How active should you be post transfer?

[emilyb]

Hi guys,

I'm in my second cycle with EPU scheduled for this Friday. Fingers crossed!! I'm doing my first Antagonist short cycle so I hope it goes ok.

We are going for a 5 day transfer and I just wondered how much rest I should give myself post transfer.

The doctors say it's fine to walk around and do stuff afterwards, which is what I did last time but I've also read that it can be beneficial to rest up for the next day or so. I've got two days off work and was planning on taking it easy but I've booked into a seminar the night of the transfer. My partner thinks I shouldn't go and that I should stay at home and rest. Are we being paranoid?

Also, I will be getting acupuncture post transfer and am wondering if it would be better to get it the same day, the next day or if it doesn't really matter how active I am afterwards as long as I don't exert myself.

How long does the embryo float around before it decides it might want to 'stick'? One day? Two days? A few days or a few hours???

If anybody has any thoughts on this, please let me know

Emily

[CeCe]

Hi Emily,

Generally after transfer I've been told to take it easy, which means no lifting heavy grocery shopping bags etc but you can continue on with normal daily routines. I'm an office worker so I don't really have to take work into consideration.

As it's been pointed out to me, people who get pregnant the 'old fashioned way' probably don't change their routine, but us using AC know the precise times etc so it is easy to worry and wonder if we are doing the right things.

I would think going to a seminar should be fine, but you need to do what you and your partner feel comfortable with.

For the accupuncture, I've done it the same day and I think one cycle was the day after (sorry cannot recall exactly). It would be best to talk to your acupuncturist as mine does a pre and post transfer session.

Good luck.

[MummaSue]

Hey!
Just want to wish you all the luck for your transfer.

I had acupuncture the night before my transfer (as transfer was early in the morning). After transfer I spent half an hour in my clinic sitting there drinking brandy (I was shocked they gave me brandy!! and it felt weird to be drinking it at 8am in the morning LOL). I went home and lay down for 2 hours then I had another acupuncture session which was exactly 3 hours after transfer.
I just chilled at home for the rest of the day, not necessarily lying down but just pottering around.

If you have a 5 day transfer, technically it should only take 1-2 days for your little one to implant. An embryo can last only 7 days without being attached.

I say do what is going to make you feel comfortable and relaxed. Are you going to be sitting down at the seminar? If so, why not just go?
The day after my transfer, I got about my usual routine.

And as you can see from my siggy, it resulted in a BFP!
Good luck
Sue xxx

[MummaSue]

Oh, and I must add, my FS told DH and I to go and have sex following ET. I was anxious about this but we did it and it seemed to be ok, still got the BFP!

Just something to think about. Would be interesting to see what your FS says about that.

Sue x

[grub17]

hi emily,

i read up somewhere the embryo attaches within 48 hrs of transfer. Our transfers have both been on a saturday morning so i spent the weekend resting.

we were told the DTD before the transfer to prime things.

but i agree, i think a seminar where you are just sitting about should be fine. but if were are worrying bout it, it may be best to just stay home and get DH to pamper you! just for peace of mind you mind find that's best.

but seriously so long as you aren't water skiing, doing yoga and running around get hot and sweaty, i think it should be fine.

hope that helps and good luck with your transfer!

[emilyb]

Thanks guys,

I'm getting acupuncture the same day of the transfer and she also does massage so I might see if she can do a massage as well. I'll then go home and rest. I don't think I'll go to the seminar as it will put my head in overdrive and resting is to do with the mind as well as the body. I've got the next day off too so I'll just pamper myself (DH can't get time off work so it's just me, but that's ok).

One question - do you think it is ok to have a warm bath after transfer?

Emily

[MummaSue]

Hey,
Maybe ask your Dr? I have to say, when I read that, my initial reaction was "no" but I think that your Dr will be able to advise you better. Whatever is going to relax you and make you feel more at ease.

Hugs and good luck!
Sue x

[MummaSue]

Sorry guys, I forgot to remove my siggy in my previous replies - very insensitive of me.

Hope I didn't offend.
S X

[emilyb]

It's not insensitive Sue. Good for you!! Gives us all hope

Emily

[Ping]

Following my 1st failed IVF attempt where I had a 5 days blastocyst embryo transferred, I did keep thinking if I should have strictly followed the clinical instructions to be resting after the procedure.

My ET was performed on a Sunday morning. Remembered I drank like an elephant that early morning to just wanna keep my bladder full as instructed but it turned out that I was unknowingly 'drowning' myself with fluid that morning. Despite my trying to empty my bladder prior to the transfer, I was extremely uncomfy during the procedure ..... so much so that the doctor actually thought she was hurting me with the needle. Thereafter, I could not even hold my bladder for the min required 30mins of bed rest post transfer in the clinic. The more I tried to hold it, the urge to urinate made my whole abdominal area cringed in pain. 20mins seemed like an hour and seeing me in great discomfort, the kind nurse finally gave me the ok sign to urinate in the toilet. Returned immediately to bed for the balanced 10mins rest but I really felt so silly and regretful for having ruined the whole process

The ET should have been a painless and most comfy procedure in IVF but my 'foolishness' had made the whole experience seemed so unbearable.

Sue1979, did you really have a brandy post ET in the clinic? How really weird and interesting that the clinic offers it as a drink Re having sex after ET, nurse did instruct that we abstain from it for at least a week? I having been thinking about this and it probably is meant to help one prevent 'unwanted' multiple pregnancies. Will have to summon some courage to ask my FS about it in my next attempt

emilyb, best of luck for your transfer.

cheers!

ping

[AliB]

Hmm I'm confused about the advice to have sex before and/or after ET, we were definitely advised to abstain for the entire cycle (or use a condom if we wanted to be risky-frisky!) due to the risk that one of more eggs are missed during the EPU in which case you could fall preg naturally in addition to the transferred egg. Would be strange to have twins which were possibly conceived a few days apart!

[Loops12]

Hi all
I can't believe how different all the clinics and FS's are.
In our case - I got a BFN and wondered after whether I had done too much post transfer. I rested when I got home but the following days I did my normal activity which is pretty busy - looking after 3 furbabies plus puppies at this stage, walking them, cleaning up after them etc. A couple of days later I went to a work Summit.
Next time I think I will get a couple of days off after and really take it easy.

Nothing was said to me about dtd. All we were told was to go home and go about our normal routines.
I had accupuncture a couple of days after because that is as soon as I could get an appointment (rural Vic is hard). My accupuncturist said that would be better than nothing but idealy they like to do it the same day as transfer - before and after.

Hope that helps Emily, to get my experience. This thread has sure been interesting.
Thanks everyone.

[Loops12]

Oh and Ping - so interesting that your nurse said to hold on for 30 mins post transfer. I was aloud to go to the loo straight away after. I had just the right bladder fullness before my transfer they said. I drank 2 normal sized glasses of water about 2 hours prior to the transfer - I followed the notes that I had been given my Monash IVF. They explained that sometimes people were too full and others don't drink enough. But then again I suppose evryones body is different too.

Very interesting!

[Frosty's mum]

No baths or spas for 2-3 days I was told. You just had a procedure through the cervix, risk of infection getting in.

We were encouraged to have sex within 48 hours pre or post ET to encourage the endorphins and uterine blood flow, it apparently helps the Embie or blasty to stick. (the nurse had some papers to back it up).

I suppose for people who still has the possibility of conceiving naturally, there is always a risk of twin/multiple pregnancies, one through AC and one naturally. The chances are quite remote though, hey? You wouldn't need AC otherwise.

[AliB]

Hi Frosty's mum

Yep you might think the chances are quite remote but it would seem that the IVF hormones alone do great things for some people. I?m not sure what the studies say but I have four friends who?ve done IVF and of those four there are three interesting tales:
1. Had 1 unsuccessful IVF cycle, after TTC naturally for 5ish years; however then fell preg naturally the following month after IVF!
2. Successful IVF after 2 years TTC naturally; fell preg naturally with no. 2 when no. 1 was 9 months old
3. Successful IVF (twins) after 3 years TTC naturally, fell preg naturally with another bub when twins were 12 months old

AFM, my hormones levels had been all over the place for years due to PCOS, but after 2 weeks of pregnyl injection I felt so fertile that I reckon I could have fallen preg if DP looked at me sideways!

[grub17]

hi,
sorry i also left my ticker on. apologies girls.

re bath, I'd stay well clear for a few days at least.

also with the sex - i'd also heard of not doing the dirty cos of extra googles possibly floating around and being fertlised. but we figured if that how it goes, then half our luck cos nuttin else worked lol.

wishign you all the best
ox

[emilyb]

Well I'm back from my EPU. Not too sore but they only got 8 eggs. I guess I was hoping for more but I know it only takes one.

Now the waiting game to see if they fertilise and get to day 5 blastocyst. I reckon the time between epu and transfer is the worst as you don't know if your little embies are going to survive. So I'm feeling a little nervous. Got to wait until tomorrow to find out how many fertilised. Fingers crossed!!!

After my last transfer I was told that I could sit down for 10 mins or so before I left but it was up to me. I wasn't told it was beneficial let alone offered a brandy! So I decided to go straight to the loo and then run a few errands before heading home. I was absolutely busting as the FS was running late and I was made to sit in the transfer chair with a bursting full bladder for half an hour before she even entered the room. There was no mention of not going to the toilet for 30 mins afterwards and they knew that I wanted to go straight away and didn't say anything.

It doesn't help that we all get told different things. As if the whole IVF process isn't unsure enough already!

So this time (assuming I get to that stage next wednesday!), I will kick back and relax for half and hour before leaving and then have acupuncture the same day. I asked my acupuncturist if it would be beneficial to have a massage after the acupuncture but she said no as it can stir things up so I'm having one on Saturday to help me relax. No baths either - thanks for your advice guys. It helps a lot.

Emily

[Floweryfields]

Hey,
Maybe ask your Dr? I have to say, when I read that, my initial reaction was "no" but I think that your Dr will be able to advise you better. Whatever is going to relax you and make you feel more at ease.

Hugs and good luck!
Sue x

Is the cervix dialated for the procedure - sorry for my lack of knowledge? If so, then no, baths are out. When I had a D&C they say 2 weeks afterwards for baths due to the dilated cervix and chances of infection.