starting IVF in jan, preparation recomendations?

[KittenCamile]

Hi,

Starting IVF in jan, am on day 8 of my cycle and have one more cycle till I start my injections. Just wondered what people recommend to help with the stress, preparing my body and getting me as fertile as possible!

What did you do?

So far I have had a month of acupunture, abdominal massage, gym and no booze but is there anything else I could be doing?

I'm 33 have no fertility issues, my DP has azoospermia and we have 3 vials from his operation so enough for 1 possibly 2 rounds so I REALLY need to do all I can for this.

Would love to hear people's stories.
Many thanks

I think possibly yes allchat, that's why in the fertility book im reading they recommend protien powder instead and you make it into a smoothie.

Thought so. I was only drinking it because of protein value because I was candidate for OHSS (I naughtily had strawberry nesquicks).

hello all - I'm very likely to be starting IVF in January as well, which is exciting and also terrifying. Fingers crossed for all of us.

May I ask whether any of you have read any IVF-specific books that you would recommend? I went into my local Waterstones to have a look but all they had were books on pregnancy, mostly with stupid curly fonts or smug looking women with big round bumps on the cover. This is not what I want. I need something that explains to me how IVF works with diagrams and pictures and graphs and stuff and doesn't patronise me with curly pink writing. Has anyone read anything like that?

I haven't made a lot of changes yet apart from lots of folic acid, a multivitamin, and I'm working on increasing protein and reducing alcohol right down. I am trying to learn to love boiled eggs instead of wine. Somehow it's not the same.

Kitten, I have a long commute too, similar driving times. It's tough isn't it. Sorry that you will have to use up lots of your leave for this, that sucks. Is there an option for you to go part-time for a short period, might that be possible for you?

catnip I'm reading Zita Wests ivf book. it takes a while to get into as it goes over all the tests etc you'll have already been through but I like that it seems to cover the scientific angle alongside the holistic approach. I haven't finished it yet though!

allchat, I am wondering if all these clinics recommending milk is purely for the protein and the only reason they say milk in particular is because it's easy to consume without needing to be prepared or cooked like other protein sources. Or do the clinics think there is something in milk in particular? Certainly can't find any studies online to back that up.

Catnip, sounds like a great start including the folic and multi and replacing the wine with eggs. I too am trying to increase protein. I don't produce many eggs during IVF so this IVF cycle (day 6 today), I am eating everything low carb high protein in the hope it is quality over quantity.

shell, yes I don't think there are any other properties in milk that aid conception etc. I just think it's a good source of lots of good things like protein and calcium.

Catnip I have the Zita West book too and it's quite good. I bought eat yourself pregnant and fertility to family, both books are more nutrition based. I meal plan every week (have done for years) so wanted some help with a good fertility diet, juicing is the thing that has worked best for me.

I can go part time yes and probably will once I start injections, I don't mind taking the time off, my commute is quite stressful (2 trains and 2 tubes each way) and I want to feel as safe and relaxed as possible which is very hard with southern rail in charge of when you get to work!

Catnip will you carry on with your commute once you start?

I am currently going through the middle of my first ivf cycle. My advice to you would be to be as flexible as you can. Expect phone calls at any time to rush off to the ivf clinic. They can change dates on your treatment schedule and scans, medications and other things can change at any time. When you start an ivf cycle they give you usually a treatment cycle schedule with dates and what they plan to do. Don't take these dates as gospel because they can change as the cycle goes along. Also be prepared for anything, they can cancel cycles if you don't produce enough egg follicles or if the eggs don't fertilise. Just be prepared for many changes and for both good and bad news. Good luck and hope this helps.

Bleeding before egg transfer and it was cancelled. what do I need to ask? What to do? Any advice pls!!

Hi. Sorry, having a bit of a bad day myself but I just saw your post and didn't want to not reply.
I've seen you on other thread but brain not working too well so sorry for not remembering.
So, you've just had egg collection and you've been bleeding, so they have cancelled your embryo transfer? How many days since EC? Are you bleeding a lot? I know a poster on other ivf thread bled and ended up in hospital, but they did end up doing et and she went on to have Bfp.
How many embryos do you have? All is not lost though, because they can freeze them and put them back in your next cycle. You probably don't even need a break for them to do that (but obvs I don't know details about your bleed & history).
Go to thread called 'starting ivf icsi this month'. I think you'll get help there. X

Gcerron im so sorry, I have no idea what to suggest, I would take allchats advice. I'm sure someone else will be along who could help

Allchat and Gcerron - I am really sorry to hear you are both having such tough times - so unfair but of course you know that.

Kitten - yes I have gone down to four days/week (starting today - hurray!) which hopefully will reduce the stress levels and make everything a little bit more manageable. Shame about the paycut though but I would recommend if you can take the hit for a little while. I don't have to battle with southern rail, just the motorway, but I used to commute by train into London and it wasn't fun, so I totally sympathise.

Thanks for the book recommendations everyone. Good luck with your first cycle, hopingforamiracle, hope it is going well.