After two three fresh IVF cycles and one frozen cycle, I feel like I have a pretty good idea of what it takes to get ready. I thought I’d share my top tips on how to prepare for IVF as smoothly and stress-free as possible.
1. Keep a running inventory of your medications.
It can be hard to keep track of all your medications. The last thing you want to do is run out of a medication without realizing it. Make an inventory of each medicine and your supplies. Update it each day (or at least every other day), so you can get any necessary refills without stressing or rushing. Get yourself a fun new notebook and make sure you’re always on top of your medications.
2. Make a medication calendar.
Once you’re clear on which meds you have, you need to make sure you know when to take each one. Many clinics provide patients with detailed schedules. If yours doesn’t- ASK THEM FOR ONE. You’re paying them a lot of money, and they should be willing to help you.
If your clinic can’t or won’t give you a calendar, you’ll need to make one yourself. If this feels too complicated, you can always just write out your times and dosages on a calendar you already use. Set a timer on your phone or computer if you’re worried about forgetting.
3. Clear your schedule as much as you can to allow for relaxation and positive things to distract you.
IVF makes you tired. I’ve battled fatigue during both my fresh cycles and my frozen cycle. Practice self-care and eliminate all unnecessary events and responsibilities from your calendar. In addition to my regular job, I teach a few piano lessons each week. I’ve already decided to cancel my lessons during my upcoming March IVF cycle.
4. Allow yourself extra time to do the things you can’t clear from your schedule.
If there are things on your calendar that you just can’t clear, make sure you give yourself extra time to do them. Depending on which meds you have, it can take several minutes to do your injections or take your pills / suppositories. You don’t want to rush these things, so build in buffer times to your schedule.
5. Delegate when you can.
Even if you can clear your schedule and give yourself extra time, you’ll still have tasks and chores that just have to get done during your IVF cycle. Hire a housekeeper for a week or two. Drop your laundry off at the cleaners instead of doing it yourself. If money prevents you from hiring help, see if you can round up a few family, friends, or co-workers to help you out. Don’t be afraid to ask for or accept help. Even something as simple as having a friend pick up some groceries for you can really help ease your stress.
6. Carefully consider who you tell about your treatment.
It’s important to have supportive, understanding people around you during your IVF cycle. But you’ll want to think about how many people you tell about what’s going on. Keep in mind that if your cycle fails, you’ll have to relay the news to everyone who knows. I know from experience that those are tough phone calls to make. If you do decide to tell a lot of people, consider asking one person (in advance) to call other people for you if the cycle fails. That way you won’t have to go through the agony of telling and re-telling the results to multiple people.
7. Document your journey
It’s important to document your cycle in some form. You can do something as simple as keeping a written journal (I’ve heard wonderful things about The IVF Journal by Stephanie Fry), typing up notes, or blogging. Writing will provide you with an emotional outlet, and it has the potential to become a handy reference if you do future cycles. More importantly, if your treatment is successful you’ll have memories you can one day show your child.
8. Stock up on healthy snacks at home and at work.
I don’t know if it’s the progesterone or all the extra hormones, but each time I’ve done an IVF cycle (including my frozen cycles), I’ve been RAVENOUS the entire month. My workplace is notorious for having cookies and sweets available, so I had to be very intentional about bringing healthy snacks to eat. Buy easy-to-eat snacks like pre-cut veggies, nuts, fruit, and cheese, and keep them at work and home. Remember that healthy eating and nutrition can only increase your odds of success.
9. Make sure you have loose, comfortable clothing.
If there’s one word I’d use to describe the stimulation phase (“stims”) of IVF, it’s bloat. Within a few days of starting my injections, I got very bloated. I had a visible pooch and found it very uncomfortable to wear jeans. Combine that with my incessant hunger and eating, and my pants no longer fit! I didn’t weigh myself so I can’t be sure, but I estimate I gained about 10 pounds and went up one pant size during my last IVF cycle. Do yourself a favor and buy some looser-fitting sweat pants, fold-over top yoga pants, or leggings you can wear at home. I have a few pairs of the high-waist leggings from Daily Ritual and they are AMAZING! (Bonus: they are also great during post-partum if you are fortunate enough to get pregnant).
I recommend also stocking up on flowy tunics (I like these, these, and this one) if you can. They’re great for hiding the IVF bloat, and they also are great for pregnancy! For work, a dressier tunic blouse like this one would probably be your best bet.
10. Start tapering off caffeine a few weeks in advance.
Many people like to reduce or eliminate caffeine during IVF cycles. I’m not a coffee drinker, but I do rely on my cup of tea to get me going each morning. For my first IVF cycle, I quit caffeine on the same day I started stims. Big mistake. I began to experience caffeine withdrawals at the same time I started feeling the effects from the IVF meds. Let’s just say I was a very unpleasant person for a few days. If you’ll be cutting caffeine, learn from my mistake and start tapering off ahead of time. I tried this strategy during my 2nd IVF cycle, and it was much easier.
BONUS TIP #1: Prepare for constipation.
No one likes to talk about constipation. I got surprised by it during my first cycle. It was so bad that my husband called our RE’s cell phone on a Saturday afternoon because I was on the floor in the shower, crying from the pain. Make sure you ask your RE in advance about some ways you can prevent and treat constipation. Mine subsided when I switched to a no-iron prenatal vitamin and started drinking prune juice, but some people may need other remedies. As always, ask your doctor before taking any vitamins or supplements.
BONUS TIP #2: Talk with your spouse and doctor about “leftover” embryos.
Many couples are so focused on getting just one good embryo during IVF that they don’t stop to think about what happens if you end up with more embryos than you need. This happened to me and we were not prepared. It’s very important to talk to your spouse and your doctor about what you will do if you have “leftover” embryos.
What is your best IVF tip? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments!
Also, be sure to check out my book, Preparing for IVF: Approach Your IVF With Confidence and Courage. It’s packed with all my best IVF tips and ideas on how to feel organized, prepared, and confident about IVF.
WOW great list. I know from my best friend she had to do a lot of shots etc but that’s ALOT. You definitely need to stay organized and on top of it all don’t you? Always great though to share your top tips for that here. Others will find it so very helpful! Thanks for linking up to Share With Me #sharewithme
Yes, it definitely requires a lot of organization! Thanks for the kind words!
This is a fantastic list! I completely would second everything you’ve got on it – especially the stocking up on nice, comfy clothes. Like what you described, once my ovaries got stimulated, it was virtually impossible for me to get into my jeans. I really like your tip about delegating tasks where possible as well.
During my IVF cycles, I tried to find little rewards for myself for getting through the shots or appointments. It was often small things, like giving myself an extra half-hour to read something fun in the evening or polishing my nails, but it meant I had something to look forward to after everything.
Katherine, giving yourself small rewards and something to look forward to is a great tip! I received a gift certificate for a massage for Christmas and I’m saving it for IVF!
Lisa, I really like your blog. I appreciate the spirituality and the grace that is reflected in your writing. I am desperately searching for faith, spirituality, and some tranquility as I struggle to come out of the low (after I just learned my 2nd DE IVF has failed). My gratitude to you and the courageous ladies who are sharing their own journeys on your blog. I hope to find peace and strength as I continue on mine whichever direction it takes me.
Abbey, thank you so much for the kind words about my blog. I’m so sorry to hear that your DE IVF failed. That is so very hard. Keep searching for faith. The Bible says that if we truly seek God, we will find Him (Jeremiah 29:13 and Matthew 7:7). I truly believe that. I’m always available to chat if you have questions about faith. Hugs and blessings to you.
I love the tips. So helpful!
One thing I have been told that is different is about wearing loose clothes. Because of the reason we have to do IVF, I am at high risk of OHSS (Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome). The nurses told me that if my pants got to the point of where they didn’t fit/button any longer, that we have problems and I would need to go or call right away. Make sure to check with your doctor about risks.
PS I was really looking forward to a reason to wear leggings everyday to work…not that that stops me! 🙂