[Barefoot Farmer]

So the long story is that we have been at this for 4 yrs and I struggle w/ living my life as I would if I were not dealing w/ this and doing everything I can to make this happen (however futile). I hate that my life for 4 years has lived in 2 week increments. However, I don't want to be mindless and careless about this goal. Current situation: My egg transfer for IVF was today; I have a hx of 5 m/c. I'm struggling as to what will be essential to not do and what is iffy. I wondered what others specifically did not do during the 2ww (or the whole cycle) and what was kind of iffy for them. We all need to find our comfort spot. So I made a list of my don't and my iffy and my wonders. What are yours?

In random order as it comes out of my brain:

Green Tea (takes folic acid out of your body) - definitely no
Coffee - use to be iffy, now is definite no
Sex -- sort of iffy, but with the m/c is mostly a definite no
Yoga -- iffy; my mental health benefits from stretching, but I worry about what is not helpful
Lift heavy objects -- iffy, use to be sure, this 2ww I might try not doing it
Alcohol -- a no, but I wish I could be iffy about it; a glass of wine would make the 2ww nicer

I feel like I had more; I'll add as I think of it.
Sending sticky vibes to all.

Alicia

 

[BellyBean]

First of all, good luck on your transfer!

Some more do nots...
1) No seat warmers in the car
2) Keep the laptop on a pillow off your body

 

[oregonduck]

As much as I want to take a nice hot bubble bath, I don't. I had my miscarriage about 2 1/2 weeks after I took a bubble bath in a large jacuzzi tub. We tried to not make the water too hot, but who knows if it was related. I just don't now. Call me paranoid.

 

[BCMomma]

I'm not trying to sound overly tongue-in-cheek here, or be rude, but honestly, the thing I try not to do during to the 2ww is obsess over what I might be doing to harm any potential baby. I try to get absorbed in everything else in my life, and avoid counting down days till I get to do a pregnancy test (though I always realise when I'm a few days away from being able to, and inevitably count down..). I just feel that thinking about it all too much just makes it more stressful. I'm all about trying to keep everything light, and focusing on stuff like keeping the sex really fun, and finding ways to relax, and feel confident that a baby will come to us when it is it's time, and to have a really affirming vision of it happening. I know it's a bit of a ttc cliche, but I do believe being stressed out about the whole process does more to hinder your efforts than not taking a certain vitamin, or going in a hot tub during the tww.

 

[Barefoot Farmer]

BCMomma, I appreciate your perspective and strive for that each month and actually sometimes achieve it. I do think it is more difficult to hold that perspective on an IVF cycle, where so much has been built up in it, so much money is tied to it, etc, etc.

Bellybean, I never thought about the laptop. I will try to remember. How come no seat warmers?

Also, does anyone temper they shower temp? Five years ago I was talking to a friend who was in her 40s and with great blessings she conceived a much desired child. She took only lukewarm showers for the first 20 weeks b/c she was so worried about m/c. I did not know that than and am still sort of suspect. What do others think?

 

[nummies]

You will never hear me say to "just relax". If I had a dollar for everytime someone said that to me...

Anyway, you do whatever it takes to make sure that you don't look back on the 2ww and wonder "what if".

But as far as lukewarm showers, I would say to enjoy a hot shower. I don't take baths in the 2ww though.

Good luck

 

[Barefoot Farmer]

I'm glad someone brought up baths; I really don't know the reasoning behind this. I know that hottubs are a no-no b/c of temp (or so I thought); what is the reasoning behind the bath/bubble bath?

 

[anxious25]

i'm new here so I have no idea what 2ww means. could someone explain this to me?

TIA

 

[LisaG]

Quote:

Originally Posted by anxious25 i'm new here so I have no idea what 2ww means. could someone explain this to me? TIA

2ww = 2 week wait, the time between ovulation (or embryo transfer) and finding out whether or not you're pregnant.

 

[oregonduck]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barefoot Farmer I'm glad someone brought up baths; I really don't know the reasoning behind this. I know that hottubs are a no-no b/c of temp (or so I thought); what is the reasoning behind the bath/bubble bath?

In my case, I like my baths really really hot, so I just equate that with the no hot tub rule. I may be slightly over reacting though.

 

[Julia'sMom]

Alicia - BIG HUGS!!

As for my list, with IVF, I am a lot more careful.

1) No caffeine
2) No alcohol
3) No sex or orgasm
4) No lifting (although I'm a bit lenient on this one since dd doesn't allow me to be strict)
5) Lots of rest, naps every day and early bedtimes
6) Meditation or relaxing music
7) Definate "me time" each day. It's hard when we always want to care for others, but the "me" time is so important to help me deal with the stress.
8) No baths (I miscaried soon after a hot bath once, won't attempt again)

I agree that it's probably more mental. While some of these things may not be harmful, I don't want to worry about "what-if" if the results are negative. Besides, I'm only this strict during the ivf process, which is about 4 weeks every 3 months. Since I don't ovulate otherwise, I get breaks back to "regular life".

 

[crazyrunningmama]

Quote:

Originally Posted by LisaG 2ww = 2 week wait, the time between ovulation (or embryo transfer) and finding out whether or not you're pregnant.

Also know as = for freaking EVER.

The deal with hot baths when you are pg is that it is important to avoid getting your internal body temp too high. "Too high" is unlikely to happen in a relaxing bath, but I don't have them, because I am paranoid and don't want to wonder. For me, I am cutting out dairy now because I know it bothers my digestive system (estimated ET April 22). It makes sense to me to keep your digestive system as happy as posibble, because irritations there are close to where you want calm happy growing things to happen. I also avoid super spicy food for the same reason.

 

[Barefoot Farmer]

I know I am beating this issue to death, but I'm really confused. I was suspect about hot showers for the whole raising body temp issue; why are baths more worrisome than showers?

 

[oregonduck]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barefoot Farmer I know I am beating this issue to death, but I'm really confused. I was suspect about hot showers for the whole raising body temp issue; why are baths more worrisome than showers?

Being immersed in a tub of too-hot water for too long will raise your core body temperature. If it gets too high, then that is when embryo damage could occur. If I recall, anything over 101 F for longer than 15(?) minutes is risky. I researched this before DH and I took our anniversary trip to the coast with the in room jacuzzi tub last October. Showers aren't really a concern because you're moving around, not having your uterus constantly exposed to hot water, and have the ambient room temp air around you. I hope that makes sense!

 

[oregonduck]

 

[mom2faith2004]

Quote:

Originally Posted by BellyBean First of all, good luck on your transfer! Some more do nots... 1) No seat warmers in the car 2) Keep the laptop on a pillow off your body

Umm - why no seat warmers in the car?

And, I have had a bachache for quite some time and have been regularily using a heating pad on it - is this a no-no too?

Amy