7 TIPS FOR TAKING CARE OF YOURSELF AFTER EMBRYO TRANSFER
The day of transfer is an exciting part of the IVF process. It’s game day, and everything you’ve done in the weeks leading up to getting ready for the embryo transfer. You’ve taken your meds as prescribed, followed your doctor’s advice and lived a balanced lifestyle. You and your embryo are both ready.
Remember that you and your fitness are the top priority right now and for the next few weeks. Though treating yourself like the glass isn’t appropriate (the embryo won’t fall out!), you can relax and take it easy.
Follow these following tips to make sure you’re taking care of yourself right after the embryo transfer.
On the day of your embryo transfer, your fertility team will go through detailed post-transfer guidelines for you. Spend the next few days pampering yourself. Gentle motions are best, no hard exercise, lifting, twisting, or turning. Here are a few more ways to look after yourself after your embryo transfer:
- Relax: The embryo will implant in the next few days, so you must relax and think positive. If at all necessary, take a few days off work. Unplug from the rest of the world’s concerns. You’ll be able to return to daily news, social media, and all of life’s other obligations in due time. A post-transfer walk through the park or beach with your partner is in order. Enjoy your favourite nutritious meal while binge-watching your favourite comedy TV show or the new romantic comedy you’ve been wanting to see.
- Continue Taking Your Medicines: Make sure you take your medicines and injections if any as prescribed.
- Embrace Healthy Eating: You’ve been following a healthy eating plan in preparation for IVF, and you can keep doing so. After all, if everything goes according to plan, you’ll be carrying a baby in one month and you’ll want to be in great shape. You can take a stroll or walk, continue your office work and eat all kinds of food.
- Folic Acid Is a Must: If you haven’t already started taking a folic acid supplement, now is a good time to do so. Supplementing with folic acid has been shown to reduce the risk of neural tube defects, heart defects, and cleft palate. Consult your doctor to determine how much folic acid you need.
- Limit Your Exposure to Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals: Of course, you’re cautious about your exposure to something that might endanger your pregnancy or unborn child. Many daily objects contain endocrine-disrupting chemicals. Particularly at this time, try to restrict your exposure to these things (it’s virtually impossible to avoid them entirely).
- Don’t Ignore Disturbing Symptoms: Now is the time to pay careful attention to your body and, if anything seems “wrong,” call your doctor right away. It’s most probably nothing, but worrying and stressing over things is never a positive thing.
- Avoid the Temptation to Take a Pregnancy Test: You may be tempted to take a pregnancy test. Please do not do so. It will take a few weeks for your body to produce enough HCG, the pregnancy hormone, to confirm your pregnancy. When the “what ifs” start to creep in, it’s time to take action.
THE HARDEST PART IS WAITING.
The next few weeks will be long, but you will get there, just as you did on transfer day. Waiting for the results of your pregnancy test.
After your embryo transfer, taking care of yourself is a great way to start incorporating healthy habits into your life. And, if it hasn’t already, making your wellbeing a top priority is long overdue.
Dr. Ashish Kale — IVF Specialist in Pune at Ashakiran Hospital is highly known for providing the best embryo transfer treatment.
