any advice to reduce Crinone bloat?

[ForABabyPanda]

I am now 2 days post transfer (fresh transfer so still probably suffering side effects of stims) and I’m still bloated and crampy. I know my ovaries are reducing because I no longer feel them bobbling about when I walk, but I am still bloated and I read that’s a side effect of progesterone!! Really do not want to be this constantly bloated for up to 12 weeks of progesterone (obviously you do expect to increase in size in time when you get pregnant) but I would quite like to get back into normal clothes before I have to go into maternity! Any tips? Otherwise I’ll not be able to hide it at all if I get pregnant!! Also it’s uncomfortable and vastly reduces what I can wear/do!

[MoonbeamMcSwine]

Sounds counter-intuitive given the McDonald's fries after transfer thing, and you may already be on it, but water. SO. MUCH. WATER. Have found balancing out sodium levels helps with bloating so aimed for 3 litres of fluid a day all the way through treatment and mainly kept it up through pregnancy. Means weeing all the time, but if your transfer has worked you're gonna need to be within 50 feet of a toilet at all times for 9 months anyway, may as well get used to it 🤣 All the best for OTD xx

[ForABabyPanda in reply to MoonbeamMcSwine]

thank you! Yeah I am drinking at least 3 glasses of water, 2 cups of caf tea, a cup of mint tea, and a lucozade sport each day. Should I still be trying to increase salt intake or was that just immediately after collection? I find counter intuitively that drinking water itself exacerbated the cramping as then I’m constantly cramping cos I need to pee too! I always find lots of water quite uncomfortable!

[MoonbeamMcSwine in reply to ForABabyPanda]

Totally get how uncomfortable all the fluids are, especially on top of general transfer cramps! I thought that sodium was just recommended post egg collection to prevent OHSS if you were at risk but could be wrong. Post transfer just act like you're pregnant: hydrate, avoid all the fun-but-dangerous foods and drinks, take your meds/folic acid, and get as much rest as life allows. x

[DianeArnold Partner Nurse Fertility Network UK]

Hi ForABabyPanda. As the medication works on the pituitary gland in the brain, you need to drink plenty of water, which hopefully will settle things down. Good luck! Diane

[ForABabyPanda in reply to DianeArnold]

thank you - been drinking like a fish already but will try to fit in even more!

[DianeArnold Partner Nurse Fertility Network UK in reply to ForABabyPanda]

Good girl. Diane xx