When I was going through fertility treatment, one of the worst parts was the two week wait. You’ve spent all that time (and money) getting ready for the cycle, taking the medication, having the scans and blood tests, and doing everything you’ve been told to increase your success rate. But when that’s all done, and hopefully good quality eggs have been retrieved, fertilised, and transferred, the next bit is the two week wait.
Now if you’ve not been through fertility treatment before, or this is your first time going through a cycle, then the two-week wait might be a bit of an alien concept to you. But anyone that has been through a treatment cycle will know exactly what I’m talking about.
The two week wait occurs after you’ve had the embryo transferred. The next step is to wait two weeks before you can do a pregnancy test to see if the procedure has been successful. Two weeks?? When I first heard this, I didn’t know how I would get through that time period. Yes, if you’re on holiday, two weeks can fly by, but when you’re waiting for the result of something you are pinning all your hopes and dreams on, two weeks can feel like a lifetime! So, what can you do to get through this time without climbing the walls with anxiety, and increasing your stress levels? Here are some of my tips to get through this period and help those two weeks to go by that little bit quicker:
Post embryo transfer it is important to take some time to put your feet up and rest. Your body will have been through a lot, so it’s important to nurture it and look after yourself.
Put any strenuous exercise regimes on hold, but movement is still important. Choose gentle exercise such as walking or fertility yoga.
Acupuncture before and after the transfer can be helpful. Find a practitioner who specialises in fertility to get targeted support.
Eat lots of nourishing foods; soups, stews, smoothies, food which will help to get in those crucial fertility nutrients, see the recipes on my website for inspiration.
Focus on doing things you enjoy; maybe rekindle some old hobbies that have been forgotten.
For some people, taking time off away from work, and work stress, can be helpful.
For others getting through the 2 weeks will be about keeping their mind busy. That may involve not taking holiday but keeping distracted with work, just aim to avoid any work stress.
Watch your favourite movies, or catch up on that Netflix series you’ve been meaning to watch.
See friends, this can be hard if they have children or are pregnant, so maybe choose this time to hang out with people that don’t have children.
Spend time in nature, this can really help to boost beneficial endorphins (happy hormones which can elevate your mood).
Whatever works for you, be reassured that this time will pass, and you will get through it. One way to know that you have done everything to increase your chances of success, is to work on egg and sperm health preconception. That way you know you are going into your IVF cycle with the best quality eggs and sperm. If you would like some personalised support with this, contact me to find out about my 3 month Boost Your Fertility programme. Book your free fertility review to find out how I can help you.
Julia Young Nutrition T: 0771 589 0894 info@juliayoungnutrition.com www.juliayoungnutrition.com
Disclaimer: Nutritional Therapy is not a replacement for medical advice, practitioners always refer any client with ‘red flag’ signs or symptoms to their medical professional. The information provided here is general and is not intended to treat, diagnose, prevent, or cure any diseases or conditions.
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