Give Your IVF The BEST Chance
Step One - The Bladder Test - Now this might sound a bit strange but bear with me! If you are having embryos put back following IVF/ICSI you will be asked to attend with a reasonably full bladder. In order to make it as comfortable as possible I recommend testing your tolerance levels in advance. Empty your bladder then start drinking a litre of water.
Make note of the time and work out how long it takes and how much you need to drink. You should be able to know then when to start drinking before your appointment for embryo transfer so that you can be comfortable and not horribly tense and desperate for a wee. Do this after egg collection too when you are a little sore so your tolerance levels are less. Practice lying down and relaxing your tummy. The more relaxed you are the easier the embryo transfer and the better the experience for you. Extra tip - make sure you are still comfortable after 15 minutes of being 'reasonably full and ready' - your clinic might be running a little late so don't get caught out!
What you are trying to do is reduce the amount of spasms that can happen within the uterus when the embryos are being transferred. By taking deep breaths and really trying to relax the pelvic floor muscles you can feel your abdomen getting really floppy. This is the best possible environment to help the embryos get settled in and reduce the risk of them being expelled.
This technique can be done when ever you think of it in the days following the transfer. It is based on a self hypnosis technique I teach which is from a clinical study done in Israel. The results showed the women who were more relaxed during embryo transfer were 50% more likely to get a positive pregnancy test.
Remember that your embryo(s) will implant into your endometrium (lining of the uterus) when they are between about 5-8 days old. You count egg collection day as day zero. During this time be extra vigillant in keeping your tunmy soft and relaxed. Move around gently and I would advise against sex at this time. Also keep your tummy and back nice and warm.
My only other suggestion is to leave off the perfumed oils and lotions etc. It can make your body on higher alert to defend. The embryos are foreign bodies to the woman's system so the less the battle the better. I hope that makes sense - it is a bit like when a baby is born women are advised not to wear perfume so the baby can smell the natural smell of her mum and therefore the milk. This then helps milk production too. Same kind of concept really, but basically you want the body to be as laid back as possible!
Lastly - not that you want to think like this and neither do I - but now is the only time to say it really. IF it doesn't work - your body is highly fertile in the following few weeks so please do try naturally. I have known many women who were unsuccessful but fell naturally the following month after years of trying.
Aside from that last bit try to think positive. This is the magic key opening the door to the baby that can now find its way to you. This procedure can be your passport to becoming a parent. Plenty of day dreaming about positive tests / baby bumps etc will really help your body understand what is happening, so all parts of you are singing from the same song sheet. Your subconscious is in charge of all the physiological workings of your body so you want it to get the right images of what you want, not what you don’t want.
Good luck!