Have you been trying and trying, without success, to have a baby? Have you considered IVF (in vitro fertilization) treatments to increase your chances of having one or more babies? Often, we hear about how IVF treatments fail, leaving hopeful parents depressed, and with a lot less money because of the amount they have paid for those failed treatments. There is a lot more to IVF treatments than just having them performed by a doctor. You need to play your part as well in order to increase your chances of becoming pregnant. Here are some things you can do to help the IVF treatments be successful.
1. Take Lots of Vitamin D
Most doctors recommend increasing your daily intake of folic acid if you are trying to become pregnant. You should also increase your daily intake of vitamin D, which is important for healthy bones. Studies show that women who had IVF treatments, and also were vitamin D-deficient, had lower chances of becoming pregnancies than women who have normal levels of the vitamin in their systems.[1]
2. NO EXERCISE During Egg Retrieval Week
While you do need exercise to stay healthy, it is recommended that you do not exercise at all during the week of egg retrieval. “Not only is it not good to exercise during this time if you want to increase your chances of becoming pregnant, you will likely not feel much like exercising because of the tiring effects of the fertility medications you will be taking,” says one of New Jersey In Vitro Fertilization specialists.
3. Take a DHEA Supplement
One third of IVF centers in the world use DHEA supplements.[2] These are hormonal supplements which are known to increases the chances of pregnancy in women who do not have many eggs. DHEA can help the ovaries to respond better to IVF treatments, especially with women who don’t have many eggs and aren’t always the best candidates for IVF treatments.
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4. Try Acupuncture
It is pretty amazing to think about all of the things that acupuncture can help with, including increasing the chances of pregnancy. Many studies show that women who are undergoing IVF treatments can greatly benefit from acupuncture, and that it can increase fertility if performed with 24 hours of an embryo transfer.
5. Eat the Right Foods
When undergoing IVF treatments, it is important to be careful about what you are eating. It is important to eat foods that are high in nutrients, as well as eat superfoods and take nutritional supplements. Talk to your doctor about a natural fertility diet that will provide you with all of the nutrients you need, including nutrients needed during early pregnancy.
6. Try Meditation
Often, patients are not able to relax enough for IVF treatments to work properly. It is important to be able to keep a calm mind and a balanced body. Meditation can help. It will clear your mind of the unimportant things, and help you focus on the main goal, which is having a healthy baby. Meditation can be used on its own, or in combination with other therapies that will help increase your chances of conceiving.
7. Don’t Exercise too Much
A lot of people think that being physically fit will increase their chances of success with IVF treatments. This isn’t always the case. Exercise is actually stressful on the body, and too much of it can decrease the odds of your becoming pregnant. This doesn’t mean that you can’t work out and stay in shape. It is recommended by Dr. Grifo that you do 30 to 40 minutes of cardio, three times a week, and supplement this with light weight training or yoga on the off days.
Featured photo credit: Leandro Cesar Santana via unsplash.com
