Living normal??

[Alwaysfullofhope]

hey all,

So my past two cycles I have been so strict no drinking 3months prior, eating healthy etc etc and this made no difference to the outcome if my cycles which unfortunately resulted in a BFN!! I start my 3rd cycle next month my medication is now changing to menapur from global f and this is being increased also, however i feel like I'm the only person who is going through IVF who is still having a few drinks and eating what I want to eat!! Has anyone else just lived normal up until they start the process and had a BFP? Obviously once I have started the cycle I will not be drinking etc and when I say drinking im not getting drunk everyweekend but I've had a couple of cocktails and a couple of shandys etc?

Hope this doesn't offend anyone becoming a mum is the most important thing to me i honestly want nothing more in life.

Thank you x

[emily92353]

I haven’t been drinking but I’ve been eating completely as normal! I haven’t started my round yet either though

[Hidden]

My best round so far I drank up to day 3 of stims! I was on holiday in Ibiza

I think there is a balance, I’ve been doing this stuff for so long I think mental health is just as important as physical health / my nurses always say a few drinks here and there are going to do no harm at all and if they make you feel better then crack on

For what It’s worth I am the same - I would chop my right arm off for a family but also after a long time ttc I can’t continue living as a nun! I think it’s a personal judgement about what’s an appropriate sacrifice

Masses of luck for next round xx

[Alwaysfullofhope in reply to Hidden]

This makes me feel so much better I go out with my friends and have a few drinks then I get this wave of guilt like im being a bad mum before even having the chance... my friends reassure me constantly that people get pregnant all over the world who do worse things than having a few cocktails with the girls... but I am the same my life has been on hold for 2years not been able to plan anything or just let my hair down etc and it has made no difference so... but just wanted to see if anyone else felt the same!!

Wishing you all the luck in the world also!!x

[Solly-44]

I’ve done both options, and for me the relaxed version (living normal) helped me feel like I wasn’t being consumed by the process, Which in turn is better for my mental health and I think puts a little less pressure on us.

I stopped drinking when I started meds but otherwise continued as normal and got a bfp on one of those rounds. Wishing you loads of luck xx

[Alwaysfullofhope in reply to Solly-44]

This is great news, congratulations... i know everyone is different etc and what works for one may not work for another but the strict lifestyle and the rules honestly make the whole process even worse than it actually is!! Just nice to know they're people out there who in turn have took the more relaxed approach and got the best outcome!!

Thanks for your response means the world x

[Weareback2]

My doctor said that ivf is stressful enough without restricting your diet/alcohol months before. She actually told me to enjoy s bottle of prosecco lol. As soo. As I started medication obviously I didn't drink and was told not to but before yes I did!

[Alwaysfullofhope in reply to Weareback2]

Thanks for your response, honestly this is so refreshing, I know drinking and socialising isn't the be all and end all however being sociable is a big part of my life, eating out and a few drinks is what we do most weekends...

Its nice to know that a medical professional as recommended a bottle of prosecco haha

Thank you x

[Ivfgotadream]

My best round where I only got 2 follicles but both became blastocysts and frozen and I’m now 12 weeks pregnant with twins was the round straight after Xmas - weeks of gluttony drinking and general bad living. My worst round was after lockdown after 3 months of healthy eating, exercising, textbook “lifestyle” I suppose and losing weight. That cycle was a bust so we decided to thaw my January embryos.....

So honestly I wouldn’t stress about it too much x

[Alwaysfullofhope in reply to Ivfgotadream]

Congratulations!!! Twins oh my gosh how exciting!!

Yes I've done both of my previous cycles in Jan & Feb so both Christmas's have been a no drink zone which i have found quite hard as I usually have a bucks fizz with my breakfast and that usually sets the trend for the rest of the day!! And yes my first go i had nothing at all fertilised (of a good quality) my 2nd go i had 7 eggs 3 of which fertilised 2 which looked promising and only one at a day 5, my doctor has advised he thinks its the way I react to the stimms so switching it up completely this round.

Thanks so much for your response x

[Twiglet2]

I’ve tried both ways as you start off very strict and then as the years go by you realise you can’t let it take over your whole life. Honestly the best round (had BFP but lost it at 6 weeks) I had I was just living a normal life and even when on the meds. Like you, I wasn’t reliving my teenager years getting smashed every weekend or eating McDonald’s every day but I wasn’t torturing myself either. I did keep up the vitamins though. And of course tried all the old wives tales about pineapple etc. 🙈

I honestly believe our mental health and stress and anxiety can play a part in this journey so it’s about finding a balance that’s right for you. For some people being strict helps them feel better or in control, for others it’s torture and adds to the pressure.

I’ve went down the more relaxed route this time around but the outcome of that remains to be seen!

Wishing you lots of luck in your next cycle 🤗💕 xx

[Alwaysfullofhope in reply to Twiglet2]

Thank you for your response!!

Yes I am definitely not re living my youth I dont think I could do the hangovers haha!!

But it brings so much comfort to know that people have taken the same approach as me and have a success stories, I am truly so sorry that it didn't work out as you planned however I hope going forward you have nothing but good news!!

Yes i ensure I take all the vitamins, im taking pregnacare multi vit, coq10 & royal jelly in previous cycles i only took pregnacare so I'm hoping the addition of the 2 vits might help also

Hope you have a lovely day x

[KiboXX]

I definitely think it’s more important to be relaxed and happy then to eat/drink the right things. My worst round was the one I did all the right things for, no alcohol for months before, fertility diet, acupuncture etc . My most successful (currently pregnant from) I completely let myself live my normal life, ate what I wanted and even had a glass of wine the night before my transfer.

Don’t get too hung up on the little stuff! You’ve got this ❤️ xxx

[Dorygirl]

Thank you so much for writing this post!

A Friday night drinking decaf coffee just didn't do it for me 😧.

[Lovemylion]

I tried being a nun and only got BFN’s. like others say it’s probably because the stress and expectation of living that lifestyle affected my mental health. For my successful round I had the odd glass of wine and ate normally and I’m now chasing my little 14month old boy round. I did also do acupuncture which helped to relax me too. So I think there’s a lot to be said for living normally and indulging in some relaxing added therapies. Don’t get me wrong it’s still a stressful experience and I still had my nutty days during the 2ww 🤪🙃🤪 it’s impossible to completely relax. Xxx

[Franco81]

This was exactly me just over a year ago! I’d had two failed rounds where I’d been a saint! Taking every supplement going and I’d cut out alcohol and bad foods.

We had a stressful year leading up to our third cycle and by the time we started I just decided a drink or two and eating normally would only help me relax and restricting myself hadn’t helped before so why not!

I even had one or two drinks during the cycle up to the stims phase and then in between egg collection and transfer (we went for a meal the night before transfer and I had a wine and two cocktails hoping I wouldn’t be able to drink again for a while!).

And long story short, our third round worked and I now have healthy 6 month old twins. It was my best round. I know no one can know exactly what worked or didn’t for them but I firmly believe that it was just good luck and timing and that nothing I did or didn’t do made any real difference. Obviously within reason, I wouldn’t have gone out and got smashed! But the odd drink or bar of chocolate isn’t going to hurt.

I do totally remember worrying that people would think I couldn’t have wanted it enough if I wasn’t willing to sacrifice alcohol and nice foods but we have to carrying on living through the most difficult experience so I think we have to just make choices that we’re happy with and forget what others think!

Wishing you so much luck for this round x

[Azzurra79]

Two things: being happy and relaxed is the best way to prepare your body. You will get pregnant and then you will be nauseous and unable to drink so enjoy your life! Everything in moderation of course.

Second thing: when I took up ballroom dancing I had so much fun that I forgot to drink. Dancing is great for your body and spirit, if you are so inclined.

TTC can be such a draining process but deep down the body needs to be filled with happy and free vibes to commit to creating a new life ..

Wishing you the very best of luck!