IVF Two Week Wait Survival Guide
For those travelling the long, difficult road of IVF, two week wait signals the end of the journey. The two week wait is the final leg of the cycle – the period of time where you do nothing but wait for news about whether you are pregnant or not. One would think that the two week wait would be a great respite to the flurry of activity during IVF, but this part of the cycle is one of the most nerve-wrecking and frustrating. Each day, you monitor your body for possible signs of pregnancy or menstruation. You are anxious for news but you cannot take an early pregnancy test because the results might be inaccurate. How can you survive this emotional rollercoaster of hope and fear? Our survival guide to the two week wait can give you some ideas.
Gather your support team together
It’s important to be picky about who you talk to about your IVF. During the two week wait, you need people who will understand what you are going through and who will provide comfort, not people who will judge you or be insensitive to your feelings. Get your support team together and ask if they can be present when you finally get your cycle results. Plan coffee dates with friends who will understand and listen to you talk about your feelings. Find ways to surround yourself with supportive friends and family so that you do not despair alone.
Have a back-up plan to in vitro fertilization
We all want this cycle to be the one that will finally get us pregnant, but it’s best to prepare the worst and create a back-up plan. A negative result will be devastating but with a back-up plan in place, it won’t take long before you recover and take charge of your fertility once more.
Appeal to a higher power
Your doctor did everything humanly possible to create a life inside you. All this time, you’ve been taking good care of yourself, eating well, and following your doctor’s instructions to the letter. Now that the IVF is over, everything is out of your hands. There has never been a better time to turn to your spiritual side and appeal to a high power. Even if you don’t go to church or believe in organized religion, try asking help from a power beyond yourself. At the very least, this will provide you with some comfort.
Meditate/visualize
Consider learning a meditation practice to help you manage your anxieties better. Just a few quiet minutes of meditation a day can improve the health of your mind-body connection, reduce stress, and helps you get away from negative thinking. Take deep, regular breaths and make positive words like “pregnancy” or “happiness” your mantra. You can also try a meditation trick called visualization, where you imagine the embryos attaching themselves onto the womb and growing into a healthy baby.
Do yoga or qigong to relieve stress
Staying active is a great way to keep your mind off the two week wait. Not only will exercise keep you in great shape, but it also stimulates the release of endorphins, which improve how your body copes with stress and pain. Consider enrolling in a yoga class or qigong – both provide a great workout without letting you overexert yourself.
Plan a non-baby related project
Another way to take your mind off your anxieties is to immerse yourself in a non-baby related project. It can be any project – a new hobby, an old hobby you never had time for, or major household chores that you never got around to doing. The most important part is that this project keeps you from dwelling on your cycle results. You’ll feel good about being so productive too!
Relax
Research shows that women who experience less stress have an easier time getting pregnant. Worrying about the outcome of your IVF certainly won’t help improve your fertility! Before the two week wait, create a relaxation kit filled with soothing music, essential oils for aromatherapy, and refreshing bubble bath bombs. You can also go shopping or fly to a weekend at a beach, if this falls under your definition of “relaxation.” Indulge yourself – you deserve good things after everything you’ve been through!
Stay away from stress
Stress is an inevitable part of life, but some sources of stress can be avoided. During the next two weeks, stay away from people who do nothing but trigger negative emotions – block his or her calls if you have to. Avoid situations that normally stress you out. If it is possible, use up your vacation leaves or sick leaves and temporarily escape the frenetic pace of work.
Stay connected and loving with your partner
Your partner will be the best source of emotional support during the two week wait. Don’t shut him out; stay connected with him and be open about your feelings, thoughts, and fears. Tell your partner what you need and make decisions about how you want to hear the news. Or ask him for help on keeping you distracted so that time flies by faster.
Take care of your health and eat well
Just because you may be pregnant now, it doesn’t mean you should stop taking care of yourself! A healthy baby needs a healthy mother, so make sure you keep up your fertility regimen well into your pregnancy. Eat well and take supplements to make up for lost nutrients. Avoid cigarette smoke and alcohol. Prepare meals filled with fertility-boosting foods. Don’t forget to take care of your emotional health too. It might help to see a counselor if you cannot cope with the feelings churning within you.
