IVF Questions

Hi KJ,
Both my boys were IVF. And I agree that it is an emotional rollercoaster, but so worth it when you hear the good news :o) I had to lay in the Dr. office for a little while and then I was on bed rest for a day or two I think . After that, it was the typical pregnancy stuff, no heavy lifting, etc. I also agree about the wine. Why risk it? My thought was always this "if I had a glass of wine and something went wrong, I'd always wonder "was it that glass of wine I had?". Didn't want to live with that. Figured if I did everything right and something went wrong, then I knew I had done absolutely everything I could and it wasn't my fault. Good luck with everything :o)

When I went through this almost 13 yrs ago, I had to stay laying down in the doctors office for several hours after transfer, then go home and lie down some more as much as possible for a few days.
We'd been trying to conceive for 4 yrs before trying IVF and I'd pretty much given up alcohol in everything I could think of (even mouth wash), and I stayed away from it till I was finished with breast feeding. I was determined to do everything I could (had been taking prenatal vitamins long before becoming pregnant) to increase my chances. Definitely I was obsessive, but since it all turned out well for us, I think it was worth it.
The waiting a few weeks before a blood test to determine if we were successful or not was the most nerve wracking time I've had in my whole life. I was almost convinced it hadn't worked because I felt no different at all. When we finally got the call back from the nurse with the positive result, I had to ask her to tell me twice. It didn't seem real to me until I could hear the heartbeat quite a bit later. Good Luck!

Most docs don't recommend days of bedrest anymore. I took it easy the day of transfer, then went back to my desk job.

I second the advice below to "live like you are pregnant" from here on out. A lot of things probably don't matter, but it was important to me mentally to know I had done absolutely everything in my power to make this a success.

You might also be interested in doing acupuncture before and after transfer. Studies have shown increased blood flow, which can help implantation.

I also did a lot of meditation/visualization using these CD's http://www.anjionline.com/pages/InfertilityMeditationCDs....

Good luck to you!

Maybe just try to take it easy the day of the transfer if you can. I came home and hung out on the couch with my feet up. Next day went back to work and resumed normal activity. I got pregnant on my first cycle by the way. He is 3 now. I would give up the wine until you know. Good luck!!

I would say, why risk it with the wine? We all try so hard to get pregnant, why do anything to compromise it? I haven't had a drink since Dec 06 when I found out I was pregnant and won't til I finish weaning. Then you bet I'm gonna have something special [and probably conk out promptly b/c I'll be a lightweight]. Good luck.

my first daughter was conceived thru IVF. What an emotional roller coaster! Good luck with everything! My dr recommended bedrest for 3 days after the transfer. He suggested only getting up for bathroom and shower, but I had waited for so long to get pregnant I figured I could go without a shower for 3 days! :) After that he said to take it easy, no strenuous exercise. We went to the beach a few days after the transfer and the dr suggested not to go in the water or get overheated. Really he just wanted me to do everything in my power to make sure at least one embryo stuck (we put in 3 but only 1 stuck). I lived like I was pregnant. No alcohol, medicines, etc. I also talked to the embryos lots. I REALLY believed that I was pregnant, and I think that helped. I know when you do that if it doesn't work it's even harder to deal with but i truly believe in the power of positive thinking! Good luck and take it easy, at least for the first few days so you will make a happy home for those embryos! :)