A few wines...

[Sarah83ap]

Ladies what are your thoughts on having a few wines and by that I mean couple of glasses at the weekend to unwind? Some doctors say cut it out others say it’s ok to have a few glasses but not to binge. I cut it out completely once I started my meds last time and I got a BFN. Just feel like I’m spending my whole year consumed with what to do, to do it right and wondered what others think/do?

[Bridget_rose]

My clinic recommended to avoid alcohol from stims onwards and be sensible before that. It was my birthday during down regulation and they basically told me to relax and have one or two drinks! I also had a couple of sips of prosecco at a wedding in my 2ww. In my opinion (no expert!) a few glasses of wine is totally fine in between cycles. I think it’s easy to be way too hard on ourselves. But totally appreciate if people want to cut out altogether. xxx

[Hidden]

Hi lovely. I completely cut out all alcohol during all our treatments and it made no difference to outcome.

I never drank through the week before treatments, it was always only a Friday and Saturday - and purely because we don’t have children yet.

My advice: If you’re going to cut yourself up about it, then don’t do it. That’s why I gave it up (and coffee).

But if having a wine is going to relax you then why the hell not?

Good luck in your journey xxxx

[Drives]

My consultant told me a few drinks here and there won't make a difference but I still didn't drink once I started down reg x x

[Lou7744]

I really don’t think the odd glass of wine is going to impact upon treatment 💕 xx

[KOT7]

Well this is hard enough as it is! Surely You don't need to get rid of ALL social pleasures as well as long as you're sensible and doing it at appropriate times! That's just torture.

If anyone deserves a wine, it's people going through the turmoil of IVF, So don't go crazy, but treat yourself to that sauvignon in the fridge! Otherwise you'll go mad. And for you to carry on on this journey, you need to be in a good place xx

[waitingg]

Hi Sarah, yes I think it’s fine to have a few. I saw a nutritionist before my last cycle and she said a few glasses a week (4 for me) was fine but not during stims. She said try and go for red over white and organic. And to spread it out over the week rather than drinking them all in one eve. I started to buy the small bottles to limit myself as having a full bottle open in the fridge is too tempting! Husband and I hadn’t drunk for months before and it really did help us feel a bit more normal before the cycle started. Enjoy 🍷 xxx

[sarahharas]

Of course doctors tell you to avoid drinking, which they.must do. However, my personal opinion is that it does not really matter. When you binge drink, your body is very much busy recoverying and detoxifying your body and this might influence the outcome. However, haveing some glasses to wind down and relax and have a nice time cannot harm. I am not a doctor, this is just my personal opinion. I had cycles in which I completely stopped from injections on and I reaponded so badly. Once I started enjoying myself, and drinking the occasional glass in the weekend, I responded so much better, and I have my BFP now. I just really did not drink.anything anymore from the day of my trigger!

[Wishingfortheday]

I agree with many of the others - a glass or two, once or twice a week, will not affect the outcome of your cycle. I completely avoided alcohol before and during my three failed IVF cycles. During our latest treatment I had a more relaxed approach to things and had the occasional drink with dinner, and am currently 5 weeks. There are other factors that were different too - we were having treatment abroad this time and using donor eggs - so I'm certainly not claiming alcohol was the magic ingredient or anything like that! But I think that feeling relaxed and content does play a part. So my recommendation would be just do what you feel is right for you xx

[Kyell2]

Until I started stims I still had a glass of wine or a gin and tonic at the weekend. Just one but I don’t see that it’s an issue and I truly believe that you have to be kind to yourself or you will drive yourself completely mad. It’s all about moderation but do what feels right for you xx

[Sarah83ap]

Thanks for all your comments! It’s good to know! Yeah had a large glass. Not gonna beat myself up over it. I totally enjoyed it 😊

[chickp]

We were advised by our clinic to follow the guidelines for pregnancy which I think allows a couple of units a week? I barely drink at all anyway but I know when I have decided to cut it out all together I feel like an alcoholic on withdrawal desperate for a drink 😆 I had two small glasses last night and had a lovely relaxed evening with my family. I’m sure that will do me more good than beating myself up about wanting a drink when I can’t!

[Cinderella5]

Hey Sarah, in my opinion when finishing a treatment and having some down time I think it's important to enjoy what you can and if that's wine then so be it! We've been doing IVF for 3.5 years and it literally takes over every part of your life so take the downtime when you can or it will slowly drive you mad!!xx

[Hidden]

Hi Sarah.

I have never had ivf ( so my advice might not be right..) but my fertility doctor encouraged us to enjoy ourselves & ditch the ovulation sticks & buy a nice bottle of wine instead 🤣 I think his method of TTC was much more fun than my sticks & temp charting 🤣 anyway I was naughty in my last 2WW ( this was after my third surgery to treat my endometriosis) I allowed myself a small bottle of wine on Friday & Saturday night! I was worried about getting more stressed by denying myself any nice “treats” & I personally think stress is far worse than the occasional glass of wine! If you look at others they drink excessively & become pregnant ( sometimes as a result of that!) so I really don’t believe a small glass or 2 of wine will do any significant harm. My last 2WW resulted in my 3 week old daughter & she’s perfectly healthy 😍 if you feel like you might blame yourself if treatment didn’t work do it obviously I’m not saying it would fail. End of day it’s your call but wishing you the best with whatever you decide to do & good luck with next cycle xxx