Tips to have a best chance at IVF

Sari · Post by **Sari** » Mon Feb 16, 2009 5:23 pm

Hi:

I just want to know what are your advices for the IVF. I just start BCP, and want to know what to do. Should I exercise? Eat normally, or drink something special? One of you told me about bottle of hot water just before transfer. I can't take aspirin, so any other suggestion for best circulation to the uterus? Any other advice? My DH is taking vitamins and something call Proxeed, do you know of something else?

Anie · Post by **Anie** » Mon Feb 16, 2009 5:51 pm

Hi.

Eat healthy food; reduce caffeine, no alcohol, no smoking, moderate exercise and drink plenty of water.
Take folic acid tablets.

good luck

DNT0809 · Post by **DNT0809** » Mon Feb 16, 2009 8:17 pm

Hi
If possible take the week off of transfer if not do not stress out. I drank plenty of water. I think the one thing that helped a lot was the Accupuncturist really. It brings extra blood to the Uterus it doesn't hurt either good luck (sorry about the spelling errors) no spell check on here hahaha

ionlywant1 · Post by **ionlywant1** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 6:02 am

I agree with everything. Try to avoid stress. I have a stressful job so I actually took a week off like DNT0809 suggested for all three of my cycles. Moderate exercise, get a good night sleep (7-8 hours), I avoided all caffeine even chocolate sadly.

Eat breakfast, lunch and dinner no skipping meals.

I agree with DNT0809 with the acupuncture. I've actually read studies that show improvement with implantation with acupuncture. First cycle I called miscarriage but really was just chemical pregnancy. Second cycle was BFN (big fat negative). My first RE (first two cycles) never mentioned it. My second RE (3rd and current cycle) actually works closely with one. She came to the office on my embryo transfer day and did a 30 min session before and after ET and another session 4 days after to help with implantation. Now my beta is 978! I also did a session 2-3 days prior to transfer to optimize circulation. Also prayer. I'm not spiritual or religious, I have more of a scientific mind. The first two I relied on the science -- embyros will grow because of the quality of cells and the quality of the uterus. I only prayed really hard at church when I started bleeding. I have prayed nightly since they harvested my 8 eggs. Nothing fancy, just a shout out to the big kahuna to watch over us. Only one made it to the stage of transfer. But one sticky embryo is all you need. Perhaps its the new RE, perhaps its the acupuncture, perhaps its the prayer but its all working so far. Good luck.

Sari · Post by **Sari** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 2:31 pm

Thanks Annie, DNT0809 and ionlywant1. I really going to see for accupunture.

ionlywant1 - Congratulation ionlywant1. The third time is the charm. I am worried because I only have one shot at this, so I want to improve all my posibilities. About the praying part, I've been praying all the time. I'm a very religious person and it was very hard for me accept this treatment. But one day I thought, well, is all right to transplant a heart to save a person, why not transplant an embryo to give life. Some time ago, I was very sick, at the border of death. And by praying, Doctors don't know why, all my symptoms disapear and I was all healthy. Didn't have the surgery they prescribed. If He did that, why not granted your healthy baby and mine.

DNT0809 - Don't worry about your spelling. As you can see, my english is not that good.

ionlywant1 · Post by **ionlywant1** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 11:28 pm

I'm a true believer in power of prayer. Thanks for sharing your story. You are very courageous. I am glad that you were given a second chance. In my religion, when this happens it means that you were put back to accomplish something. Maybe this means that you were meant to be a mother. I wish you luck with your IVF. Keep me updated with your progress. I'll pray for you.

esperanza · Post by **esperanza** » Wed Feb 18, 2009 1:27 am

Hola Sari,

Veo que eres de Puerto Rico! yo soy de Venezuela. Yo fui la que te dijo lo de la bolsa/botella de agua caliente. Tambien una dieta alta en proteinas antes y despues del transplante.

Best wishes hon.

Sari · Post by **Sari** » Wed Feb 18, 2009 2:49 pm

Hola Esperanza;

Que bueno encontrar a alguien que hable español. Gracias por tu consejo del agua caliente. Como soy alergica a la aspirina estaba buscando una forma de mejorar la circulación. Aunque le dije a mi esposo que iba a comprar unas aspirinas de bebe para ver cual era mi reacción, para ver si las toleraba y no me dejó.

Felicidades, ya veo que estas bien cerquita de tener a tu bebecito en tus brazos. Que Dios los bendiga mucho.

Recuerda, si tienes otro consejo para mi, soy todo oidos. Tan solo estoy en 6to dia de BCP pero quiero aprender todo lo que puedo y no puedo hacer durante el proceso.

ionlywant1 - I would love to tell you the hole story, but it's veeeryyy long. The true is prayers work. God always hear and answer us, sometimes the answer is no, and we don't like it. But this time, after 15 years of marriage, two failed IUI and so many years of telling myself to forget all about being a mother, I feel like is possible.

But, you know, is hard. No matter how many years you've been trying. Yesterday I saw an old friend from elementary school, and the first question is "How many babies did you have, because, look mine is 15 and 13 and 9" What happen, why didn't you?" And even though it has been so many years is always hard to say the true. I excuse myself telling that I was following my carrier or buying a house, or something.

Then there is the people who doesn't understand the treatments. They said "If you don't have babies, well, it is not meant to be". Telling me to not to try, to give up. Not even mention IVF, that's impossible. So we are kepping it a secret. And its even harder because we can't talk to anybody. Except for you guys.

ionlywant1 · Post by **ionlywant1** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 12:27 am

Sari, you're right its very hard. We've only been married 7 1/2 years and its true whenever we meet friends from high school or college they're first question is always about how many children we have. It is painful because we BOTH love children. Whenever there are children around they always come to me or my husband to play and its painful because I want one of my own. Whenever people ask I always lie (and then ask God to forgive me for lying). I come up with excuses like: we don't want kids yet we're still young or we want to travel.

Keeping things secret is very stressful. Please feel free to share whatever you feel like. The whole process of giving shots can be painful. You just have to keep focusing on the main goal.

Also want to recommend staying away from processed foods or fast foods and sticking to fresh ingredients. However I think in Puerto Rico the food is more fresh. I can understand a little spanish. The doctors here recommend baby aspirin 81mg strength. My mother told me I have an allergy to aspirin but I wanted to do everything I can to help my uterus so I started aspirin with food so that it wouldn't irritate my stomach. Some people also take it with tums to avoid damage to the stomach lining. It turns out I wasn't allergic to aspirin afterall.

Sari · Post by **Sari** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 12:46 am

ionlywant1 - No matter how many years is always hard. One time someone told me if I want my husban to stay with me all life I should give him a son. She didn't know we were trying, and still doesn't know. I told her, "well if he is gonna love because of a baby is better for him to leave me now, I don't want a baby to tied him." She was mad at me, she only wanted an explanation, why we didn't have babies.
This week there was a program in TV about IVF, and my Dr was in it. I saw the program with a few relatives. Just to see their opinions about the process without telling them we are going through it. It was horrible. Saying we are better off without kids, telling the process wasn't secure, and other things. I was confunsed.
Then I found this place, and gain strengh. I'm feeling better now.
Anyway, about your advice. I only have one problem. Sodas. I drink 2 or 3 cans a day. That's my daily dosis of caffeine. Other than that, I cook almost everyday and eat plenty of fruits.
Congratulation on your BFP, and hopping to hear more from you.

ionlywant1 · Post by **ionlywant1** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 1:12 am

It's good to hear that your doctor was on television. It must mean he's very good. My husband wants a child but he does not want to tell his mom, his dad, brother or anyone on his side of the family HOW. He thinks that they will think the process is very unnatural and that the child will be treated differently because of how we conceived. I am very close to my brother in law and I shared with him and my sister in law that I had BFP. Luckily they were very supportive. But I can see how if someone is very traditional, they would be afraid of the technology. I am a very open person and would like to tell his relatives about the process but I respect him enough to hide our secret. I don't know if they will ever know. To me what is important is what is in my heart. And in my heart this is the right thing to do because a baby is a baby, no matter how it is conceived. It is still my egg, his sperm, my uterus. I will love this baby the same (maybe more).