When pregnancy planning, many women opt to visit their doctor for a wellness exam to ensure overall health and well-being. During this prenatal care visit, your healthcare team is likely to discuss your ovulation cycle so you have a better chance at conception. If you’re wondering why tracking ovulation is essential, here is some helpful information to review. 

Understanding the Importance of Tracking Ovulation

What Happens During Ovulation?

Each month, there is a small window in which a woman can achieve pregnancy. This is called ovulation. At this stage in your menstrual cycle, luteinizing hormone levels surge and trigger the release of a mature egg. Simultaneously, cervical mucus will change in consistency to become more slippery and help the sperm along its way. The egg release typically takes place 14 days before your period. This egg is only viable and your reproductive system considered fertile for the short ovulation window of 12 to 24 hours. As such, knowing when this window occurs is essential. 

How Can You Track Ovulation When Planning for Pregnancy?

There are several ways to track your ovulation schedule. These fertility awareness methods can help you determine when you’re fertile and most likely to conceive. The temperature method requires you take your temperature every morning as soon as you wake up and before you get out of bed. When you’re ovulating, your temperature will be a few degrees higher. Some women also opt to track their ovulation on a calendar or chart by knowing the exact timing of their period and counting when it’s 14 days prior. Pharmacies also offer ovulation predictor kits or you can track changes in your vaginal mucus. In the day or two before ovulation begins, you’ll notice mucus becomes clear and slippery, similar to the consistency of egg whites. 

If you’re looking for a dedicated midwife that can assist with pregnancy planning, prenatal care, and establishing a birth plan, Home Birth with Love is the perfect asset. Led by Leah Marinelli, a Certified Nurse Midwife, this organization has helped mothers-to-be deliver healthy babies in the comfort of home for over 17 years. The team assists mothers-to-be in New York’s Rockland, Westchester, and Orange counties, as well as New Jersey’s Bergen County. Call (845) 641-5058 to discuss your needs.