lifestyle changes in the TWW

[glasspaw]

Hi everyone

I’m interested as to whether people think it’s necessary to make any lifestyle changes during the TWW? I can’t find much online about whether things like alcohol, caffeine or heavy exercise can prevent a pregnancy from becoming successful.

has anyone had any medical advice around this topic?

Nothing will make a difference as to whether it works or not, you have to do whatever makes you feel right, I did 9 rounds of ivf to have my family and did variations of resting with my feet up for two weeks and getting on with life completely as normal, after spending that much money I just wanted to feel I had done everything I could could so that if it didn't work out I wouldn't feel there was anything I wished I had done differently. Personally I gave up up caffeine and alcohol during ttc but you probably don't need to, lots of women get pg while still drinking coffee and wine. TWW is about coping with the waiting, in my experience it was the worst part of ivf. Good luck, I hope you get your + soon

@MissSmiley thank you for your reply. I think I might try cutting back on caffeine so it isn’t a big shock to the system if I do get pregnant but you’re probably right about carrying on as normal. Otherwise I guess you end up in a cycle of one week of 🩸 one week of fun and then two weeks of waiting 😅

@glasspaw how long have you been trying?

I would say have more than one week of fun. Do it whenever, there’s always the chance.

@MissSmiley oh not long at all. This is month 1 of TTC #2 (first time it just sort of happened so this is my first attempt at actively trying). I’m just trying to educate myself as much as possible and today is 1DPO so I had a bit of a moment when I was making my morning coffee where I wondered whether I should be making any changes 😅

Everyone’s different. I have irregular cycles and am late 30s and it makes TTC a little more challenging, so I’ve made (further) lifestyle changes to try and keep things optimal - exercise, reduced caffeine, no booze. Im also trying to lose a kilo or two so that might help! As I’m taking B6 and some herbal preparations it seemed counterintuitive not to try and optimise the lifestyle factors too. However of course many people get pregnant every day doing none of those things.

I cut down on caffeine but tbh I needn’t have bothered, I went completely off it once I got pregnant anyway. I was having one ‘proper’ coffee a day i think when actively trying.

I drank wine the weekend we conceived but I avoided alcohol in the TWW if I could help it. If I had an event I might have one.

I conceived fairly quickly though so it wasn’t too onerous to cut down - I can see it getting very tiresome if it takes awhile.

I was just thinking about this! My dh is having a beer beside me in the garden and I didn't take anything because I am in the tww but I had a bit of a dilemma trying to decide lol. I also don't drink diet coke for the tww because of the aspartame in it as it is harmful.

I never changed anything in tww previously with my 2 dc and all was fine, but I had a loss last year and I always think about what exactly caused it so that's why I am being a bit more paranoid.

@Ladyinpink1 I’m sorry to hear that. It’s totally understandable for you to wonder what caused it, I think anyone in that situation would.

I think i’ll stop alcohol and cut down caffeine as “practice” for pregnancy. Not sure on exercise though. I am quite active and think I could go slowly insane if I have to dial it back every month 😂

@glasspaw exercise is fine! As is Diet Coke tbh.

I was exercising a lot when TTC - make the most of it because you’ll not be feeling like it during the first trimester!