Getting pregnant at 38 isn’t supposed to be easy — or so we’re told.
But when I decided it was time, I got pregnant on the very first try.
This is my story of how to get pregnant at 38 without panic, pressure, or medical intervention.
And the choices I believe made all the difference.
The Truth: It Wasn’t Luck. It Was Readiness.
I got pregnant at 38 — on the first try.
Not by accident. Not by miracle. Not by chance.
I was healthier and more prepared than most people in their 20s, including me in my 20s.
And yes — technically this was considered a “geriatric pregnancy.”
But I don’t believe the mainstream fertility fear-mongering that starts screaming at you the second you turn 35.
I think it’s designed to trap women — into bad relationships, into panic, into spending money they don’t need to on things like egg freezing or IVF when there’s no medical reason to.
That’s not to say IVF isn’t incredible — it absolutely is if you’ve been diagnosed with an actual fertility issue.
But for many women, it’s pushed as a backup plan or safety net when they haven’t even been given the information, habits, or support to understand their own cycle or body first.
I’m sharing what I did not as advice — but because I believe that conception, like most things in our body, is at least 80% within our control.
And that information should be free, unfiltered, and accessible.
First: I Actually Did Think It Would Be Easy
I wasn’t sure, thanks to the noise — but I had no medical reason to believe it would be difficult.
I didn’t internalize the fear.
I trusted my body.
And most importantly: I knew that fertility is not just about the woman.
I can’t say this loud enough: Men’s health matters just as much.
Their sperm quality, lifestyle, and habits absolutely impact outcomes — and yet, they’re rarely held to any standard at all.
So I focused on what was in my control — and, spoiler: my partner was also in the best shape of his life.
What I Did (And What I Think Helped)
1. Cycle Tracking — Not Guessing
I stopped hormonal birth control in my late 20s, so I knew my body and my cycle extremely well.
Because of that, I could tell when I was ovulating based on:
- Body temperature
- Cervical mucus
- Libido changes
- Overall physical cues
I didn’t need apps or gadgets — I could literally feel it.
That said, I did use the P Tracker app, which I’ve used for years and trust (they also state they don’t sell or hand over your data, which I respect). The app just helped confirm what I already felt.
I believe not being on birth control gave my body the stability it needed, and I didn’t have to wait for it to recalibrate before trying to conceive.
If you want to get pregnant at 38 or older, I’d recommend getting off hormonal birth control at least a year ahead — if not more.
2. Long-Term Health — Not a Quick Fix
I had been taking care of myself for years before this.
Was I perfect? No. I still have an on/off fast food addiction (see: how to breakup with fast food) — but I mostly ate real food, prioritized sleep, and I wasn’t under high stress at the time of conception.
Other things I did:
- Started prenatal vitamins ~2 months before, I decided to get pregnant, though I think the recommendation is at least 4 months and I would agree, that or even 6 months or more is better.
- Rarely drank alcohol (and didn’t smoke) — but ironically, I did have two spicy margaritas in Vegas the weekend I conceived. 🤷♀️ I had a weird inclination I might be pregnant, but it was way too early to test. I switched to non-alcoholic drinks after that — not because I was worried, but because I just didn’t want to risk anything.
- Focused on eating well and increased healthy fats following Functional Medicine Expert, Chris Kresser’s, advice.
3. No Eating Out — At All — for One Month Before
This one was specific: in the 4 weeks leading up to trying, I cooked every single meal at home.
- No Starbucks
- No Saturday dinners out
- No grab-and-go lunches
Just clean, home-cooked food and controlled ingredients.
I believe eating out — even “healthy” takeout — is one of the most overlooked hormone disruptors in modern life.
Restaurant food is filled with seed oils, low-quality meats, preservatives, and plastics.
Removing all that for a month was worth it.
4. Exercise — With My Partner
I had prioritized movement for over a decade, but leading up to conception I was:
- Doing CycleBar 4-6x times a week (Listen, I absolutely worked up to this… it literally became an obsession, because otherwise, I HATE cardio!)
- Weight training with a personal trainer twice a week
- Walking regularly (it’s easy when you have a dog 🙂 )
- And yes, my partner worked out and did all of these things with me. (If fact, he lost 40lbs during our relationship thanks to my good habits!)
I even did CycleBar through my entire pregnancy, stopping only about 8 weeks before my due date when sitting on the bike became uncomfortable (err mostly impossible to reach the bars over my belly haha).
Looking back, I was probably in the best shape of my life, mainly because I had the support there and a partner keeping me accountable.
But you don’t have to go all-in here to be successful.
Focusing on the basics — weight training 2-3x week and cardio (walking to running and anything in between) 2-3x a week — will get you where you need to be.
I wasn’t doing Barre3 at the time, but I would recommend it for pregnancy and postpartum, especially for pelvic floor strength. Read about my Barre3 experience here.
And if that’s not enough motivation, knowing how it will impact your pregnancy might.
The stronger your body going in, the easier the pregnancy — and the faster you bounce back after. Period.
5. Intention — I Visualized the Outcome
This might sound a little “woo,” but I don’t care.
I approached conception like any other goal: decide, visualize, embody, act.
I literally remember taking a yoga class a few days after trying. The instructor asked us to set an intention.
In my head, I visualized the conception and said over and over:
“I am pregnant. I am pregnant…”
And I believed it. I felt it in my body. I walked through that day like it had already happened — because in my mind, it had.
6. Partner Health — YES, It Matters
Let me be absolutely clear:
If you’re struggling to conceive, there’s a high chance your partner is part of the issue.
But society never looks at men.
Their sperm quality drops significantly after 30. Their alcohol intake, processed food, lack of exercise — it all impacts fertility.
Yet women are the ones told we’re broken. That it’s our eggs. Our bodies. Our fault.
Nope. Not here for that narrative.
If your partner isn’t eating well, exercising, or taking care of himself, it absolutely matters.
Which is why if you’re choosing to be a single mom by choice (and OH, I would encourage you to do that! 😉 ) specifically select sperm donors in their 20s — for this exact reason.
What I Didn’t Do
Let’s be clear on what this story is not:
- I didn’t freeze my eggs (your money’s better off spent on improving your health)
- I didn’t panic about my age
- I didn’t do fertility testing
- I didn’t micromanage or stress about it
- I didn’t follow a perfect diet or routine
I did what I could. And I let go of the rest.
Why I’m Sharing This
Most conversations about how to get pregnant at 38 are focused on fear.
Fear of aging.
Fear of missing your “window.”
Fear of what might happen if you wait.
But I want to offer something different — not false hope, just grounded action.
You don’t have to be perfect. You don’t need to buy a stack of supplements or drop $15K to “preserve your fertility.”
If you’re in your 30s, even 40s and thinking about trying, you deserve information, not panic.
I don’t believe there’s a perfect formula.
But I do believe your choices, your lifestyle, and your environment matter far more than anyone’s told you.
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