Nutrition and lifestyle in the IVF protocol

Pregnancy, which occurred to a woman due to the use of assisted reproductive technologies, is always especially exciting. It is a responsible period for any couple. Lifestyle after IVF embryo transfer can no longer be standard. Changes relate to both nutrition and intimacy, physical activity. The life of a future mother is changing in general.

Let’s figure out how to organize nutrition in the IVF protocol, what to eat and what it is better to refuse, what to do with your sex life.

General nutrition rules

There are certain principles of women’s nutrition. Let’s consider the main ones.

Rationality and balance

It is important to understand that classic diets with severe dietary restrictions and intensive weight loss should be forgotten. Work on the elimination of overweight and obesity should be carried out in advance, before artificial insemination. It should be understood that women with normal weight have a higher chance of conceiving, bearing and giving birth to a healthy baby.

Increasing the amount of protein in the diet

Proteins are the main building material for cells. It is important to saturate the diet with similar substances of both plant and animal origin. It is best if there are 2-3 times more animal proteins in food. Women are recommended lean meats, eggs, cottage cheese, fish and seafood. All products must be heat treated. This will help to avoid a dangerous disease for pregnant women – listeriosis.

Restriction in the diet of easily digestible carbohydrates

These substances can quickly increase sugar levels and provoke various metabolic disorders. Be sure to give up sugary carbonated drinks, sweets, cakes and buns. It is also undesirable to use grapes. You should eat no more than 20 grams of sugar per day. A specialist will help to correctly calculate its amount in products.

Limited fat intake

Some pregnant women completely refuse these substances, but this is wrong! It should be understood that fatty fish and vegetable oils are valuable sources of polyunsaturated fatty acids, useful both for the woman herself and for her unborn child. It is important to consume no more than 20-30 grams of fat per day. This will avoid overeating and gaining excess body weight.

Limited salt intake

In moderation (7-8 grams per day), salt is necessary for our body. However, when exceeding the norm, it can not only retain fluid in general, but also increase the load on the heart and blood vessels.

Proper drinking regimen

Every day, any person should consume at least 20-25 ml of water per kilogram of body weight. On average, an adult needs about 2-2.5 liters of fluid per day (plain water).

Can I drink coffee after an embryo transfer?

Can! But only in moderation. The fact is that coffee and green tea contain a large amount of caffeine. This substance can increase the contractile activity of the uterus, which is undesirable for pregnant women. Therefore, even if a woman cannot completely refuse coffee or green tea, you can drink them, but in moderation (1-2 cups of 100 ml per day).

Sufficient intake of coarse fibers

Fiber keeps the bowel healthy and prevents the constipation that many women experience during pregnancy. To ensure the full swelling of coarse fibers in the intestines, you need to drink enough water. This will ensure the necessary tone of the intestinal muscles.

The doctor will tell you about other principles of nutrition after embryo transfer during IVF. If necessary, the specialist will recommend a specific set of products. From the doctor you will learn what to eat for you after the embryo transfer.

Important elements of the diet after IVF embryo transfer

The nutrition of a woman in the IVF protocol should be saturated with such important elements for the body as:

Iodine. This mineral is necessary for the thyroid gland and the nervous system of the fetus. It ensures their full formation in the womb. Pregnant women are advised to regularly consume seafood and seaweed. Additionally, a woman may be prescribed special drugs. Important! Their dosages are determined individually.

Folic acid. This substance significantly reduces the likelihood of developing neural tube defects in the fetus. Important! Usually folic acid is prescribed even before pregnancy and even before conception. It is best to start taking this substance 3 months before the intended embryo transfer. A large amount of folic acid is found in greens and green vegetables. If the substance is not enough, its preparations are prescribed in certain dosages.

Vitamin D. It can be obtained from fatty fish. Also, women are advised to take walks in the morning and evening hours. The fact is that vitamin D is produced in our body naturally under the influence of ultraviolet rays. Important! Staying in the sun at the peak of its activity is strictly prohibited for pregnant women.

Also, pregnant women are advised to monitor the level of potassium and calcium, B vitamins, vitamin E. Their deficiency can be compensated by eating fermented milk products, meat, liver, eggs, and vegetable oils. If necessary, a woman can be prescribed complexes of vitamins and minerals.

Important! But with vitamin A, pregnant women should be careful. The fact is that this substance can cause various mutations. Since there is a lot of vitamin A in cod liver, it is better to refuse it while carrying a child.

Reasons to Diet After IVF Embryo Transfer

Proper nutrition in the IVF protocol allows the body of a woman and fetus to receive a sufficient amount of nutrients necessary for normal life, development and growth.

With the help of a complete healthy diet, you can successfully and easily solve such problems as:

  • Prevention of deficiency of proteins, carbohydrates and fats
  • Prevention of shortage of plastic substances used by the body to build cells
  • Saturation of the fetus with valuable vitamins, macro- and microelements to ensure the necessary biochemical processes and reactions

Allowed products during the IVF protocol

Women can include in the diet:

– Lean meat, seafood and fish as sources of quality protein

– Eggs, cheeses, kefir and cottage cheese – as sources of protein, choline and other substances that ensure the synthesis of hormones and the normal functioning of the nervous system

– Vegetables and greens – as foods rich in fiber

Also, nutrition in the IVF protocol cannot be imagined without fruits. Of course, it is better to pay attention to unsweetened ones. This is due to the fact that they are useful, but at the same time contain a small amount of calories. By eating unsweetened fruits, you can maintain an optimal energy supply, but prevent the risks of sudden blood sugar fluctuations.

You should refrain from sausages and semi-finished products, canned food and other products with preservatives (especially artificial ones). These substances negatively affect the fetus and the health of the expectant mother.

Lifestyle recommendations during the protocol

Nutrition in the IVF protocol is not the only important factor in successful conception, gestation and the birth of a healthy child. Attention should be paid to the whole way of life.

Women are recommended:

Plan your visit to the clinic in advance. This will avoid unnecessary haste and fuss, changes in personal plans, stressful situations.

Avoid overseas travel. The fact is that when implementing the protocol of in vitro fertilization, the need to visit the clinic may arise at any time.

Refuse flights and long trips by car. They are not only tiring, but also able to increase the risk of thrombosis, blood pressure drops, etc., which will inevitably negatively affect the condition of both the woman and the fetus.

How to maintain the right lifestyle?

Experts recommend that women follow just a few simple rules.

As part of the implementation of the IVF protocol, it is recommended:

Organize 5-6 meals a day. It’s actually not as difficult as it seems. Even a working woman can simply take containers of recommended food with her.

Allocate at least 1-2 hours for daytime rest. It is best to schedule it for the afternoon. It is not necessary to sleep during the break, you can lie down, watch your favorite movie or read a book

Go to bed at the same time. This will not only ensure a quick fall asleep, but also guarantee a good night’s sleep.

Set aside time for physical activity. It is not necessary to visit the gym, you can sign up for special classes for pregnant women (including in the pool) or take a walk

Make regular field trips. Every inhabitant of the metropolis really lacks simple fresh air. You can get it in the forest, in the field, in the grove.

Physical and emotional stress

Some pregnant women already in the first months of gestation completely refuse physical activity. It is not right! Activity is recommended for women who are carrying a child. Only power loads should be abandoned. You can do swimming, gymnastics, walking, fitness for pregnant women. Special exercises will help improve well-being and even prevent some complications.

Emotional stress should be avoided. Moreover, any intense emotions can negatively affect the body: both anger and disappointment, and excessive joy. Therefore, women are advised to visit places that cause peace of mind, immerse in a sense of harmony and peace. Even at home, you can create the necessary environment for complete relaxation. To do this, it is recommended to use special aroma lamps, regularly take warm baths, adjust the light in the rooms for night sleep and daytime rest.

Proper sleep

Night sleep of a pregnant woman should last 7-9 hours . At the same time, as we have already noted, daytime rest is also desirable. Direct sleep during the day can be given only 30-40 minutes. At this time, all internal organs and systems will fully function. Rest is especially important for the nervous system.

It is important not only to get enough sleep, but also to create an appropriate atmosphere for relaxation. At night, you need to rest in a dark room. This is due to the fact that melatonin (a hormone that synchronizes biological processes) is synthesized exclusively in the dark.

Sleep preferably on the left side or with the use of a special pillow. This will ensure the comfort of the pregnant woman. It is especially important to choose the optimal sleeping position in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters. The fact is that during this period a syndrome of compression of the inferior vena cava may develop. In this case, a large vessel that carries blood from the lower half of the body to the heart is compressed by an enlarged uterus. As a result, a woman develops shortness of breath, a feeling of lack of air and an increased heartbeat. The fetus also suffers. He develops excessive motor activity.

Bed rest

Pregnant women should not completely abandon physical activity, as this negatively affects the development of the fetus. In the absence of the range of motion required by the body, thrombosis can be provoked. It is better to devote time to physical moderate, non-power loads, carefully strengthen muscles. To do this, it is enough to take daily half-hour walks.

Important! In some cases, a woman is advised to adhere to bed rest, but it is necessary only in the presence of certain pathological conditions.

Is it possible to have sex?

To have sex during pregnancy or not, each couple decides on their own, together with the doctor. It is important to understand only that in vitro fertilization is not a contraindication for having sex.

As a rule, sexual life is refused when:

– Threat of abortion

– Placenta previa or low insertion

– Isthmic-cervical insufficiency

If you have questions about your individual women’s nutrition regime, depending on whether you are planning to or are already pregnant, or perhaps you have recently given birth and would like to restore your balance and homeostasis in the context of remission, recovery or treatment, write to us for a free consultation from our reproduction doctor. We will be happy to continue to support you in the mode of individual women’s coaching and treatment programs based on Ukrainian clinics.