IVF Prep...

Todd and I made the decision to move to IVF in February of 2016, which gave us a lot of time to prepare for our upcoming IVF cycle (too much waiting time in my opinion but our clinic was on a long wait list). 

For me, I wanted to make healthy changes as we prepared for IVF, but I didn't want to make dramatic changes that were going to be stressful. I tried to take a balanced approach. I think the most important thing is doing what feels right for you. Going through IVF is a big deal and does a number on your body, so listen to yourself and do what's manageable for you.

FEBRUARY + MARCH
(~3 months out - when you start maturing the eggs you'll get in retrieval)

• Both Todd and I started taking CoQ10 Daily
• Took my pre-natals and occasionally fish oil
• I took Melatonin occasionally to sleep
• I played tennis 3-5 times per week (it's social and where I can channel my competitive energy!)
• When Lent started, I started a no sugar, no alcohol diet - and continued this until Easter!
• Started Fertility Acupuncture on a bi-weekly basis
• Began taking Floravital, a liquid iron supplement (which is less constipating than supplements) because I have always felt slightly anemic, with low energy 

APRIL

• March 30 - started BCP (no way was I going to let my PCOS hold up getting my period when it was time to start our IVF cycle, so I went on it early)
• Resumed drinking wine and eating normally (although I tried to be mindful of what I was having, but I have such a big sweet tooth!)
• Todd and I continued taking CoQ10 daily
• Took my prenatals
• I played tennis 3-5 times per week 
• Continued taking Floravital, a liquid iron supplement
• Tried to switch up my products to more healthy ones - Soap Walla deodorant, Jane Iredale makeup (nothing is as good as MAC though in my opinion so this was short lived), Eufora Shampoo and Conditioner, Burt's Bees body wash, and Burt's Bee's herbal blemish stick. I also used a lot of organic honey on my face as well as organic coconut oil on my body instead of normal, chemical based products.
• April 28, started Lupron

MAY - our IVF Cycle <3

• I continued to do a lot of what I listed above but I amped up my fertility acupuncture treatments (note: I did not do the Chinese herbs). I went several times leading up to egg retrieval and after transfer. I highly recommend doing a session after transfer because you can lay down (I didn't want gravity messing with my chances - dumb, I know!) and I totally just zenned out - while I was still a little high from the Valium. 
• When my ovaries got too big from the stims - and they got huge since I have PCOS - I had to stop playing tennis (around day 8). You can risk losing an ovary because they get so heavy they can twist and then that ovary is dunzo. I gave up my favorite form of exercise until 8-9 weeks pregnant. I walked instead.
• I enjoyed a glass of wine here and there and tried to be mindful of what I was eating.
• After ER, I would highly recommend taking some time off of work. The drugs they gave me at ER were awesome so I didn't feel much pain that day, but I did hurt the next day when they wore off. I did a 24 hour bedrest and then laid pretty low the next day while I healed. I kept my activity pretty minimal until transfer day.
• After transfer, I did a 24 hour bedrest and then laid low the following day.  Again, I'd totally recommend a post-transfer acupuncture session!  
• I continued my prenatals, stopped my iron and any other supplements other than colace, which was recommended by my doc.
  
• I didn't drink during the TWW, but I was active. I was out on the boat and actually went jetskiing (totally shouldn't have)  oops :(  
• And last but not least, I totally POAS (peed on a stick) starting at 3 days post transfer... I'm a control freak and had to know. Do so at your own risk! I applaud all you gals who can wait it out, I'm so darn impatient! 

I fully believe that God was a part of each and every step of this process and it was all in His hands and with His timing. I am only sharing this because I know that prepping for IVF was kind of stressful and I wanted to be as educated as possible, while also doing what felt right to me, while whole-heartedly relying on God to deliver us our BFP. 

Wishing all of my TTC sisters with upcoming ER's and Transfers the best of luck! XO XO