Preparing for a Successful Embryo Transfer
You have made it through the egg retrieval process and spent a little time recovering. Or, maybe you’re using donor eggs so you didn’t need to go through an egg retrieval. Or, you are opting for a fresh transfer right after a retrieval. Whatever the circumstances around your embryo transfer, we’re here to help you have the best chance of success!
The good news is that there is a lot you can do to help prepare your body for an embryo transfer. Here are our general recommendations:
Exercise
Be sure to follow the instructions of your fertility clinic to find a way to move your body a bit while you prepare. Usually light exercise is allowed until the day of your transfer. Ask your doctor about walking, fertility yoga and light cardio.
Stress Reduction
As with everything related to fertility, there are a lot of instructions to follow and things to do. It can get overwhelming! Help make your embryo transfer easier on yourself by planning ahead. Make sure your fridge is stocked so you don’t have to worry about what to eat. Have plenty of enjoyable activities for the time when you’re on bedrest after the transfer – magazines, games, podcasts, tv shows, puzzles, books.
Find things that feel fun and relaxing. This is not the time to do a bunch of stressful work you’re behind on, or to be on call at work. Do whatever you can to set yourself up for success by eliminating as much stress as you can. Enjoy the rest!
Nutrition
If there are foods that you know irritate your digestive system, please stay away from them for now. Common digestive irritants include dairy, sugar, gluten, corn, and eggs. If you don’t know of any food triggers, you can opt for a Mediterranean-type diet for this time period, which is very fertility-friendly. And, it’s ok to eat treats about once per week.
That said, this is not the time to try to lose weight. Eating a healthy diet is about reducing inflammation and stabilizing blood sugars, not reducing weight. For overall nourishment, we also recommend drinking bone broth and eating probiotic-rich foods, like yogurt, kimchi, sauerkraut, and kombucha.
Mental Wellness
No matter the reason you are doing an embryo transfer, the process can be stressful. If you are feeling high levels or even moderate levels of stress, we recommend seeking out care from a mental health therapist throughout the fertility process.
There are a lot of feelings that go along with this experience. A lot of feelings. If you can find a therapist who’s a good fit for you, your experience can go much more smoothly, and you will feel more resilient throughout the process.
Acupuncture
Getting acupuncture at least weekly leading up to an embryo transfer can improve your chances of getting and staying pregnant. The best option is to start getting weekly acupuncture for 2-3 months before your transfer.
But if you only have a few weeks, we recommend getting acupuncture two or three times per week. Based on excellent research on acupuncture and IVF, we also recommend getting acupuncture on the day of the transfer to set you up for the best chance of a successful transfer.
We want you to hold the baby you’re dreaming of in your arms! We’re here to help. Contact us to learn how acupuncture can help you have a successful embryo transfer.
Established patients can schedule online, patients who haven’t seen us at Kwan Yin Healing Center call (503) 701-8766, or email us to schedule your appointment.
