*sneaks in so she can escape reading the boring articles a little longer...*
My2LnT: Girl, really, who do you take me for? Mmmmh? Of course I had adjusted the days on the list! But originally, I had written 12dp3dt for you! Hence the 11! Now you tell me it's 10? LOL are you sure you didn't test TWO days early?
Seriously, I'm sorry that you woke up a little barfsy... But please keep something in mind. Many IVFers who have BFPs later have issues with adjusting to the less happy joys of being pregnant. Because they don't feel like they've earned the right to complain! After all, they wanted that baby so bad, waited for so long, went through so much and blah blah blah. It's not true, you know. You've earned the right to complain as much as any women who became pregnant naturally. Do consider acupuncture to help you with the discomforts of pregnancy; it's clinically proven to have a significant impact. On labour too. I'm definitely going once a month once I get that BFP. Oh, and you haven't answered my question and I'm curious!
Are you telling anyone at this point? And where did you get those amazing stickers?
marsxp: I'm really glad that you feel better prepared for tomorrow. It's just too bad that we didn't hear much about your worries before today, cuz that's exactly what we're here for. But then, maybe you just didn't want to disclose and it's okay. I'm sending you tons of good vibes your way and keeping everything crossed for a BFP! I so hope you join that list as well sweetie! Have fun playing with your pup; I'm sure it will get your mind off stressful things.
mandeeq: so I read you well... you plan to make bedrest last till June 7th?
TANYA, please give a second opinion on this one so I'm not the only one giving the info. I'll copy the information again (posted it for Marsha a while ago):
That topic is a sensitive one for me and I really want to share some information about that. But let's be clear about one thing: it's a free world, and you do whatever you want with the info I'm about to share with you. I do not judge, I just want to share info, the decision is entirely yours.
I wanted to do everything right and give myself every chance of getting that BFP when I did my first IVF. But, being a researcher clinician, I wanted to check the studies before I blindly followed the advice I heard here or read elsewhere on the internet. So, I went on Medline, the database that health professionals all around the world use to find scientific studies and I made a search on the impact of bedrest on IVF success rates.
It has
none. It can even be harmful for your embryos.
Indeed, one study showed that strict bedrest impairs your blood circulation. You have a higher risk of developing blood clots in the legs, for example, a risk shared by all patients who have to remain in bed. Hence why nurses pester you to walk so soon after a surgery; it's dangerous to lay in bed all day and all night. So there is a risk for you, and there is a risk for your embryos, too... think of the blood circulation in your uterus that's threatened because you're not moving enough. That's why they recommend to avoid lifting heavy charges when pregnant and during the 2ww; the effort blocks the circulation in your groins area and that's not good for the baby. When I questioned my doctor about bed rest, he told me right away that he was against it, for the exact same reasons that I just mentioned. He is the founder of the Procrea clinic and is known internationally for his work in fertility.
At the beginning of IVF, it just seeemed logical to put women on bedrest because they had so few chances of conceiving. So it was adopted as an extra measure of caution. But as time went on, people started to doubt the utility of imposing that on IVF women and they started testing its impact scientifically.
The success rates are the same whether women take a 1 hour, 24 hour, 48 hour or more bedrest...
or none at all. The clinics that recommend it obviously have not read all the scientific evidence that's available. If that's your clinic's case, do ask your doctor on what scientific background he or she recommends bed rest. I'm sincerely interested in hearing the answer.
Almost all of us picture our uteruses as a little pouch that has thick walls but is basically empty in the middle; I sure did that. That's because of the front view drawings that we usually see in books and at the doctor's office. So naturally, in order to give those embryos the best chance, we figure that lying in bed will allow them to stay right next to the uterus walls (instead of bouncing everywhere in the empty pouch) and implant with less chance of losing their way.
However, look at a
side view of a uterus. You'll see that the two walls are in fact pressed together. Basically, your embryos are like tiny peas
trapped in a honey sandwich. There's no way they'll go anywhere. Once your doctor transfers those embryos into your uterus, they will stay right there. Depending of the transfer day (3, 4, 5, and so on), they transfer them right where they should be if they had been conceived naturally (e.g., closer to the opening of the tubes if transfer is done early, closer to a wall if transfer is done later). And once they are left there, they don't move, or barely and only from their own progression; it has
nothing to do with
your movements.
And don't start me on the cervix! It's sealed shut; there's no way you're going to lose your embryos through there. Except if you get a contraction and that's exactly the reason why your doctor asks you to avoid having intercourse or orgasms during your 2ww; penetration and climax make your cervix move and your uterus contract a little and
that could impair implantation indeed.
One study tested the plethora of things that women do during their 2ww thinking that it will help: walk slowly, avoid using the stairs, do bedrest even if their doctor did not recommend it, eat this or that, avoid eating this or that, and so on. All the things I regularly read about here. They compared them to women who did not do any of these things. You see it coming; the two groups had the same success rate. It did not make any difference.
Not taking baths is also a popular one. The nurse at my clinic burst out laughing when I told her that some clinics give that recommendation. As I said, your cervix is sealed shut; taking a bath won't make water go into your uterus. The only reasons why you should avoid to take a bath are 1) if you have a surgery wound (e.g., your EC was done with a laparoscopy) and 2) if the water is too hot. During the 2ww and pregnancy, it's important to keep your core body temperature at a normal level. If you take a bath too hot, you overheat and that's not good for implantation or the baby's health during pregnancy. That's why doctors don't like you taking jacuzzis while you're pregnant; people set the temperature too high. But as long as you take baths that are not too hot, you're totally fine.
As I said, you do what you want with that information, it's your decision. People argue that some women need to do all those things to avoid feeling guilty if they have a BFN. I understand. However, reading about these things too much also contributes to increasing one's anxiety and that's never good. If those gestures were that essential, don't you think there would be clear warnings or recommendations from doctors or clinics? Truth is, women get pregnant while intoxicated with all sorts of things, in all sorts of health conditions, they do contact sports, they train, they don't eat well, they smoke, use drugs, they make love after conception, and so on. The fact we don't have so many shots at trying to conceive should not mean that we have to stop living until we get that pregnancy test. Your mental health is super important at any time, and you should not neglect it during the 2ww by doing things that make you stressed or unhappy. Or doing things because people around you are/make you stressed because they're scared you'll have a BFN. If it's meant to be a BFN, lying in bed or avoiding the stairs won't change anything.
Before you do something, take a moment, think hard and ask yourself, "Am I doing this because I'm scared I'll get a BFN and it will be my fault, or am I doing this because it truly makes sense for me?" If the second option is the answer, then by all means, go for it and I'll be right by your side cheering you on.
Hope that helps.
Good luck for your 2ww sweetie ad I hope you won't make choices that compromise your health. Once those little treasures are inside, you feel like a million bucks! I must have caressed my tummy for hours!
Take care,
Sophie
Our proud moms-to-be 
TansRN BFP! 
Going through the 2ww
marsxp 2 perfect embies transferred on May 14th, beta May 26th (12dp3dt?). 
arizonakiwi EC on May 22nd, FINALLY! You made it sweetie! 5 perfect embies! Cheer those little fighters!
PMApsy started stimming May 18th, blood test shows super quick response; first u/s May 23rd; at least 16 follies measuring 13-16mm, one at 19mm! Second u/s May 25th. Possible trigger on May 25th or 26th.
Ovarian vacation
lwalker25.... Fresh cycle(?)
ltaylor.... FET cycle 
In our thoughts and prayers 
CarolynB, good luck for your postponed cycle in July 2006! And good luck in Dubai!
awwww lazy lady! Hehehe but it felt good.
....and I love it! It means there's lots of good info being exchanged here. I want to thank all of you for your warm reception and welcome to my post on Tuesday. 
). The nurse at the RE's office said that I will most likely not feel like working out once I start taking my injectibles. How long did most of you continue to workout during your cycle leading up to ET?