Before I explain how to relieve bloating after egg retrieval, please congratulate yourself for completing the process of egg retrieval. It is intense, and you probably have felt more fatigued through this process, put certain activities on hold, followed a calendar of medications, and endured many do’s and don’t’s. Hopefully, you’re ready to celebrate producing beautiful follicles. And yet, celebrating isn’t always what your body feels like doing right after egg retrieval.
Bloating After Egg Retrieval
Let’s back up. You may have experienced increased pressure at your lower abdomen during the last week or two of the entire process as your body has been working overtime to produce as many follicles as possible for your scheduled retrieval. It might have been uncomfortable to take a brisk walk, to sit comfortably at your work desk, or bend over. Then, egg retrieval happened and you expected all of this to resolve and return to your normal you. Though this feeling will resolve soon, you may need to incorporate a few practices into this time period.
First, drink sufficient amounts of water. Aim for about half of your body weight in pounds to ounces of water. For example, if Izzie weighs 140 lbs., they need to drink about 70 ounces of water. If you find yourself drinking much less than the ideal amount, guess what? Your body is going to feel much more bloated and will hold onto to any available water until you drink enough to re-balance. Although late signs of dehydration can make your skin appear very dry and make your mouth feel dry, the earlier signs of dehydration can be bloating and fatigue. Drink up and keep reading.
Second, avoid or limit caffeine and soda, always, but especially right now. Caffeine has a diuretic effect, not helpful when trying to catch up on hydration. Also, carbonation in soda might increase bloating for most people, so skip it for now. That said, if you just had to have your triple macchiato and need to rehydrate quickly, add electrolytes to your water. There are a number of great low-sugar products to choose from these days, including but not limited to, EmergenC sports powder, Nuun tablets, and Ultima powder. Your hydration will also benefit from eating Pho or cabbage soup at this time, so go ahead and be generous with the take-out!
Third, if you have managed water and/or electrolyte intake but still experience lower abdominal bloating, schedule a visit with your acupuncturist. Acupuncture and Chinese herbs can provide excellent relief from temporary bloating after egg retrieval. Both modalities can also benefit your digestion and help to relieve pelvic or abdominal pain – you might want support for all of the above post-egg retrieval.
Finally, if you have followed the above advice for relieving bloating after egg retrieval but are starting to experience increased pelvic pain, sudden weight gain, pain with urination, shortness of breath, or vomiting, call your fertility doctor’s office or after-hours service for more care.
Above all, once you are feeling up to it, you should find a healthy way to celebrate this milestone, and look with hope into the future. Congratulations, and good luck with your next steps!
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