Bug spray coffee and IVF

[Barbara1012]

Hello

I woke up with a ton of random thoughts and questions - and googling for fun... thought I’d ask you lovely ladies some of them..

I seem to be getting bug bites every other day in this weather, they get really itchy and swell up - it’s annoying! I was looking for a natural bug spray ( if there is such a thing?) that won’t impact the start of my first cycle. Does anyone know a brand?

Also - i’ve switched to decaf coffee, but read that it still not great. Have you given up coffee altogether and if so have you switched to any alternatives? Thinking I might stock up on pukka teas..

Happy Saturday xx

Xxx

[Hidden]

Hey! I went to decaf coffee but my nutritionist told me only 1 a day...was so hard!! Pukka teas are great - but I loved just hot water and lemon during my treatment.

Hope you can find a natural bug spray....I want one too as I am going on holiday....will try Holland and Barrett.

Best of luck with your treatment! Sounds like you have everything covered

Xxx

[Barbara1012 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you EB! I’ll give the hot water and lemon anothef go ( all my attempts at keeping this routine up have lasted about 2 days!)

Hope you have a lovely trip and you’re doing well xx

[Hidden in reply to Barbara1012]

I know - I miss coffee so much....will let you know if I find the bug spray! Xxx

[Barbara1012 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you! I’ll also let you know if my googling comes up with anything useful. I am easily distracted. Haha xx

[Hidden in reply to Barbara1012]

Oh yes please xxx

[Barbara1012 in reply to Hidden]

Looks like Holland & barrett stocks something called ‘incognito insect repellent - £9.99 for 100ml. So might be a good shout - Avon seem to do a few that the ladies below have mentioned and worth a look too xx

[Lilli79 in reply to Barbara1012]

I have Incognito bug spray, it's 100% natural and vegan as a plus. Bought it in Lloyd's pharmacy, currently on offer for £8.49. Has definitely done the job for me, was getting bitten alive before! Smells lovely and also very cooling. I'm 30 weeks pregnant and pharmacist helped me choose it, said it was fine to use during pregnancy so I assume also OK to use during ivf xx

[Barbara1012 in reply to Lilli79]

Thanks Lilli, and congrats on your pregnancy. Hope you’re keeping well xxx

[Hidden in reply to Barbara1012]

Looks great all the info here! I ordered the avon one today xxx

[Orla9298]

Look up bulletproof decaf coffee. It’s processed in a way that reduces toxins, which are normally higher in decaf. I think it’s the healthiest decaf around xx

[Barbara1012 in reply to Orla9298]

Thanks Orla. A friend of mine is into the bullet proof coffee - thought it was butter blended into coffee ( which does not sound good :)) haha. Will look this up thank you xx

How are you? Hope everything is ok xx

[Orla9298 in reply to Barbara1012]

It’s a brand too, so yeah the word refers to having a coffee with butter etc, but think it’s also the brand - bulletproof upgraded decaf or something. I’m ok thank you, just waiting to ovulate for transfer!x

[Barbara1012 in reply to Orla9298]

Thanks Orla - good luck with transfer, let us know you get on xx

[Abaco]

Gave up the caffeine altogether and had hot water with lemon and ginger, surprisingly nice!

[Barbara1012]

Thanks Abaco. Defo need to try and wean myself off. Decaf has helped - although feeling a little bloated! Lemon and ginger is such a good option - I struggle with keeping up with it - will preserve!

Hope everything is going well for you xx

[magda22]

I got really into the barley coffee! obviously it's not as good but it's warm, dark and bitter, so goes some of the way to replacing regular coffee! And is totally caffeine free

Haven't tried bulletproof decaf, will look that up.

How long are you guys giving up coffee? Just during stimulation, or during the build up too? X

[magda22 in reply to magda22]

Barley coffee you get several brands in Holland and Barrett

[Barbara1012 in reply to magda22]

Hi Magda, just wanted to say thank you. Got some wholearth barley coffee from H+B and it’s not bad! Thanks again xxx

[Barbara1012 in reply to magda22]

Ooh thanks Magda, hadn’t thought of Barley. Will take a look - might do a little cocktail taste test of all of these this weekend. I am starting on my first burselin injection on Wed - so wanted to be coffee free from then... I might be over egging that particular coffee custard I think xx

[Hidden]

Try a decaf that’s Swiss filtered. I switched to decaf during my transfer but only had one a day. Once I was pregnant I found I went completely off coffee!

Avon skin so soft body oil spray is meant to be helpful against bugs (contains citronella).

Good luck! Xx

[Barbara1012 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Zoe! I’d love to go off coffee altogether generally but not sure that will happen to me! I am Italian so coffee is just a part of life

[Cinderella5]

Avon skin so soft moisturising spray is good to keep bugs away. Its not really a bug spray but a lot of people use it for this reason....if you have a Google you'll even see the guys in the forces use it for this reason! Wishing you luck!x

[Barbara1012]

Thank you Cinders! That looks a good option - the little bleepers seem to have taken a shine to me at the moment!

How’s things with you? Xx

[Cinderella5 in reply to Barbara1012]

So annoying!! We've got the midges in Scotland to deal with which is always a challenge! I'm ok, praying my lining is getting thicker soon can move onto transfer!!🙏🤞xx

[Barbara1012 in reply to Cinderella5]

Will keep fingers and everything crossed for you xx

how thick does it need to be? Trying to get my head round all the different bits of the process but it’s a bit confusing! Xx

[Cinderella5 in reply to Barbara1012]

Clinics give different advice! My clinic thinks over 9mm is optimum but some clinics say less. I think if I get over 7mm I should be good to go as it will continue to thicken up in the least up. Not only the thickness but a trilaminar appearance or triple line is important too and this shows the endometrium is receptive. This can be seen on the ultrasound scans.xx

[Barbara1012 in reply to Cinderella5]

Jeesh all sounds so conplicated! Hope you get the number you need to move on to the next stage. I have my baseline scan booked for 9 Aug - I think that’s where they’ll get the measuring tape out on mine! Take care lovely and let me know how you get on xx

[Lilli79]

Hi Barbara, see comment above about bug spray. For teas and coffee I drink azeera decaf, it's water filtered so natural and no chemicals at all & tastes lovely! Teas - I drink rooibus, peppermint, chamomile - all naturally caffeine free. Also ginger and turmeric teas from pukka are delicious xxx

[forMoira]

I have stopped coffee altogether as I read that even the decaff can make the womb acidic and hinder implantation. Apparently women who drink tea have better success rates but as we all know, caffeine can cause miscarriage so I am only having decaff tea and limiting it to one a day. I cut out caffeine about six weeks prior to transfer as apparently it is the cumulative effect that is the problem. Officially the NHS says one cup a day is fine but I'm not chancing it. I drank lots of herbal tea up to transfer but stopped drinking herbal tea after transfer as some herbal teas are not recommended durihelpsegnancy and the effects of others are unknown. I now have hot milk if I fancy popping into a coffee shop. Chocolate has some caffeine but I'm having the odd bit.

I can't recommend an insect spray.

I switched to Green People sun tan lotion and shampoo and faith in nature conditioner. Apparently some sun lotions have things in them that affect hormones but the green people one doesn't. Having said that it isn't silky to put on and doesn't feel as nice as other brands.

I hope that helps.

[Dunla]

I was at an outdoor water activity centre a few weeks back and the instructor told me they all use Avon Skin So Soft moisturiser as an effective alternative to nasty DEET insect repellant. Also a friend of mine uses lemon soap.