Staying hydrated post-egg retrieval is one of the best ways to combat issues like bloating and fatigue. In addition to water, which should always be your first choice, you can drink other beverages that are high in electrolytes.
Don't be a hero.
Plan to rest comfortably for a day or two afterwards. Some cramping and bloating is to be expected, and perhaps even some light spotting. You'll also need to limit physical activity for up to three days after transfer.
What should I eat after egg retrieval? Eat healthy foods such as chicken noodle soup, lean proteins, and fruit and vegetables after egg retrieval. Some women may experience mild nausea due to the anesthesia used during the procedure. If this happens to you, eat mild, bland foods until you feel better again.
Avoid heavy lifting (over 20 lbs). Hygiene: Avoid tampons, vaginal douches, tub baths (showers are fine), and/or swimming for 7 days following your egg retrieval. Avoid hot tubs, hot baths, and saunas until you see your obstetrician.
It is crucial to avoid exercise during the week of egg retrieval. At this time, your ovaries are at their most enlarged, and the risk of developing ovarian torsion is higher. There is also a two-week waiting period after the embryo is transferred where it is recommended you rest, and keep activity to a minimum.
Many doctors recommend not exercising at all during the week of egg retrieval. During that stage of treatment, your ovaries are enlarged from being stimulated and exercise may increase the risk of a rare condition called ovarian torsion.
A way to minimize the effects of OHSS involves consuming sodium rich foods for a few days post retrieval to help draw the extra fluid out of your ovaries.
After your eggs are retrieved, your follicles will fill back up with follicular fluid. Drinking fluids that contain electrolytes (like Sobe Lifewater, Propel, Gatorade, etc.) a few days before and after your retrieval will help to minimize this bloating - just watch the sugar content.
Easy snacks for after the egg retrieval:
yogurt and granola ? fruit and cheese ??
There's no legal right for time off work for IVF treatment or related sickness. But your employer should treat your IVF appointments and any sickness the same as any other medical appointment or sickness. You can check your contract for this.
Cleavage Check (Day 3)
By day 3, healthy embryos should have reached the 6-8-celled stage and should have little or no fragmentation. Embryos that have not reached the 6-celled stage by day 3 or that are highly fragmented will most likely not continue to develop.
Following your operation you may feel tired, bloated, have mild abdominal pain and light vaginal bleeding for some days. You should plan to have at least a couple of days off work to recover. We wish you the very best of luck.
Many women do return to work the next day, while others also rest the day following the retrieval. You may feel some pelvic heaviness or soreness and cramping. It is okay to take Tylenol, but you should avoid ibuprofen (i.e. Advil, Motrin). Often there is a small amount of spotting.
Most OHSS symptoms will resolve themselves 7-10 days after fertility treatment. If your fertility treatment is successful and you become pregnant, your symptoms could last up to a few weeks.
Good Foods After IVF
Fresh fruits and vegetables are always great for you, but consider the following produce following IVF: Bananas. Beets. Berries.
DO NOT USE ANTIHISTAMINES, IBUPROFEN/ADVIL, ALEVE, ASPIRIN OR OTHER NON-STEROIDAL ANTI-INFLAMMATORY MEDICATIONS. These will block prostaglandin production which is involved in the implantation process. Tylenol is safe and may be taken for pain relief if needed.
You can expect to experience some pain after egg retrieval, including bloating, mild soreness in the vaginal area, slight abdominal cramping, or some spotting, which can last a couple of days. Over-the-counter pain relievers such as Tylenol or ibuprofen, will help. Most women feel back to normal by the next day.
You may have some pelvic pain after the retrieval. If you do, you may take 650 mg of acetaminophen (Tylenol and other brands). Keep taking it every 4 to 6 hours as needed. If you need stronger pain relief, please call University Reproductive Care (URC).
As there is no need for complete bed rest after the embryo transfer, you can climb up and down the stairs.
If there is fluid in the abdomen, drainage of fluid using a syringe (paracentesis) can provide significant relief in most cases. On occasion, more than one drainage is helpful. A medicine called cabergoline also can reduce the fluid accumulation. There is rarely a need for hospitalization.
We encourage patients to avoid any strenuous activity for at least two to three days to avoid risk of bleeding or ovarian torsion after egg retrieval.
On Day 2, the embryos should have started to grow and should have divided to form an embryo of 2 cells to 4 cells. The important milestone for Day 2 is that the embryos have progressed from the 1-cell, fertilized egg stage to an embryo with 2 or more cells.