IVF Diet

It's important what you eat and drink while doing IVF. I eat healthily most of the time anyway but make an extra effort during my treatment - thanks to my Hubby's help and cooking!

For the first part of my cycle (during my period) I eat foods rich in iron such as eggs, spinach and broccoli. I also take a liquid iron supplement called Flurodix:

 Also I include foods rich in Vitamin C as these help with iron absorption - cataloupe melons, strawberries, potatoes, tomatoes and peas.

During the next part of the cycle, up to egg collection, it is important to eat protein. I am a vegetarian and so I don't get the protein from meat. I eat chickpeas (in curry and hummous - yum yum), baked beans, milk, lentils, eggs, nuts and protein shakes. Vitamin E is also important at this stage as it is found in the fluid around the developing eggs and is important for their nourishment. Vitamin E can be found in sweet potatoes, leafy greens, nuts, seeds and whole grains.

Throughout the cycle I drink plenty of water, herbal teas, milk and shakes.

My big thing for the past few months has been eating blueberries on my cereal. Blueberries are full of antioxidants which are essential for combating free radicals that can damage cellular structures as well as DNA, and they are better than just having plain Shreddies in the morning.

I still have treats and today my friend's 3 year old daughter insisted that I had a fairy cake that she'd made - so of course I had to oblige. I also had to oblige when asked if I wanted an ice-cream after a hot day strolling around Drayton Manor Thomas Land.

Jabbing - Day 1

Hubby did my 1st injection today - 450 Gonal F in the tummy. It's was abfab, they're not a problem anymore, I'm used to them which is good really as he is away for a few days now so I'll be doing them myself.
It's good to get going and I did some positive visualisation today. I added the number '9' to my visualisation board, that is how many follicles with eggs I want.

Hubby also made me lots of healthy, scrummy food and snacks - he looks after me so well! I also went to Zumba this morning and Body Balance this evening. Those classes should make up for the fact that I've done nothing since Saturday!

Feel a bit sorry for Hubby today as my positivity seems to be working and he's had a few bits of bad luck. Firstly his car had to go back to the garage for the third time but is fixed now. The blender broke when he was making us smoothies after the gym, and he's only had it since April - luckily I remembered where the receipt was and we were able to go get a new and hopefully better one. Then he had to fix the washing machine after I had left three hair grips in a pocket and they were stuck in it - oops! Ah well, all sorted now!

Well I'm off to bed now and I'm going to put a hot water bottle on my tummy for 20mins while I read - I know that sounds like madness in this heat but it increases blood flow to the lower abdomen to help all the follicles and womb lining grow!

Game On!

My period turned up today and so I went to the clinic and had a baseline scan which showed I was ready to start - yipee! I asked for an antral follicle count and I have about 9 altogether which is how many eggs I got last cycle, so I am happy to get the same amount but you always hope there is going to be more to give you a better chance.
I will start the Gonal F injections tomorrow 450iu once a day. Then back for my first scan on Monday to see how many follicles are growing and how big they are, also to see if I need to start the Cetrotide injections to stop me ovulating before Egg Collection.

On the way back from the clinic we stopped off at the garden centre and bought a tiny cactus, which we are going to nurture and grow alongside our baby:

I got my toenails done today (Minx) so that everytime I look at my feet I can smile:

This evening we went for our hotair balloon ride, our 7th attempt in 13months, and it was too windy! I'm hoping that I'll have to postpone it now for at least 9 months!

Tonight I will be reading my latest book - Chicken Soup For The Expectant Mother's Soul, if it's any good I'll add it to my favourites:

The Secret

This cycle I am trying to be as positive as I can be. I have recently read 'The Secret' and although I'm not normally into that sort of thing, I decided to give it a try. I want to be a happier and nicer person, who sees that the glass is half-full and not half- empty!

My Visualisation board that includes:

• pics of the house we are buying, where the nursery will be!
• Pics of possible nursery furnishings
• pics of positive pregnancy tests
• pics of a perfect blastocyst, 8 week scan , 11 week scan etc right through to new born
• pic of a baby carrier that hubby said he wanted
• pic of a cot that attaches to your bed
• pic of a preganant body in a bikini (how I want to be)
• A list of all the things I'm grateful for
• A babygro

Almost time for IVF#4

I've just come back from my acupuncture appointment - it is so nice to see Katrina again. I don't know whether the acupuncture actually does anything but just talking to Katrina helps, it's like a therapy session. Today Katrina said my kidney pulse was off balance and so I had about 3 needles inserted around my bellybutton. When she took them out I had a few seconds of weird tingling in my tummy, it must be doing something. I told Katrina that I had been really thirsty lately even though I was drinking lots of water and my rooibos Earl Grey tea. Katrina reminded me that IVF puts a strain on my kidneys so I really need to up my fluids intake. I'm sure she doesn't mean a pint of cider with your curry like I had last night (first drop of alcohol in ages).

Tomorrow I'm back to the clinic to start IVF #4. I thought I'd be starting today but my period hasn't shown up yet. I normally have a 29 day cycle but since IVF #3 in May my body is doing it's own thing. I do feel like my period is on it's way though and I hope it really is this time, ready for tomorrow!
I'm excited about starting it all again - I know a lot of ladies hate going through it all but if this is the only way we're going to have our child, I'm like "Bring it on!"
I have everything ready - the Gonal F, the Cetrotide, the Pregnyl, the Cyclogest and the Gestone. Well I say everything but I haven't sorted out the steroids yet, so hopefully I can get them sorted tomorrow while at the clinic.

Hubby has planned what we're eating for this week including what I'm to have while he is working away - he is an angel. Plenty of protein on the menu and generally majorly healthy foods as usual to help me grow good eggies!