It's important to stay hydrated throughout the IVF process, and especially in these early stages of implantation and pregnancy. Drinking plenty of water – around two litres, though this includes other liquids in your diet – is always recommended.
How does hydration influence Fertility? In women: For women who are trying to conceive in a state of dehydration, their cervix will not be prepared for fertilization and implantation of the egg. This is because the sperm needs to travel to the egg with the help of cervical mucus.
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.
It's recommended that you avoid strenuous physical activities like heavy weight-lifting or high-impact cardio during your two-week wait as it could lead to uterine contractions and affect the implantation process. After the first few days of our waiting period, you can do some light exercising like walking or swimming.
When you're trying to conceive (TTC), it's important to nourish your body in all the ways possible to create a healthy environment for a fetus to thrive. If you're TTC, try to drink at least six cups of water a day to stay hydrated.
For women, dehydration results in poor egg health, and less cervical mucus secretion which is vital for transportation of sperm to the fallopian tubes. Once the egg is fertilized, the endometrium (the innermost lining of the uterus) needs to become a thick, cushioning and nourishing environment for the embryo to grow.
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.
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.
If an embryo has a chromosomal anomaly, the abnormal genetic material may also cause the embryo to implant later than usual. Another theory is that some factor in the uterine lining could cause problems during implantation and that this could lead to miscarriage.
One IVF study even found that women who consumed a beetroot juice mixture daily had significantly higher implantation and clinical pregnancy rates. Need more reasons to go purple? Beets and their greens also provide incredible health benefits, with pregnancy-friendly nutrients like: Folate.
One study of women undergoing IVF noted that doing moderate to vigorous activity had no impact on implantation, clinical pregnancy, or live birth rates.
Dehydration can lead to low sperm count as well as decreased egg health, so it's not just important for you to stay hydrated, but for your partner or donor as well. Hydration also plays a role in the hormonal regulation that's key to fertility, and in the production of cervical fluid.
Moderate or severe dehydration may cause a threatened miscarriage. Severe dehydration during pregnancy can induce serious complications such as blood clots, neural tube defects, and seizures.
Research has it that lemon has a contraceptive effect hence, women of childbearing age are cautioned against consuming it if they want to become pregnant. However, lemon juice consumption could be used as a primary form of birth control.
Exercise. A few mild exercises can help get your blood flowing, without taking a toll on your body. A short walk, light yoga stretches, and small pelvic exercises can bring a load of benefits to you and baby.
In fact, a lack of physical activity contributes to thin uterine lining. Exercise helps the body in a number of ways and something as simple as walking can actually thicken the uterine lining. Try to be more active and get at least 15-20 minutes of physical activity into the daily schedule.
And while western medicine doesn't have the studies to back up a connection between your feet and uterus, keeping your feet warm can't hurt. That's why many people opt to wear warm socks at their fertility clinic during an embryo transfer.
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.
Avocados and bananas are packed with minerals, vitamins, essential fats, protein, carbohydrate, fibre and are a fantastic source of vitamin E; which can improve endometrial lining (lining of the uterus) and could as well help with embryo implantation which is how a fertilised egg develops into a pregnancy.
As mentioned above, surgery to the ovaries—to remove a cyst or treat endometriosis—could damage the ovaries or reduce ovarian reserve. And chemotherapy and radiation, while obviously life-saving treatments for cancer and other illnesses, can destroy or damage a woman's eggs or cause premature menopause.
The water test for egg freshness
First, fill a bowl or glass with about four inches of cold water and gently place your egg(s) inside. Very fresh eggs will sink to the bottom and lay on their sides. If an egg stays at the bottom but stands on its small end, it's still acceptable to eat; just not quite as fresh.
Other than age, causes such as endometriosis, ovarian cysts, some immunological disorders, obesity, chemotherapy, drug use, smoking, alcohol and caffeine consumption may also lead to decreased egg quality.