Preparing yourself for icsi

[samily236]

Hello!
My fiancé and I are starting our first round of icsi treatment next week.
I’m wondering if any women have any tips on how to prepare yourself in body and mind?
I’m taking pre pregnancy pregnacare vitamins everyday
I’ve been healthy eating for a while now. Got my weight down to a 24bmi
I very very rarely drink alcohol so that wasn’t an issue for me
I’ve been struggling to shift a cold for the last few weeks so I’ve been taking vitamin c on top of my pregnacare vitamins making my vitamin c I take around 590mg a day.
Is there anything I’m missing?
Does anyone have any tips on how to get through this process? I am insanely scared of all the procedures and of failure. I’m really struggling to stay positive and it’s effecting my sleep and it’s permanently on my mind.
I’m sure I’m not the first or the last woman to be terrified of going through this. My fiancé is absolutely wonderful and supportive, I couldn’t ask for a better man in my life, I’m so worried it’s going to work and I’ll feel like I let him down.
Any advice gratefully received
Sammy x

[JoJoSM2]

Well, in terms of the mind, it’s good think that it might work or might not but be safe in the knowledge that you’ve tried your best.

Other than that, we just tried to carry on with life and not get to preoccupied with the treatment.

[Iwantaunicorn]

Hi Sammy,

Well done for your healthy eating, taking your vitamins and getting your bmi down! I took co-q10 up until my trigger shot, I'd read online that it helps cells and that there's no negative side effects so I popped a few a day - got them on 3 for 2 at Tesco's.

I was utterly terrified about the whole process too. I'd recommend ice to numb the jab site, some loud uplifting music, and patience. It's amazing how moving the needle just a few mm can be the difference between it hurting and not! I found it helped me to look at the two weeks of jabs and count them down, so I knew it wouldn't last forever, because it won't (just felt like it!). Buy trousers with Elasticated waists, you'll probably need them.

In terms of failure, I worried non stop about that too. I'd convinced myself it probably wasn't going to work, and ended up planning to bugger off on the most brilliant holiday if it didn't, so in a weird kind of way I was going to win no matter what. I'd like to say it wasn't permanently on my mind, but that would be a lie, so all I can suggest is be as kind to yourself as you can do, and if it doesn't work, it's not your fault, you are not a failure, it's just one of those things. Shit, but they say the first round is almost a test round, so it'll be better managed on the second if you need it.

You can do this!! x

[clairettc]

We got approved for ICSI this week and my consultant said just live your life as normal as you can as this will help with stress. Said keep having sex if you want, ok to drink alcohol but sensible amounts and said no to co enzyme q10 etc - just said no evidence for it!

I’m medical so have the advantage of not being worried by the injections which I’m sure is helping.

I like the suggestion of booking a holiday for afterwards! I might get on that - thing in finding hardest is only 40% chance of success after all that time money and stress

Good luck x

[RubyBoots7]

Sounds like you're being super healthy, so I don't think there's anything else you could possibly do physically. As pp said, there's no evidence for coq-10 (I'm also a health/science background) but equally nothing to suggest it does harm, so your call. But there's a lot of pressure out there to do things to improve your chances based on no reliable evidence, and then people beating themselves up thinking oh if only I'd tried....

It sounds like emotionally is where you can best look after yourself. It really isn't a scary process. Injections are a bit eep the first time (or a bit blah if you have blood thinners post ET) but you'll be doing them in your sleep soon enough. The needles are tiny for abdomen jabs. (Post ET, we also had big IM needles that went in my back and I genuinely could not feel them at all).

What we did find is that it was pretty overwhelming the first time (there is so much information and so many procedures/scans/tests). And exhausting (all those trips to the clinic, juggling work, plus the drugs).
My advice would be to not try to do too much else while you're going through it, except for lovely fun things that don't tire you out too much but do help you feel like life isn't only about ICSI. Trying to make a baby is something very important you are doing at the moment, but it's not the only important thing in your life and it doesn't define you. Agree about planning holidays/breaks if it doesn't work, or between parts of the cycles if you can.

Statistically it might well not work the first time. You have no way of knowing. But it's not a failure on your part if it doesn't happen the first go. Sometimes it takes time to figure out the best medication regimen or other things that might help. The more you pin everything on it working go number one, the harder it will be if it doesn't. It's such a difficult balance as you can't go in thinking there's no point to this, because it's an exhausting chuffing process and frankly you wouldn't bother if you felt like that. But for us, trying to have a bit of a balanced and philosophical approach really helped.
Wish you the best of luck x

[samily236]

Thank you for all the lovely advice. This site makes it so easy to connect with other couples going through the same process and I love being able to talk to people who are going through or been through the process.

We have booked a few days away to a bnb by the seaside after the eggs have been implanted, the weather won’t be seaside weather I’m sure but we will still enjoy a few days rest and some nice strolls along the seafront.

I have found yoga and meditation helpful over the last few days, it’s helped me relax and find some calm in amongst the chaos in my brain!

I wish each and every person the same success in their journeys that we are hoping and praying for.

Would be lovely to keep in touch and see how everyone’s journeys turn out

Love and best wishes
Sammy xx