.
5. Stay Positive & Manage Stress
Trying to conceive can be emotionally challenging, and stress can negatively impact fertility. I personally focused on:
- Surrounding myself with support—whether it was my partner, friends, or an online community of women on a similar journey. It’s ok to talk about it when you’re TTC (trying to conceive). You’d be surprised how many people are in the same boat as you and it’s nice to have a sense of community!
- Practicing mindfulness and relaxation techniques, like deep breathing, acupuncture, or journaling. I did a lot of visualization when I was TTC. Just picturing myself being pregnant and talking to my unborn babies really helped to put me in the right mindset.
- Being patient and kind to myself—this journey looks different for everyone, and each step forward is progress.
Understanding the Risks Without Fear
While there are higher risks associated with pregnancy after 40, being informed and proactive can help you manage them.
- Increased chance of miscarriage (due to chromosomal abnormalities) – Regular monitoring and genetic testing provided peace of mind.
- Gestational diabetes and high blood pressure – A healthy diet, regular exercise, and prenatal care helped lower these risks.
- Higher likelihood of a C-section – Staying active and working with a supportive birth team improved my labour outcomes.
The key takeaway? Yes, risks exist, but many women over 40 have smooth pregnancies and healthy babies with proper care. I was one of them!
Hope for Your Pregnancy Journey
Getting pregnant at 40 was an incredible journey for me, it really made me rethink society’s narrative on having babies when you’re older!
By optimizing your health, tracking ovulation, seeking medical support when needed, and maintaining a positive mindset, you can increase your chances of conceiving and having a healthy pregnancy.
If you’re on this journey too, know you’re not alone. Keep believing in your body and take it one step at a time—you’ve got this! 💕
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