Staying in bed does not increase the chance of successful implantation. What we do advise is that you take it easy for a day or so – and by this we mean no strenuous activity or vigorous exercising.
The peer-reviewed study, published in Human Reproduction Update, importantly found that prolonged bed rest (for more than 20 minutes) immediately after embryo transfer was associated with a 15% reduction in the chances of clinical pregnancy.
It is within this time frame that an embryo has to “attach” to the uterine wall before it can fully implant, which may take several days. Therefore, for the first one to two days, stay home and chill out. Avoid vigorous activities such as heavy lifting, bending or exercise.
Implantation failure is related to either maternal factors or embryonic causes. Maternal factors include uterine anatomic abnormalities, thrombophilia, non-receptive endometrium and immunological factors.
Like in pregnancy, avoid high risk foods like unpasteurised cheeses and those fish associated with heavy metal content, such as shark and marlin. It's also important to maintain a good intake of calcium and other vitamins and minerals. You should ensure you have a balanced intake of essential nutrients.
During the two-week wait, it's better to err on the side of caution. Avoid having a drink, smoking, or any other activity that could be harmful to a brand new pregnancy. It's fine to continue exercising if you already have a workout routine, but now might not be the time to take up a new, intense form of exercise.
Progesterone is what stabilizes the uterine lining and makes it “sticky” enough for an embryo to attach. Without enough progesterone, it can be more difficult for an embryo to successfully implant. Progesterone stabilizes the uterine lining and makes it “sticky” enough for an embryo to attach.
Once the embryo is implanted, it starts releasing hormones that prepare your body for baby, turning off your period, building up the placenta and possibly making you feel crampy and tired.
Women who usually slept supine at the time of conception and implantation were significantly more likely to have a high or fundal placental location compared with those who usually slept in the prone position (p = 0.041).
Think lots of fresh fruits, vegetables, good quality proteins, nuts and seeds, healthy fats and whole grains. The key here is blood sugar control to support implantation and early embryo development, so limit the junk and focus on real, nutrient-dense food.
Your implantation of embryo is not going to be affected by a little bit of bending or sitting or inserting vaginal tablet.
However, the science shows us that implantation most commonly occurs on days 8, 9, and 10 past ovulation. Since it takes a few days for hCG to show up in your urine, the earliest you could get a positive pregnancy test if your embryo implanted on day 8 past ovulation would be day 10.
Indications that implantation has happened can include bleeding and cramping. Implantation bleeding is spotting or light bleeding that takes place about 1–2 weeks after fertilization. It is usually short-lived and lighter than a normal period. The blood is often paler than menstrual blood or can be a rusty brown.
Where do you feel implantation cramps? Most women experience implantation cramps in their lower abdomen or lower back. On occasion these cramps will be isolated to one side of the body and be felt within the lower right or lower left side of your abdomen.
One study of women undergoing IVF noted that doing moderate to vigorous activity had no impact on implantation, clinical pregnancy, or live birth rates.
300 milligrams or less of caffeine is safe during the pre-conception period. Studies show that exposure to caffeine not only disrupts embryo implantation but also disrupts foetal growth.
When an embryo fails to implant, there can only be two logical reasons: the embryo is not good enough (genetically abnormal), or the endometrium is not “receptive” (doesn't allow the embryo to implant) enough.
Don't drink coffee or alcohol
Try to avoid alcohol entirely and limit your coffee intake to at least below 200 milligrams a day during the two-week period for optimal results.
Does holding up your legs and hips after sex increase the odds of getting pregnant? No, your position after sex doesn't matter either. There's no scientific evidence that elevating your hips or lying down after sex helps sperm reach the cervix (5).
Clearing common misconceptions, Dr Anita reiterates, “Climbing stairs does not affect your chance of conceiving and is safe even during IVF pregnancy.”