Appointment with IVF Nurses - ICSI- Should I carry on working in the two week wait?

[Manooo]

Hi all, me and my husband have been trying for a baby for 4 years. Next week on the 5th of March is our appointment with the IVF nurses where we will start our injections. Now I work as secondary school teacher and by then (embryo transfer) schools will most probably be open, I have to go up and down the stairs quite a bit and change classrooms. My question is, do I take time off completely in the two week wait or keep going to work and just be really cautious? Any experiences out there? My husband is adamant on me taking time off and just being at home as this is soo special for us! I am soo excited, we've been waiting for this time for sooo long! Sending every one lots of love and luck!

[Gueritarubia]

Hey you,

There are a few things to consider. First and foremost how would you mentally and emotionally feel best? Keeping a good blood flow is important and walking stairs is not a problem in and if itself. Just don’t go to the trampoline park 😉

I’m a veteran by now, two fresh cycles under my belt, and my first fresh transfer (second cycle) resulted in my daughter who is now three. I carried on life as normal, including working my office job with some international travel, some cycling, lots of walking and some Pilates. I needed my mind to be distracted and feel some sense of normality or I’d have gone bonkers! I’ve done six frozen transfers trying for a sibling. So far sadly without luck. Have continued living life as normally as possible (in these times...). About to have my seventh and last transfer Wednesday. This time I’m likely to take time off work (as sick leave) as work has been stressing me a lot lately and I don’t want to worry that that screwed things up If transfer is again unsuccessful...

Long story short: do what feels best for you. If you take leave, make sure you do move gently. All the best!

[Manooo in reply to Gueritarubia]

Thank you soo much for the response! Yes the movement I totally agree with but the stress of work is something also that I am not looking forward to. Good luck with you transfer on Wednesday <3

[Gueritarubia in reply to Manooo]

Thank you so much! Only you can judge how you’ll feel best and if work is more stress than distraction you should probably take some time off. Wish you all the best whatever you decide!

[Rcs11]

Good morning. We’re having our 4th transfer next month. I work as a midwife & have been finding work extremely challenging recently. I’ve decided I will ‘isolate’ for a week ish prior to transfer (sensible to do so anyway, not sure what the clinic advise), then I’m taking the 2WW off. My consultant said it’s fine to run/jump/walk/be normal after a FET but I just don’t want to feel stressed/not stop for lunch/drink/loo which is often reality. If it fails again I don’t want it to be because of anything I did. Do what feels right for you. GP will be fine signing you off I’m sure. Good luck 💫 xxx

[Manooo in reply to Rcs11]

Hi Thank you! Yes I think I will as my GP to give me a letter to sign off for me to be at home, I will ofcourse move about, but teaching kids (secondary too) is just such a stressful thing on a daily basis.

[Sparklylife]

Yes, I echo what has been said before me. I was told not to exercise during treatment, but to keep active. So instead of running I went for fast walks 😇 We had to isolate however between day 9 check up scan - in preparation for EC and then we had to remain isolated until after ET (day5). It was our clinics policy due to covid, so it was taken out of my hands. I had to take time off. I am glad though, it was nice to be able to rest when I needed it. I had 4-5 days off after ET, but then went back to work. So did not have the full two week wait off. But at that point I felt fine and needed the distraction! 🥰 And I was told it was up to nature, nothing I could do either way at that point! (But yes, to still keep off vigorous exercise) They basically said - if it makes you think about it, don’t do it - it will not cause a negative, but you may feel it has, so just don’t do it as then you can’t regret it 😇 I don’t know what your clinics policy is, but I would advice to be careful around EC/ET from a pandemic point of view. I did not think about it at the time, and was not sure why my clinic was so strict, but thinking about it now - I would have been devastated if I needed to cancel at any stage due to getting signs or symptoms of covid.

I wish you all the best and hope it will work out for you! ☺️🥰

[McQueeny]

Heya. Like others have said - there’s no right or wrong answer here try and do what will make you less stressed. If you think you’ll be worried going into work every day and then feeling uncomfortable all day, maybe best to take the time off - but if you think you’ll be fine, then some distraction is a good thing! As others have said, bed rest is not advised - if you do decide to stay home make sure you go for walks and move around, without any heavy straining. For my transfer that resulted in my little boy (now 18mths) I took two days off I think - day of transfer and the day after - but then went back to work in an office, cause I think two weeks I would have just spent the whole time obsessing 🤪 just do what you think will work for you. and good luck 🤞 x

[AUTUM121]

Hey huni so I would suggest no for doing the injections as I was fine apart from headaches and few twinges and a little nausea for the first couple of days. I am in my TWW now I would say 100% book time off for the egg retrieval as I was awful after bloated and sore which developed into mild OHSS not nice!! Then I would also book a couple of days off after the transfer to rest...this procedure is painless and I promise exactly like a smear you don't feel a think but the clamp. Good luck with the Stims I am needle phobic my husband did it for me huge tip put ice on your stomach for a good 15-20 mins before and sometimes you don't even feel the needle going in xx

[Manooo in reply to AUTUM121]

Omg such exciting times!! i hope your TWW is going as smooth as you wanted it to! Yeah I am actually quite excited about the stims gives me a weird feeling of 'its finally happening!'. Thank you for your response sending you lots of luck!! xxx

[AUTUM121 in reply to Manooo]

Good luck chic xx