Thoughts on alcohol before starting a new cycle

[Violet1987]

Hello everyone,

My previous two cycles I have lived like a saint - gave up alcohol completely for 3+ months before starting medication. Ate very healthily and did the Mediterranean diet on my last failed cycle.

So I’m wondering your thoughts on this - I have a wedding next weekend and although I wasn’t going to drink, I’m actually thinking - well why the hell not? I’m not even on Norethesterone yet!

I’ve also got a weekend away to London for my little sister’s 30th in 3 weeks. The itinerary is lots of girlie things and lots of cocktails! The problem is, I think my baseline scan will be 3-4 days after our London weekend away.

I guess what I’m asking is your opinions on whether it will be OK go have cocktails and Prosecco at both of these events?

Is there any cocktails that I should completely avoid?

I haven’t actually drank in 7 weeks as I’m not a big drinker anyway. But my last two cycles if I had events I would just drink water - not even have tea due to it not being decaf, and none of it made any difference as I still lost my baby and all other transfers failed to implant.

Please give me your honest opinions as I can take them. X

[Dolly8]

Relax and have a glass or three. Let your hair down and have fun. Enjoy x

[Violet1987 in reply to Dolly8]

Aww thank you! I will be having more than 3... 😂🙈 but I’ll drink plenty water too x

[Orla9298]

I would relax and enjoy yourself. My best round I had a trip to Ibiza during stims and did injections in club toilets! I also tried rounds where I was very well behaved and they went worse 🙈 I think it’s all very random so you have to make sure your still live your life throughout treatment x

[Violet1987 in reply to Orla9298]

Haha really? That’s so funny and interesting that that was your best round! It would be a lot harder to be good in Ibiza. It just shows us too that there really is no logic to cycles.

I think you’re right. I’m just going to enjoy the cocktails and fizz this time. Thanks for your reply x

[Jonesjp]

Enjoy yourself hunny, there’s something to be said for being relaxed!! My first cycle I didn’t drink for 6 months and not a single egg just empty follicles, 2nd cycle drank until down reg and got 6 eggs, it makes no sense! I’m about to start down reg again in a week but will probably drink until I start stimms, I’m not a massive drinker but if your “Out out” then it wouldn’t stop me anymore, hope you have a lovely time and good luck with your cycle 😘

[Violet1987 in reply to Jonesjp]

Thank you for sharing your experience. That is so interesting. Maybe I am tackling this all wrong? 🤣

I have started acupuncture and although it was OK, I actually prefer going for a swim. I should maybe just save my money and actually listen to my feelings.

I’ll definitely be enjoying myself now. Thanks again 😘 x

[Jonesjp in reply to Violet1987]

I wasn’t a fan of acupuncture, it’s very costly and frankly I felt more relaxed after a massage or a good book and a large glass or red 😊 x x

[Violet1987 in reply to Jonesjp]

Sounds lovely! A nice book and a glass of red - yum

[Reer in reply to Violet1987]

I listened to a podcast, let's talk about fertility and the important thing is not to put your life on hold, have fun enjoy it as this fertility scene shouldn't take over.

I treated myself to a full body massage today, to relax.

[Cinderella5]

I would enjoy both event with a few drinks! This takes an awful lot out of us and I'm not sure being that strict is good for us. I think being relaxed and living life is what it's all about. I did better in my cycle where I wasnt so strict! Have some fun I say!!xx

[Violet1987 in reply to Cinderella5]

Hello Cinderella, yes, that seems to be what everyone is saying. Your responses have made me feel a lot better. There really is no logic as everyone’s experiences are so varied. Thanks x

[Picalilli99]

I agree with the others. Go and enjoy yourself! I have tried both approaches in the past and it didn’t seem to make much difference, if anything the time I was stricter with everything we got poorer results. But I think a lot of it probably comes down to luck if I’m honest. It was our 7 year wedding anniversary the day before our baseline scan and I was unsure what to do but decided to enjoy it and have a few drinks with our meal out and was glad I did xx

[Violet1987 in reply to Picalilli99]

Hello, so many people are saying that the stricter they are with themselves, the poorer the results! It really is just about luck in the end. Thanks - I feel so much better! X

[LunaLovegood11]

Hey! I was on the down-reg drugs and was going on a hen do, and asked the nurse during a scan if it was ok to have a drink.

She said it was absolutely fine at that stage, and I wasn’t on the stims injections and there was no need to worry.

I say go for it, there are so many things we have to adjust but some treat occasions can’t hurt in reality. If you’re going to stress after having a drink then it might not be worth it, but I think there’s something to be said for not letting ‘trying’ stopping us living xxx

[Violet1987 in reply to LunaLovegood11]

That’s good that the nurse said it was fine. Yes, I won’t be on the injections then so I’m just going to enjoy myself. I loved being healthy and alcohol free during our first IVF round as I was 100% positive that my hard work and determination would result in a baby - the devastation that it didn’t really has been difficult.

I feel a lot better with all the encouragement from this group x

[Solly-44]

🙋‍♀️ another vote for enjoying yourself from me!

To be honest I’ve given up on giving up drinking this time around! I’m not going to drink when I start meds for my FET but other than that 🙈.

Have fun at both lovely xx

[Violet1987 in reply to Solly-44]

Thank you Solly-44. I will enjoy myself. Good luck to you when you start your FET x

[Kat9lives]

Enjoy yourself. If it helps, red wine is the best drink to have (beer not good strangely). Stress levels and enjoying yourself are more important than avoiding the odd night out. Drink and be merry! 😘 xx

[Violet1987 in reply to Kat9lives]

Thank you Kat9lives. You girls on here always make me feel better! I do actually like red wine so will maybe swap some Prosecco for red when I’m in London. I’m not a beer drinker 🤮 x

[staaa88]

I felt the same as you... but I think it’s best to live life normally...Go for it and have fun! Xx

[Violet1987 in reply to staaa88]

Thank you! X

[Kitcat12]

I wholeheartedly support this! Eat, drink and be merry. I did the exact same as you, gave up everything, was the perfect patient and my cycle ended in miscarriage. This time I relaxed, drank moderately right up to transfer (FET) and ate what I wanted and I'm now 22 weeks. I honestly think it's mostly down to pure luck! I say enjoy yourself x

[Violet1987 in reply to Kitcat12]

Congratulations on your pregnancy. Thank you, I’m definitely going to enjoy myself 😂 x

[amandac84]

Just relax and enjoy o have been living a normal life and not trying to overthink it being better but not given up alcohol completely you deserve it xx

[Violet1987 in reply to amandac84]

Thank you for your kind words x