The IVF journey to becoming a parent can be challenging, exhilarating, and stressful, as you go through all the procedures necessary to achieve a successful embryo transfer. But as anyone who has undergone fertility treatment knows, the journey doesn’t stop there. After an embryo has been transferred to the uterus, the patient has to wait around two weeks before they can take a test to confirm a successful pregnancy.

In the meantime, here are six things you can do to help implantation after IVF.

1.Take some time off

It can take between one and five days after the transfer procedure for the embryo to actually implant so it makes sense to take some time off to give you and your body some rest. So, take to the sofa, rest, watch your favorite TV programs, read a book and try to get a good 7-8 hours’ sleep. This way you can recharge your body’s batteries and increase the chance of an IVF treatment success.

2. Keep up the progesterone

To give the embryo every chance to take hold in the womb and progress successfully to a full-term pregnancy, you will be prescribed the hormone progesterone. It is essential to keep up with this medication regime for at least two weeks after embryo transfer to keep the internal environment just right for implantation.

3. Eat a healthy, nourishing diet

While waiting for that two-week test, you need to ensure your body continues to be well-nourished and hydrated to support a healthy pregnancy. And that means avoiding processed foods, limiting sugar, and eating good fats, carbs, and protein. The Mediterranean diet, with its oily fish, fresh fruit and vegetables, pulses, and grains, is ideal. Add in a daily multivitamin plus folic acid and you’ll have your post IVF treatment diet covered.

4. Avoid hot baths 

OK, this is one piece of advice you may not want to hear but that luxuriating hot bath is not going to be a good idea just after IVF treatment. Hot environments, which include baths, saunas and steam rooms will significantly raise your core temperature and can have a negative impact on embryo implantation. So, swap your tub soak for a short but invigorating warm shower for a couple of weeks and save the relaxing bathing experience for later in your pregnancy.

5. Moderate exercise

You also need to avoid any heavy lifting or strenuous exercise such as aerobics, running, and cycling, for a while after an embryo transfer. And this is because excessive exercise can put your body under stress and create an excess of the hormone, cortisol which can reduce the odds of a pregnancy success.

But that doesn’t mean you should become a couch potato as some gentle daily exercise can be beneficial, so swap the gym for a yoga mat or a daily stroll.

6. Practice self-care

As you wait for your final pregnancy test, why not use the two weeks to focus on you, your health, and your wellbeing? Because if you look after yourself, you will be healthier and stronger to embrace what is ahead. So, think yoga, gentle stretching, meditation, gentle relaxation, and quality time spent with your partner, family, or friends. By managing stress, nurturing your mind, and being kind to your body, you can also help to create the optimal environment for the embryo to take hold and become a full-term pregnancy.

Have you gone through IVF treatments?

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