28 replies to this topic

[KennyandFooty]

Hi there. So...I've just gotten the news that our 2nd IVF attempt resulted in a negative beta. The cycle itself went exponentially better than the 1st IVF...and we were able to freeze/vitrify THREE 5 day blasts.

It looks like we will attempt an FET in late July/early August...and I'm just wondering if anyone has suggestions on what I should do to prepare myself for this?

Did you do anything different from IVF prepping, or was it virtually the same thing:
- eat healthy
- avoid caffeine
- take X, Y, Z supplements
- take prenatal with folic acid

Anything else to focus specifically on the uterine lining?
Has anyone added L-Arginine with added benefit (and previous implantation failures)?

Never thought we'd ever need to do FET one day...but alas, here we are. That being said...my research really begins today, as I've not put much energy into learning about it before. Any advice/tips would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you all in advance for your time, experiences and love.

[KennyandFooty]

*bump*

I am going to start Yoga and nightly meditation...so those will help me manage any stress I have better...

Any other thoughts out there!? I've tried doing some searches on the forums...but maybe someone can point in the right direction if an FET prep list or something already exists?!

[gibasgirl]

Hello Kenny&Footy,

I found acupncture to be beneficial to me back when I was cycling and for my FETs. It can help with the lining and bloodflow.

All the best to you!

Zan

[Saffy]

Ok, I know people will have their own views on this and I don't really care what others think. My last cycle I made a point of eating a lot of red meat like beef and buffalo. I got the big packs from costco of ground beef and stewing beef and cooked up some big very meaty meals in my crock pot. I know that my lining was the best it has ever been. It was 10 mm with the triple stripe.
For my first transfer I did Moksha yoga for a month right up to the day before the transfer. It gave me an opportunity to meditate and feel very limber and receptive to the embryos. I've done accupunture and I love it but it hasn't seemed to help me any.
The first cycle I had a chemical and the second a BFN even though everything looked perfect. So what I've done seems to have helped but not produced the desired outcome. I hope someone will chime in with some other helpful things.

[---]

For Me:
No caffine (No choc/pop etc.)
No HB over 140. walking only.
baby aspirin (to help with blood flow) -*Not Regular Aspirin,just low dose 81mg only.
Healthy eating
8 hours sleep each night (very imp).
Try and Reduce stress.
Vit D supplement/vitE/mulit-vit/pre-natal
-This info compiled from Zita West/and Cornell and Colorado Clinics.
-Lots of water.

Hope this helps. Good Luck this time KennyandFootie.
Stacy

[KennyandFooty]

Thanks to all of you for your feedback. I am doing acupuncture and will start the Yoga and meditations. I've heard a lot about eating more protein, particularly red meats (which is something I do NOT generally eat much of - not for any particular reason). I've also read about things like Red Raspberry Leaf tea improving the lining. I think there are some forms of massage that help increase blood flow to the uterus, so I think I'll read up on that as well.

TMI: During my acupuncture sessions in the past, I was told I had suffered from "cold uterus" which is why I experience blood stasis or skant bleeding during menses (more brown than red blood, clots, light flow). So, I also do foot soaks every couple of days (when I remember) and drink a lot of warm liquids, particularly in the evenings.

Any other success stories would be great, but all advice is welcome!

[manders]

I have also heard that pomagranate juice is known to improve chanes for men and women dealing with fertility issues. It increases blood flow. It is known as the "fertility fruit".

My doctor told me that acupuncture has not been proven to help, but it can't hurt (except your cheque book).

Be careful with what types of red meat you eat, because red meat such as ground beef is not made up of the healthiest parts of the animal. SStay away from liver. Eat lots of fruits and vegetables. Don't eat raw fish, cold cuts, hot dogs. When you do eat meat make sure it is cooked "well done".

Good luck.

[KennyandFooty]

Just wanted to bump this again in case there are any other FET success stories out there that might shed some new light on preparations before transfer!!

[jlyblair]

hey KennyandFooty. We did a fresh IVF cycle in August/September 2011 and had a BFN. In January/February 2012 we did our first FET... and we had a BFP. I am 11 weeks pregnant right now. Our fresh transfer was a beautiful blastocyst top grade... and it didn't work. Our frozen transfer was two 2 cell embryos and it worked! The frozen transfer cycle is far less stressful generally. Not as many appointments, ultrasounds, bloodtests, etc. You're kind of left on your own with your medications for a while (at least that's how it was at my clinic). So, I just tried to eat healthy and drink lots of water. I didn't eat anything different, although I did eat a lot of pineapple around transfer time. And I really tried to eat the pineapple core in the centre of the fruit. But, I wasn't really doing that during the cycle, just post transfer. I exercised moderately while cycling. After my transfer this time I took 3 days of pretty much rest and relaxation. (I didn't do this after my fresh cycle and really regretted it). I also tried to keep exercising during the 2WW to light walking at the most.
I think it sounds like you've already got a lot of great ideas for what to do to prepare for your cycle. I think the big thing is just try to stay healthy. As I mentioned before the FET seemed to me to be a lot less stressful, so I would say try not to stress out about what to do to prepare... just enjoy the less intensive cycle! All the best!

[KennyandFooty]

As I mentioned before the FET seemed to me to be a lot less stressful, so I would say try not to stress out about what to do to prepare... just enjoy the less intensive cycle! All the best!

Thank you! I think you're right...I'm as prepared as I will ever be! I'm just going to focus on all the positive improvements I'm making and ... look forward to getting one of my freezer babies back!!!

FX we get a similar outcome to yours!

[Yvonne]

I've done alot of FETs....not sure that I have big advice to give but I may be doing another FET around the same time as you. For my last FET I did more exercise and ate healthy leading up to the FET, I lost some weight too. I was just trying to be generally as healthy as possible and now I'm trying to get back into that.

[KennyandFooty]

I've done alot of FETs....not sure that I have big advice to give but I may be doing another FET around the same time as you. For my last FET I did more exercise and ate healthy leading up to the FET, I lost some weight too. I was just trying to be generally as healthy as possible and now I'm trying to get back into that.

Well Yvonne...if we DO have our FETs at the same time...I look forward to being a support to you!!! All the best to you!

[manders]

KennyandFooty, I was reading your Signature and noticed you are not doing your next FET until July/Augusy- just out of curiosity, why are you waiting so long?

[KennyandFooty]

KennyandFooty, I was reading your Signature and noticed you are not doing your next FET until July/Augusy- just out of curiosity, why are you waiting so long?

I wish I could say it was cause I'm super patient and CHOSE the date! haha

It's because I live in Montreal (IVF is funded here up to 3 fresh cycles) and am a patient at McGill where the wait lists are 4-5 months "once you're in the system".
Patience is seriously NOT my strong point when it comes to treatments...so it's basically torture.

[tjluvbug]

kennyandfooty - I also did TCM herbs with my acupuncture to help with my cold uterus and blood stasis. It did wonders for my cycle. Don't know whether it has helped me get pregnant yet but I felt great doing it.

[manders]

KennyandFooty,

Now i get why you are waiting so long. Would you travel elsewhere to get it done earlier?
So when you said it is funded, is it completely free? That is great if it is.

Good luck and keep me posted.

Hugs

[KennyandFooty]

kennyandfooty - I also did TCM herbs with my acupuncture to help with my cold uterus and blood stasis. It did wonders for my cycle. Don't know whether it has helped me get pregnant yet but I felt great doing it.

Thanks for this. I did use some TCM herbs before I pursued IVF with my first acupuncturist. It was a liquid drop that I took three times a day a few drops under the tongue. It tasted awful. It worked really well to increase my temperature (which was one of the steps to increasing circulation to the uterus and keeping it "warm")...but it never presented any other "relief" elsewhere. I will speak with my current TCM practitioner about what types of things we could try for the FET. Thank you!

KennyandFooty,

Now i get why you are waiting so long. Would you travel elsewhere to get it done earlier?
So when you said it is funded, is it completely free? That is great if it is.

Good luck and keep me posted.

Hugs

In the public system, moreorless, it is 100% funded up to three fresh cycles (and includes all the FETs - if you have frozen embryos). There are more costs payable by the patient when going through a private clinic in Montreal, but still...compared to non-funded provinces, the costs really are minimal. I feel incredibly fortunate to be able to have this kind of government support...and once our three cycles are "done"(either at our current clinic - or if we go private inter-provincially)...if we have still had not success...we have considered going out of province to pursue treatment. HOPEFULLY we are successful before that happens though!

[jillyfish]

The Fertil Pro-Q has the CoQ10, as well as a nice large dose of the L-arginine - recommended to us by the RE - dosage suggested was 600mg (6 capsules) daily - I figure, it's always worth a shot!

[manders]

kennyandfooty - I also did TCM herbs with my acupuncture to help with my cold uterus and blood stasis. It did wonders for my cycle. Don't know whether it has helped me get pregnant yet but I felt great doing it.

Thanks for this. I did use some TCM herbs before I pursued IVF with my first acupuncturist. It was a liquid drop that I took three times a day a few drops under the tongue. It tasted awful. It worked really well to increase my temperature (which was one of the steps to increasing circulation to the uterus and keeping it "warm")...but it never presented any other "relief" elsewhere. I will speak with my current TCM practitioner about what types of things we could try for the FET. Thank you!

KennyandFooty,

Now i get why you are waiting so long. Would you travel elsewhere to get it done earlier?
So when you said it is funded, is it completely free? That is great if it is.

Good luck and keep me posted.

Hugs

In the public system, moreorless, it is 100% funded up to three fresh cycles (and includes all the FETs - if you have frozen embryos). There are more costs payable by the patient when going through a private clinic in Montreal, but still...compared to non-funded provinces, the costs really are minimal. I feel incredibly fortunate to be able to have this kind of government support...and once our three cycles are "done"(either at our current clinic - or if we go private inter-provincially)...if we have still had not success...we have considered going out of province to pursue treatment. HOPEFULLY we are successful before that happens though!

I understand now why you are waiting so long. it takes a lot out of you, but i guess without the stress of the expense, that is wonderful. Each rough, without meds cost us $7100, then the meds (which for me are covered through insurance) were another aprox. 4000. It is crazy how expensive it all is.

[fingerscrossed11]

Hi,
Sounds like some really great advice already. I don't have much advice (as my 2 resulted in missed miscarriage and ectopic) but just wanted to say that I am aiming for my next fet in July/Aug also....if everything goes as planned. All I am doing is trying to be as healthy as possible. Once I get the all clear from my doc I am going to start exercising again.
Good luck!

[KennyandFooty]

I just wanted to wish you all the success this summer with your FET "fc". After 2 experiences like yours...some great news seems in order! Would love to hear if you end up doing anything else to prepare or what your protocol will be!

[W8TING4SADIE]

Hello all, I pray that everything that I have done will result in a successful test next Monday...I had my first FET last Monday and am now in the horrible 2ww. I figure I have done everything that I can possibly do so I thought that I would share:

1. acupuncture 2 - 3 times per week
2. Mayan abdominal massage 2 times per week by RMT and nightly taught self administered massage
3. nightly warm water footsoaks and during this tme I also read a positive affirmation to myself
4. hot pack on my stomach after nightly Mayan abdominal massage
5. No caffeine, alcohol, sugars (other than in fruits), soy, only full fat milk products and limited intake, tons of pulses and beans and leafy green vegetables (I bake kale and it tastes like potato chips ; ) ) (all of this for 3 months)
6. Uterine biopsy my cycle prior to the FET
7. Nightly guided meditation with download by Circle and Bloom (it makes me fall asleep so I am not sure how good my visualization actually is)
8. Homemade muesli with walnuts, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, etc.
9. Daily goji berry tea (2 tbsps of organic goji berries steeped in boiling water - eat the goji berries as well)
10. No high impact cardio - walking the dogs 3 x per day only.
11. Lots of water.
12. NO RAW/COLD foods or water. Warm water only. Cooked food only.
13. Supplements including PregVit, Vitamin e, Vitamind b12, L-arginine, CoEQ10, baby asparin, vitamine c.
14. Lots of fresh berries - blueberries, raspberries, blackberries.
15. I also went to see a quantum integration-ist who has helped me previously.

And a sh!t load of prayers.
Alas, I can't say if any of it works, but I will let you know next Monday...if anything, it can't hurt.
Best wishes. I hope everyone of us are able to fulfill our heart's desire soon.
t : )

[W8TING4SADIE]

oops - one important thing to mention about the above...NO HOT PACKS or MAYAN ABDOMINAL MASSAGE post transfer.

[KennyandFooty]

WOW! I feel like such a slacker now! LOL

The only supplement I am taking currently is my PregVit and I'm taking 100mg of Ubiquinol daily (just until I run out).
I plan on resuming acupuncture in May for the few months leading up to FET...but it's so expensive and I'm tapped out of insurance coverage...so not sure how often I will go.
The mayan massage is something I've often wondered about...but was never really sure how often or until when (right up until transfer?) to perform it...

Thank you for the information! I wish you much success and would LOVE to hear about your test results on Monday!!!

FX you get that BFP as a result of your discipline and hard work!

[W8TING4SADIE]

Hey there! I just saw this post now re: your question about Mayan abdominal massage. I went twice a week but the beauty of it is that you can go once and be taught the self-massage and then do it every night. I tried to find a list of pratitioners in Montreal but couldn't find any but I'm sure if you do a little digging or call a ND, they might be able to point you in the right direction. I figure it doesn't hurt with trying to get the blood flowing to the uterus before a transfer. You can do it up until a transfer for a frozen cycle. If it is a fresh cycle you need to stop once you start stims. : )