Worried my anxiety will effect success of FET

[Littlepip1]

Hi, currently 7days post FET and feeling really anxious. This is our third round and we have a really good embryo in that had already started to spontaneously hatch. I’m just super worried that my anxiety will cause it to fail. Catch22 because I’m anxious about being anxious and that causes more anxiety. Actually feel better for just writing this to be honest. Got this journey is tough!

[Babyrainbow]

The 2 ww is always difficult and it is easy to imagine the worst. The past experiences also trigger more stress.

Try to find something to do to keep yourself occupied. Read a book, go for a cuppa, start a show on Netflix, or whatever makes you happy. Just hang in there you are already half way through, use 7 more days. Wishing you the best!🤞🌈

[Littlepip1 in reply to Babyrainbow]

Thanks - yeah the first few days I was lovely and calm. Almost like nothing was happening and now I’m getting less and less bit working on it 🤷🏻‍♀️

[HollyT7]

totally get this, I was worrying about worrying too. We had a chemical with our first so that made me even more anxious than I already was and it still worked, little one is now two 💙 all the best lovely xxx

[Jenniwenni]

A genetic counsellor told me about a massive study that was done in Oz, looking at the effect of stress on IVF outcomes, and it didn’t have an impact. The counsellor told me that it’s impossible not to be stressed/anxious when you’re doing IVF, and don’t worry, because it doesn’t have an impact. 😘😘😘 I hope that helps to take the pressure off a bit. Maybe try and treat yourself to some really nice things…🎬🍿💆‍♀️🍝🧘‍♀️💐🚶‍♀️🛍📚👩‍❤️‍👨

[Littlepip1 in reply to Jenniwenni]

Thank you so much - this has helped a lot and for some reason made me cry - hopefully with relief and heavily hormonally influenced

[Jenniwenni in reply to Littlepip1]

Awww you’re so welcome 😍 I’m glad it’s helped. I’ve got everything crossed for you! 🤞🙏🏿

[Mathea]

What Jenniwenni said! I'm now day 12 after transfer and I'm almost sick with anxiety, because I have anxiety about the FET not being succesful... a bad self-amplifying cycle. When I looked it up on the web tho I saw that anxiety and depressive thoughts don't really affect if the FET's succesful or not, which provided a bit of relief.

[Littlepip1 in reply to Mathea]

Thanks for this - and good luck. Sending you all the positivity in the world 🍀 🤞

[Hidden]

I have no answers! I am a ball of nerves and I haven’t even started my frozen cycle yet! 😄

Wishing you all the best and hopefully you get some tips and advice on here.

Something that helps me is the headspace app - I did that 4 years ago when I did IVF for the first time. You can do a free trial for a few weeks I think.

X

[Mathea in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for the headspace app tip, I downloaded it and it helped a bit with my anxiety

[Littlepip1 in reply to Hidden]

Yep - I’m giving it a go too

[AMJean]

It really is a tough journey! And you are being a warrior xx Focus on a bit of self compassion right now. I had a major stress the day after transfer last time and it was my first ever bfp. X

[GJW2018]

Feel this soooo much. My anxiety was off the charts and I convinced myself our FET cycle hadn’t worked due to how anxious I was. I’m now watching my 3 month old on her play mat! If there is one thing this whole journey has taught me (pregnancy anxiety included!) is that that voice - anxious/negative thoughts - is almost always wrong! The thing I learnt was to allow the anxiety and not judge it because sometimes the resistance to it ‘I shouldn’t be feeling this way’ is what makes it worse. Sending you lots of love x

[Littlepip1 in reply to GJW2018]

I think that’s how I’m managing to cope - by just saying to myself ‘this is normal’ a lot of the time

[Hidden]

It's such a complicated journey, the layers upon layers of emotion. For anxiety, I find EFT, also known as Tapping really helpful. It's like an active meditation so good when your mind is whirring too much to get zen. It acknowledges the feelings of anxiety/stress and then works on calming them. I downloaded an app called the Tapping Solution, they're all about 10 minutes, some of them are free and you can get a taste of them. They also have a section on IVF tapping, but think this is part of the paid version, but it has one on stressing about being stressed which I thought was so appropriate. One of the creators of it has had a difficult fertility journey so she really gets it! Wishing you all the best.

[Littlepip1 in reply to Hidden]

This sounds fascinating- I’m 💯 going to look into it. Thank you 😊

[Abs37]

I completely feel you Littlepip! I’m 6 days post FET transfer and was so chilled for the fist few days quite positive actually! The last two days I’m just feeling the anxiety coming in waves which terrifies me. Although I wouldn’t wish it on anyone else I do find it comforting other people are feeling the same way. Wishing you lots of luck for your test day xx

[Littlepip1 in reply to Abs37]

I know - I feel the same - at least we’re not alone! Sending you lots of love. I’m day 8 now so past the half way line 😰

[Anim88]

Hi there! Is anxiety known to have major effects on progress? I have an anxiety disorder and never considered that it might affect the progress of my ivfxx

[Littlepip1 in reply to Anim88]

I don’t think so - I just worry because like you I have an anxiety disorder so I can get quite high on adrenaline

[Anim88 in reply to Littlepip1]

Ah, I see. I totally feel you. Especially getting anxious about getting anxious. So relatable. Wishing you all the best and sending you calming vibesxx

[Tyson0609]

Been through the process 6 times before right now on 7th time. I’m now 8dp5dt today, and like you the anxiety I have is unreal. Maybe because I’ve decided this is my last try as I don’t think I have the strength anymore to continue after this last transfer. I decided I was gonna not care this time and I didn’t till 2 days ago when anxiety set in. I have no symptoms at all just some cramping but the transfer was hard this time. This process is so hard especially when people are getting positives at this stage. I caved in and tested 20 mins ago and BFN. I have 4 days till BETA and already feeling like giving up and opening the bottle of wine (I won’t lol). Hope you and I have a good result I really do hugs 🤗

[Littlepip1 in reply to Tyson0609]

It’s so hard isn’t it? I understand the decision to stop. We’re on transfer three and will go for another fresh round of this one doesn’t work but think we will call it if that fresh one fails - still counting on this little FET that’s hopefully cooking 🤷🏻‍♀️