Thursday, March 29, 2007

Girls....can you help me?

As I have been babbling on about starting our treatment, I have forgotten to ask you more experienced IVFers for some advice. Can you help me out with this?

what should I be eating?, what should I not be eating?, should I be exercising? should I avoid exercise (not hard in my case!), we're going to be off the booze but is there anything I should or shouldn't be drinking?

5 more sleeps whahooo!...

8 comments:

Baby Blues said...

Still not an IVFer, but I think it would be wise to get off the booze. My doctor has been suggesting I go on pre-natals, but I think it's preempting it. Although folic acid only kicks in effect after 3 months, that's why they advice to start taking it early.

I guess just eat healthy and exercise in moderation. Walk don't run. Nothing strenous. Everything in moderation.

Baby Blues said...

Oh yes, forgot about the coffee. Some are adviced to avoid it. I'm guilty, I just can't. But I would if I start IVF.

The Mama said...

I have, myself, stopped drinking alcohol. I still indulge in my morning coffee. I have been on prenatal vitamins for more than 2 years now as well as Folgard (a folic acid supplement) for about a year. I only take 2 tylenol (as far as OTC pain control) goes, which does pretty much nothing for migraines. I try to eat lots of frutis and veggies and keep a low stress level (sometimes a challenge). Just like baby blues said..."All things in moderation"

Changing Expectations said...

Hi Becks,

I got your post. Thanks for the support. Waiting is the worst! I haven't heard too much about what to/what not to eat other than to stop the alcohol and to try to limit the caffeine. I also try to stop with the aspartame and nutrasweet (diet colas and sweeteners). I have heard that sucralose is okay. Let me know if you hear of anything else.

JW said...

I asked exaclty the same questions before I started, and I hate to say it, but I don't really think I've changed much at all... I drink caffeine free tea (Rooibos), and have cut out most alcohol (I still had the odd glass during down reg. but have stopped totally during stims). No more exercise than my normal amount (pretty much zero, oops). I do acupuncture and chinese medicine too. The way I see it, I've changed so much during TTC for the past 6 years and nothing has made any difference, so if this will work, it will work, no matter what I do? Good Luck for your cycle, you're almost there!!

Belly Laughs said...

They say reduce the caffeine and the booze and take your prenatal vitamins. I get acupuncture too. There are books out there about what herbs and spices and foods to avoid...but I think anything in moderation is ok. I quit exercise because after a few days on stims, you won't want to do anything!! Plus my docs said no exercise...so I think it is a get out of jail free card on that (you will be getting soft anyway, so why not start now?)!

Otherwise, I try to arrange my work (no travel, or reduce the travel) AND social schedule to have low-stress activities (we become hermits and watch a lot of happy movies).

Good luck on the start of your cycle and keep your energy positive!!

Anonymous said...

Becks... just found your blog. As for diet/exercise... I don't drink alcohol, and drink very little caffeine while cycling (which means i am always jonesing for a diet coke!). o/w i just try to eat a decent diet. Inbetween cycles i am an exercise freak, but usually stop after a few days of stims. I find the movement very uncomfortable, and RE doesn't want the up and down jarring. By the end of stims and during the 2ww i only walk.

Wishing you the best.. will be following!

Sarah said...

i cut out alcohol and caffeine before i started my IVF cycle, but mostly so i wouldn't have to quit cold turkey later. so much of it is out of our control, we look for all the things we can do that might help, but the fact of the matter is, very little of it is going to impact your IVF cycle. i think the key is to be as healthy as you can because as with anyone (infertile or not), its best to start off a pregnancy healthy. but at the same time, IVF is such a major drain and requires so much else from us, that i wouldn't go overboard trying to get everything else just right.