How do you prepare your body for IVF?

[TrixieLox]

I'm due to start IVF late August (meds late July) and after 3 years of going through phases of being really strict with eating to no avail, and even more years watching mainly overweight women fall pregnant and slimmer ones struggle to conceive, I've recently lost motivation a bit. But now I'm starting to panic and think I really need to get my butt in gear for IVF in 2 months! I read about all these girls who do amazing things to prepare themselves: uber healthy diet, regular exercise, eat certain things. I've read Zita West's latest book about prepping one's body for IVF and it's scaring the crap out of me. I mean, really?!

My bmi is fine, 23 / 24 but I just feel I need to make an effort. Are the things outlined below enough?

- Cut out caffeine and alcohol
- Cut down on processed foods
- Eat more fruit and veg
- Eat Brazil nuts
- Drink more water
- Do moderate exercise every day (biking, walking, yoga - read somewhere intense exercise like aerobics isn't good for you in lead up to IVF)
- Acupuncture once a week (though my acupuncturist is going away just when I have EC, great!)
- Mediation (to get my mind in the right state)

I'm not gonna take any more vitamins other then folic acid as clinic told me they advise you just take folic acid and get your other vitamins in your 3 meals a day. Is there anything I should be doing?

I'm bigger then I have been in a long time, gone up a dress size so that concerns me a little but like I said, BMI fine. I've just lost all motivation with this TTC process, I wish I had more fight in me. At the moment, the thought of a beautiful baby in my arms isn't enough to make me step away from the cake!

 

[puppymom32]

Sounds like u r doing everything right hun. I have not started the process myself yet but I'm sure you will be fine. Best of Luck.

 

[Oneday]

Hi just try to relax your bmi is really good this sounds terrible mine wasn't I made no major changes and it worked for me sometimes things are really out of our control. Good luck x

 

[annmc30]

like oneday said just try and relax easier said then done ul find while doing the drugs ul put on weight anyway i put on 1 and 1/2 stone from start to finish im now nearly 12wks pegnant with the first cycle of ivf, fx u get yours soon x

 

[rachelle1975]

Do things that make you feel calm hun and are de-stressing - exercise is always good, yoga (anything that keeps your 'head' happy).... good multi vits, plenty of protein but basically a well balanced diet and 2-3 ltr of water a day and you will be fine.

Try not to stress the small things - i've just been to my private clinic and have been told so long as i have a well balanced diet and i'm taking care of myself - there is nothing else i need to alter x

 

[Rihannalove]

Hello everyone ,, I'm trying my best to get my body prepared for IVF for August ,, however my case is different my BMI is 18.50 slightly underweight I'm taking 800pg of folic acid everyday ,,some protien shakes and iron tablets ,, I'm a bit scared for being underwieght ... any idea what should I do and I never do exercise ???

 

[tinybutterfly]

same, my doc has never made an issue out of it though, the fact that i can ovulate on my own says my body is just fine the way it is.

also, i don't have to do or take anything special, in his opinion, all the stuff you have to take for IVF is enough to handle already,
i might take the prenatals if i think about them, but my bloodwork has come back ok without taking them for a long time too,
so if i skip a few pills it's not going to matter, it's more something to ease my mind with

 

[MissAma]

Rihannalove - 800 mg is a tad on the extreme side, I thought the guidelines were 400 before pregnancy and 600 after.

TrixieLox - as I was saying in the PM, I can't underline protein enough, an egg or two a day, milk or diary of sorts and upping your meat intake can only help with egg quality. Also, I never thought I'd say this since I always thought it was bollox but maybe you should investigate acupuncture, be it for that "I've left no stone unturned" satisfied sigh when all is said and done.

Best of luck lovely, you SO deserve this unfairly long wait to be over for you at last!

 

[Aphrodite]

Dont go mad on a wild health kick-I made a half hearted effort to eat better but still had our usual 3 puddings every weekend and didnt exercise that much. I think its more imporatnt to feel metally calm and de-stressed. I just tried to make sure I had my five portions of fruit and veg a day but didnt always manage it! Like u say overweight smokers etc get pregnant so I honestly think its more for your peace of mind than ur body. And I am now 11 weeks pregnant x