Get The Bump digital magazine >

tools: Pregnancy Calendar | Baby Namer | Gender Chart | How Big is Baby?

community

all boards


birth clubs


nest boards


my blog

my photos

my boards


200+ Easy Weeknight Meals!

Green living: Eco-friendly tips & tricks!

< Previous topic | Next topic >

All Boards > Infertility

Sort:
01-02-2013 at 3:55 PM
LIQueen
Not Ranked
Joined on 02-21-2012
382 Posts
5,983 Points
LIQueen is not online. Last active: 03-23-2013, 10:41 PMNewbie

From a well known IF doc

 I live by a very well known IF doc and he has a facebook page I follow...just thought this would put some ladies at ease who can not do bed rest like I couldn't.

Putting the myth of bed rest after IVF to rest

One of the old wife’s tales, which still plagues every IVF patient, is the myth that they need “strict” bed rest after the embryo transfer. Many patients are scared that the embryo will fall out if they walk around – after all, if it was inserted artificially, isn’t there a risk that it can “fall out” through the ” track ” through which the doctor inserted it?

I remind my patients that God designed the body with enough sense that walking; running; coughing and sneezing do not cause an embryo to fall out! Embryos are safe and secure in the womb, and just because they have spent 48 hours in the incubator in the IVF lab does not change anything! IVF allows us to mimic nature, and once the embryo has reached the uterus, it’s exactly like an embryo “made in the bedroom” (embryos do not have a memory!) After all, when fertile couples have sex and get pregnant naturally, they continue leading a completely normal life after sex, so why should IVF make any difference? Enough medical studies have been done by many IVF clinics, which prove that embryo implantation and rest does not affect pregnancy rates; and patients can walk out just 10 minutes after the embryo transfer.

In fact, enforced bed rest can have a very unhealthy effect on the patient. Being forced to lie down in bed when you are well can be demoralizing, so say the least. Taking a bed pan (during “strict bed rest”) can be extremely humiliating. Also, if you are forced to lie in bed, then you tend to spend all your time thinking about what the outcome is going to be – a very unhelpful process, because the outcome is no longer in your hands. As it is, during the dreaded 2ww (two week wait between the embryo transfer and the pregnancy test), each minute seems to last for an hour. Lying in bed makes the time crawl even more slowly!

So why do some doctors still insist their patients take “bed rest” after embryo transfer. I think this is a very clever way of “victim blaming”! If the patient does not get pregnant, they can always “blame” the patient for the failure, because she did not “rest” properly. The biggest tragedy is when the family members start believing this untruth.

I think patients (and their loved ones) need to understand that activity does not have any impact on the embryo inside the uterus, because it is protected from external influences in its uterine haven. Implantation is a biological process, which is not affect by external activity – or by gravity! We suggest patients take it easy at home for 48 hours after the embryo transfer, after which we encourage them to resume work, so they can keep themselves gainfully occupied. This is actually more for their peace of mind, rather than because it changes the outcome. I always tell patients that if resting helped to increase pregnancy rates by even 1%, we’d happily keep them in hospital for even 15 days after the transfer!

There is a difference between transfer and implantation! While embryo transfer is a simple mechanical procedure, implantation is a complex biochemical event, which involves a dance of exchanged signals between the endometrium and the embryo – something which cannot be influenced by diet or activity!

Being infertile is bad enough – don’t make it worse by forcing yourself to rest in bed when you don’t need to!
7/18/12-1st RE appointment CD2 blood work taken. Told to move straight to IVF. Starting BC pills and FSH injections plus Lupron. Hopefully doing ET in September Off BCP March 2011 Started TTC July 2011 7 months TTC with no luck an then.... Diagnosed 2/24/12 with 2 Ovarian Cysts. 3/22/12-Lap to remove cysts, look for endo, and see if tubes are clear. 3/22/12-Diagnosed with Severe Endo(tubes are clear). 4/4/12-Post op OBGYN appointment. Told chances of conceiving naturally are very low, but told conceiving in the next few months is our best chance due to being cleaned out during Lap. Referred to a RE. RE said IVF is our only chance to get pregnant. Told only a 20% chance even with two put in. 9/5-Lupron 9/20 Stims(Menopur & Follistim) 9/30 Trigger time 10/2 ER 10/3 fert report-out of 7 eggs retrieved only 2 fertilized. Hello "Thing 1 and Thing 2!" Kinda sad there is none to freeze. Because only 2 we will have 2DT to get them back into a natural envionment 10/4 ET. Found out that only 1 divided. We love you "Thing 2." Thing 1 is now snuggled inside me and we are praying it will be our take home baby! **Did not even make it to my beta, the day before on 10/16/12 I got my F'in period** Such a stab in the heart. Nov 2012-Moving onto domestic newborn adoption! Can't wait for my take home baby. We will try IVF again after 1-2 years of a clear head. Need a break from infertility treatments/issues for my mental sanity!  
Report Abuse
Reply
Quote
01-02-2013 at 4:24 PM
liz4paws
Not Ranked
Joined on 03-05-2011
2,734 Posts
39,035 Points
liz4paws is not online. Last active: 05-18-2013, 7:18 PMSilver
Thanks for sharing this. I've seen four REs so far and they've all had different takes on the ol' bed rest debate. My current RE just says to take it easy on the day of transfer, and the go about my normal life after that. I think I'll just milk being waited on by DH that day, watch movies on the couch, use the bathroom like normal (a bedpan never crossed my mind EVER) and hang around the house taking it easy that following weekend since my FET is on a Friday. I know myself and whether I'm busy or not, I'll still be focused on what's going on in my uterus. Might as well enjoy being waited on! ;-)
Me (31) DH (35) - Finding our path to baby #1
Me: POF/DOR - AMH <0.16, heterozygous c677t MTHFR
DH: Severe MFI
12/2/11 - IUI #1- BFN
8/1/12 - IVF #1 - Zero response from max stims (600iu intramuscularly)
My ovaries seem to be just for decoration

12/6/12 - Adopted five embryos that had been frozen for over ten years!
2/11/13 - Thawed four, sadly two didn't survive. Transferred two beautiful blasts.

2/16/13 - First BFP of my life!
3/27/13 - No heartbeat at 9w0d. D&C the following day.

4/23/13 - Matched to adopt five new embryos!

My embryo adoption blog: Wishing on a Snowflake

Lilypie Angel and Memorial tickers

 
Report Abuse
Reply
Quote
01-02-2013 at 4:32 PM
Scoop77
Not Ranked
Joined on 08-10-2011
1,029 Posts
10,257 Points
Scoop77 is not online. Last active: 05-16-2013, 10:48 PMBronze

Thanks for that. I always suspected that the bed rest thing was more for peace of mind than actual results. If embryos could "fall out" from normal activity, then the human race would be in a lot of trouble, I think.

On the other hand, I am a very lazy person and enjoy being in bed all day so I think I'll continue to accept sitting around watching movies and having my husband run to and fro for a day. 


TTC #1 for about 3.5 years
ME: 37, PCO, immune issues?, teflon uterus (my added diagnosis)
HIM: 38, Perfect. (Showoff.)
Month before starting Clomid, spontaneous pregnancy. m/c at 7 weeks and D&C.
Four months of Clomid, one IUI, with Intralipid each cycle: BFNs all
IVF 1.0 July 2012 -- Lupron, bravelle, menopur, estrogen, progesterone supps, intralipid. 14 ER, 14 fertilized, 1 blast transferred, 2 on ice. BFN
FET 1.1 -- 10/2, transferred our 2 blasts. Lupron, PIO, estrogen, baby aspirin, prednisone. BFN.
IVF 2.0 December 2012 -- Bravelle, Menopur, Ganirelix, Prednisone, Metformin, estrogen, progesterone supps. 22 eggs retrieved on 12/14, 17 mature, 15 fertilized. OHSS anticipated so ET cancelled. 3 embryos frozen.
Broke up with old RE. Moving on to new dude. Maybe the change of scenery will be just the trick for our frosties. On BCPs for possible April FET.

P/SAIF welcome 
Report Abuse
Reply
Quote
01-02-2013 at 5:02 PM
kflynn81
Not Ranked
Joined on 11-28-2009
Oak Lawn
1,840 Posts
28,209 Points
kflynn81 is not online. Last active: 05-15-2013, 9:10 PMBronze
That was a good read thanks!! My RE is of the same belief but this time I think I will take at least a day of rest....I just need a day of complete laziness and ET is as good excuse as any :)
Anniversary
Me(31): Possibly Adult Growth Hormone Deficiency caused by a mutation in my pituitary genes called PIT-1--Also, Factor V Leiden
DH (31): Borderline low morph, but not considered a problem
"Baby dancing" with no protection or BCP since July 2009
IF testing started March 2011
Endocrinology related tests from October 2011-February 2012
March 2012--Clomid --No response-Straight to injects!
April & May 2012-- IUI#1 & #2 = BFN
July 2012- IVF#1 cancelled
September 2012-IVF#1.2--BFN
November 2012- IVF #2 --BFN
January 2013- IVF #3-- BFFN
February 2013--Found a new RE but first back to the Endocrinologist for more diagnostic testing
Absolutely no idea when we can cycle again...looking into DE as well if IVF#4 fails again
PAIF/SAIF encouraged...give me some hope!!
For detailed cycle info. see right side of blog... Kate's IF Blog
Image and video hosting by TinyPic
 
Report Abuse
Reply
Quote
01-02-2013 at 8:24 PM
Stretchad
Not Ranked
Joined on 01-02-2004
WI
3,837 Posts
2,557 Points
Stretchad is not online. Last active: 05-18-2013, 4:55 PMSilver

Thanks for sharing that. I have done two IVF cycles, each at a different clinic and neither of them recommends bed rest. They recommend taking it easy (i.e., don't do hot yoga, etc) and no worries about getting back to normal right away. 

I'm doing my 5dt tomorrow AM and have to travel first thing Friday morning to attend my grandma's funeral...I don't really have a choice about either one so I'm hoping that my day off tomorrow after the transfer is enough "taking it easy". I did bump my flight to first class on Friday morning though. :-)
My Food Blog - Dinner Delish
TTC since Oct '09
BFP 1/1/10
Missed miscarriage 3/24/10 @ 16 wks, Partial Molar Pregnancy
Began our IF journey in May '11
Asherman's Diagnosis (cervical & uterine scarring) 8/17/11
IUIs #1-#5 & 1 canceled cycle, all BFNs
IVF #1, June 2012 - No ET. Froze 6 embryos due to lining issues.
FET Cycle #1 July, transferred 2 embryos BFN
FET Cycle #2 August, transferred 2 embryos BFN
Break due to DH surgery, relocation to Seattle
IVF# 2 December. BFP 1/12!
 
Report Abuse
Reply
Quote
01-03-2013 at 1:23 PM
Gr8te
Not Ranked
Joined on 08-18-2012
526 Posts
10,004 Points
Gr8te is not online. Last active: 05-18-2013, 8:11 PMBronze

My RE is nationally recognized as one of the top 1% of all REs. I was told they require 2 days of bedrest because the blasts or embies are transferred with fluid. Without bedrest, the fluid could carry the blast/embie up into a tube causing an ectopic pregnancy. It's my understanding that by staying in bed the day of transfer plus the following day, the risk is greatly reduced because it gives the body time to absorb the fluid.

I can't believe some REs confine you to a bed and make you use a bed pan...gross! My doctor said it's safe to use the bathroom, shower and get up for a drink of water.
~ Everyone Welcome ~
TTC: 05/2011 Me: 32, All Clear DH: 38 Dx: MFI Low Testosterone & 1% Morphology
IVF #1 w/ICSI & IMSI, 12/03/12: ER: 27R, 20M, 15F
4 blasts frozen (3BA 4BA 4BB 5BB) b/c of moderate OHSS
FET #1: 02/08/13 Transferred 3BA & 4BA | HPT 5dp5dt BFP!
10dp5dt Beta #1 - 810 | 12dp5dt Beta #2 - 1843
BabyFetus Ticker 
Report Abuse
Reply
Quote
01-03-2013 at 6:53 PM
zazu13
Not Ranked
Joined on 05-16-2012
211 Posts
3,057 Points
zazu13 is not online. Last active: 05-19-2013, 6:48 AMNewbie
Gr8te:

My RE is nationally recognized as one of the top 1% of all REs. I was told they require 2 days of bedrest because the blasts or embies are transferred with fluid. Without bedrest, the fluid could carry the blast/embie up into a tube causing an ectopic pregnancy. It's my understanding that by staying in bed the day of transfer plus the following day, the risk is greatly reduced because it gives the body time to absorb the fluid.

I can't believe some REs confine you to a bed and make you use a bed pan...gross! My doctor said it's safe to use the bathroom, shower and get up for a drink of water.

 

Thanks for sharing this. I just switched RE's and my new RE does advocate for 2 days of bed rest. "Princess Days" she calls them. I was skeptical, especially since my previous dr encouraged me to maintain all my same levels of activity throughout the whole process. This explanation at least gives me some reason to go off of. I guess  I will enjoy my two forced days off.
Age: 34 TTC since 2005, MFI & DOR
IVF #1 Sep '11 canceled
IVF #2 Nov '11 chemical
IVF #3 April '12 M/C
FET #1 Aug 2012 BFN
new RE IVF #4 Jan '13 BFN :( ... IVF #5 TBD  
Report Abuse
Reply
Quote
Hot Topics

New dad or dad-to-be? Chat with other dads here!
Visit the Dads & Dads-to-be board

Need baby shower inspiration? Get ideas here!
Visit the Baby Showers board

Chat with other crafty moms here!
Visit the Crafty Moms board

search boards

choose another board

most active posters
sunlavende...
922 posts
BayleighPa...
905 posts
kamakaziar...
485 posts
minicheezb...
426 posts
sheacox
395 posts
Nest Cayla
356 posts
*Mrs*Rohrb...
245 posts
Love4Labs3...
219 posts
jertie
109 posts
KimberHill...
68 posts

connect with these online bumpies
megankreece mnbv9502!
shelliescove3 Jess002
RockyR12 funny bunny
lilbridebecky alizabethanne
rubber ducky07 Asbromle
TrixieGirl82 karirlaw
Bluenoser4ever Courtniii
Cgia Cherryblossoms07
AndrewnEdna BabyLyDiamond
RunCC37 hayes08
MrsAB1316 mrsTsai
CarolBart1 AshlynBlake
dragossoul84 danssugahbugah
JanessLynn Takytulips
PurrCrasher daniellekny
From The Nest Boards:
"Finding couple friends?"
marinomelissa on Relationships

"Favorite pumpkin recipes?"
laurasr1984 on What's Cooking?