In vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment is a godsend to countless people who have been able to start a family of their own despite being otherwise infertile. The process involves extracting eggs and sperm from the mother and father and then introducing them under laboratory conditions. The eggs will hopefully be fertilized and then left to mature for a few days before being implanted into the womb. The embryo will then hopefully attach itself to the uterus and gradually grow into a healthy young baby.
However, the treatment is often not successful and it can take several attempts before the patient falls pregnant, if at all. For example, the embryo is not strong enough to develop in many cases, meaning the attempted pregnancy will fail. As such, you will need to be prepared for multiple attempts, while you should also be prepared for the treatment failing outright.
However, as the technology and practices involving IVF evolve, so the chances of a successful pregnancy will increase. However, despite all our latest technology, the greatest factors behind a successful pregnancy can be controlled by the potential mother taking some straightforward steps.
Here we take a look at some of the key factors behind successful IVF treatments.
Get Some Exercise
The healthier you are, the more likely you are to become pregnant. Not only that, but good health will help ensure a successful pregnancy resulting in a strong, healthy baby. As such, it’s a good idea to get some exercise to help boost your chances of success.
On the other hand, heavy exercise might interfere with your natural cycles, potentially making it harder for you to get pregnant. What’s more is that heavy exercise during a pregnancy can also result in complications. As such, it’s best to take some gentle exercise to help keep you reasonably fit, but don’t overdo it. If you are a fitness fanatic, you can always get back to your regime sometime after you’ve given birth.
Get Plenty of Nutrition
It’s always important to eat well, but it’s especially the case for women hoping to get pregnant. Eating a healthy diet will help to keep your reproductive system in good shape, boosting your chances of becoming pregnant.
Plus, of course, nutrition becomes even more important after becoming pregnant. The baby growing inside you will need lots of nutrition as it grows and develops, making it essential the mother eats well. Carrying a baby is also very tiring, so the mother is going to need all the fuel she can get.
And it’s essential to remember that not just any food will do. Instead, the mother should focus on eating a healthy, balanced diet. This means a varied diet that offers the full range of vitamins, proteins, minerals and all the other building blocks a growing baby needs to develop. The patient should also try to avoid junk foods as much as possible, such as processed meats, trans fats, and food high in carbs.
Stress Management
Mental health is closely linked with physical health. As such, the better shape your mental health is in, the better your chances of falling pregnant. And good mental health becomes even more important after you fall pregnant because there will be a lot of work to do. Pregnancy can also be a very emotional ride and the better you are equipped to deal with it mentally, the better.
One of the key aspects of stress management is to learn how to look after yourself and draw clear boundaries for other people to respect. For example, you should have some time to yourself doing what you like to do to give your body and mind some time to relax. This periodic time-out will help to keep your hormone levels in balance, thus contributing to good overall mental health.
Stress management also involves maintaining a good work/life balance. This means avoiding too many late nights in the office and making sure you get enough time for yourself and your family. It’s also essential to get plenty of rest to help you feel refreshed physically and mentally in the mornings.
Lifestyle
The above points, and more, can all come under a single category: lifestyle. And while your lifestyle will include details like diet and exercise, it will also cover multiple other aspects of how you live your life.
One lifestyle aspect that will help boost your chances of a successful pregnancy is to respect your body and take good care of it overall. For example, this can include cutting out bad habits like smoking and drinking, while it can also mean avoiding late nights and getting plenty of rest. Cigarettes and alcohol can be especially dangerous to developing foetuses, so it’s best to limit your consumption or, even better, cut them out completely.
This doesn’t necessarily mean having to stick to a strict regime. Instead, it means using common sense and adopting a lifestyle that will help your body and mind remain healthy and strong. And not only will this help you fall pregnant with IVF, but it will also help you feel better overall.
Summary
Follow the brief guide above and you will increase your chances of starting a family with help from IVF. Eat well, get a reasonable amount of exercise, take care of your mental health, and try living a life style that’s good for you and a potential baby. And while this still won’t guarantee success, you will still be improving your chances considerably.
And if you’re unsure about any of the details above then its best to speak with a professional and ask for their advice on the matter. They will then be able to make recommendations on the above points and anything else important.
If you would like more information on how to improve your chances of a successful outcome with IVF treatment, get in touch with the team at First Fertility. Our friendly and professional staff will be delighted to hear from you and happy to answer any questions that you might have.