2 week wait rollercoaster

[Salimali44]

I am in week 2 now of my third embryo transfer- having stomach cramps which feel like period pain now so not feeling very positive about it. I don’t feel like I’ve relaxed and taken enough care of myself in this process. I’m still going to work and I have a long commute on a very hot and often delayed tube, I have an extra work thing on and am having to work at evenings and weekends, plus we are moving house and not getting time to have proper healthy meals- plus I’m not sleeping due to the stress of it all. Do you think this could be a reason for failure? Or do you think if it wants to implant it will regardless? I feel like I’ve wasted a chance

[Allotmenteer16]

Hey, also in 2WW, testing on Friday. My clinic was very much along the lines of carry on as normal, the only thing they said was don't let your abdomen get super hot, i.e. hot baths, jacuzzi's. I've tried to think about it less this time, previously I've been cautious about carrying heavier things, but I've lifted my 4 year old in and out of the car and so on, my body is very used to it so I don't see how it would affect things.

I was carrying on with work but have gone off for the rest of this week as feel I wouldn't have been able to do what I needed to concentrate on.

I think you have to do what feels right, it seems that if you are worrying about how much you have on, maybe you need to try and ease up in one area of your life for a few days? Are you able to take a few days off of work at all?

[Salimali44 in reply to Allotmenteer16]

Unfortunately I can’t take any more time off as we had to take 5 days for the transfer (as it was in Spain)… but I have said to my partner I can’t do packing and moving right now and I need to take it easier in the evenings and hopefully he will support me to relax more. I feel that all three times I’ve tried it’s been this second week I could really have done with a week off as it’s just so tough- but in each case after having to take time off for the egg collection and transfer I just can’t afford to miss more days - especially as I’m self employed. Next time I will try to organise it better! Good luck for your result on Friday and thanks very much for replying. Feels good not to be alone!

[Allotmenteer16 in reply to Salimali44]

Well done for speaking to your partner, hopefully he will help you relax a little more. I am sorry it's hard for you to take time off work, I'm very lucky to work for the NHS and my trust allows some days of special leave for treatment days, EC, ET etc so it means I don't have to rely so much on using annual leave or sickness, although I've gone off sick this week.

I think in general if an embryo is gonna stick, it's gonna stick, stress is very much part of the process, if it made such a big difference it wouldn't work for anyone. Take opportunities to relax where you can, but try not to let yourself stress and being stressed (I am a master at that!)I am keeping everything crossed for yours being a sticky one x

[Salimali44 in reply to Allotmenteer16]

Yes that’s true- it is impossible to stay stress free through all this stuff! Thank you very much x

[Allotmenteer16 in reply to Salimali44]

I meant to say "stress about being stressed" hehe. All the best x

[DianeArnold Partner Nurse Fertility Network UK]

Hi. This could be down to a bit of infection. Drink plenty of water to keep urine clear and lots of it. Don’t get constipated, and take all prescribed medication including folic acid and vitamin D. Paracetamol on.y if needed for pain, no anti inflammatories such as ibuprofen. Good luck. Diane

[Salimali44 in reply to DianeArnold]

Thank you- I will try having more water, I never drink enough!

[Kitkat10]

No, none of these things that you do will affect implantation. I caught norovirus on day 7 post transfer and was so ill I could not get out of bed for 24 hours and had vomiting for 8 hours. I still got a BFP even though I was totally sure the embryo would have no chance.

Exactly as you say, ‘if it’s going to implant it will’. Good luck 🍀🍀 you haven’t wasted a chance xx try and stay positive and best of luck for OTD 🙏🙏

[Here4ivfinfo]

My view is that it’s either going to stick or not. I had Covid in my 2ww and I’m 6w2 days pregnant. I do lead quite a low stress life but I think it’s a lot to do with luck because think of all the horrifically unhealthy people popping out babies. Xx

[Kcoxy]

I had period pains and felt overall very odd after my successful transfer, your still in it this may not nessessary be a bad sign it was around 3 days after transfter I started geting period pains x

[Zel64]

I had my second FET on the 23rd of June & had cramping pains for the first ~7 weeks. My sister had cramps with her pregnancies too & I’m currently 12 weeks pregnant so try not to panic.

Do what you can to relax & try not to overdo it (easier said than done with a heavy workload & moving house). If it is meant to implant it will - my first FET was my best embryo & it just didn’t take. This one is a 4BB & I had issues with bleeding on & off from test day until week 10 but bleeding had all settled now & none visible on the last scan.

[Salimali44 in reply to Zel64]

Congratulations! Thanks for your reassurance and good luck for the rest of your pregnancy xxx

[MultiMagpie]

During my 2WW recently there was a heatwave and to tell you I was extremely hot was an understatement. I got soooo stressed and hot and couldn't cool down, not even with a fan. The day after my embryo transfer I did some heavy shopping bag lifting (probably shouldn't have) and basically lived my life as normal, but I remember how hot and stressed I was that week and I had chronic insomnia, I just couldn't sleep. I also had some cramps. I did worry a little 'omg this hasn't worked'.

Fast forward til the end, I got my BFP and I'm 7 weeks pregnant - I really wouldn't worry, that little embryo is safely tucked away in there and is not going to come out. Nothing you will do will cause it to not work; that is only down to science and the embryo, I promise you it's not anything you or stress levels will have done. I've heard of a woman who fell down 2 flights of stairs 3 days after her embryo transfer and still got a BFP, and someone I know smoked 20 cigarettes a day from the moment of conception (until birth) and still got a BFP (which is a horrifying thing to do, but the principle still remains).

Hang in there, it's not remotely over until that pregnancy test.