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Advice after embryo transfer / article
Just thought some of you ladies would like to read this article I found. These articles are quite common. I work for a docotr and have access to medical articles and studies and I thought this was interesting. Hope it helps.
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 clinic which prove that embryo implantation and pregnancy rates are not affected by rest; 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 demoralising, 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 !
Posted by Dr Aniruddha
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 clinic which prove that embryo implantation and pregnancy rates are not affected by rest; 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 demoralising, 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 !
Posted by Dr Aniruddha
I completely agree with you. I have been going a little stir crazy. The rest was nice but I will start doing some things tomorrow. I won't excercise like I normally do nor will I pick up my 3 year old but I will resume light duty. When I have time to think I start the what if game and that initself drives me insane. I know I am not the only one who does it but I aggravate myself. I have heard different things on implantation so I don't know about that. I was told that it depends on what day you have the transfer. Whether it is 3 or 5 day transfer, but I am not sure. Thanks for your post!
That all makes since to me. Man, I wish we could all just see the future so we would know when it is finaly going to be our day....
Just had my 3 day transfer. Before leaving I double checked about the activity. Nurse said we need to be on low activity as to not get our adreneline (I think I spelled this right), and endorphines up. We are on alot of hormones already. She said you can't pee, poop, sneeze, cough, push them out. Once they are in the uterus they can not come back out. That is why GOD made our cervix, I guess.
I was incorrect in my first post, implantation usually does take place within 2 days. I asked when will I start feeling pregnant if I am. She said usually if someone has been pregnant before they will usually start feeling little symptoms a few days before your pregnancy test or earlier. Those pregnant with twins feel it quicker. But she said everyone is different. So regardless of the why's let's all enjoy the rest. We have enough "what if's" heavy on our mind.
I was incorrect in my first post, implantation usually does take place within 2 days. I asked when will I start feeling pregnant if I am. She said usually if someone has been pregnant before they will usually start feeling little symptoms a few days before your pregnancy test or earlier. Those pregnant with twins feel it quicker. But she said everyone is different. So regardless of the why's let's all enjoy the rest. We have enough "what if's" heavy on our mind.
Congratulations on your transfer. Hope everything goes well. I am sure it will. I am on my TWW, I stayed rested for 48 hours and today I am up and still takeing it easy but doing some stuff. The RE and Embryologist told us that rest would not hurt but don't restrict yourself from eveything. I think we do what makes us feel the best. I know it will happen for all of us.
Take care!
Take care!
This is very useful. Thank you. I was afraid that straining so much (on my transfer day 2) because of constipation may add an increased risk of the embryos falling out, as they won't have implanted yet. Also, I thought the uterus opening is as big as a straw, so the embryos could seep out accidentally. I guess this cannot happen though...
But before the embryo gets to blasto stage, where does it rest in the uterus? Does it move around, or rest on the lining before it can break out of its zona?
But before the embryo gets to blasto stage, where does it rest in the uterus? Does it move around, or rest on the lining before it can break out of its zona?
It normally stays where they place it. I did not have much bed rest after my IVF cycle because I have a 3 year old. Our RE and Embryologist told us that you will be ok to go on with your normal daily activities except for major exercise. I even got up to go urinate right after the transfer and am almost 17 weeks pregnant. Good luck and don't worry about the straining.
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