Top 5 Tips When Going Through IVF

Guest blog by Tara Brandner, an experienced doctorate nurse practitioner and fertility coach.

Being diagnosed with infertility was one of the most challenging things I have ever experienced. After experiencing a miscarriage, I knew there was more going on. Exhausted and confused, we proceeded and endured three failed IUIs. After this treatment failed, we decided to take a break, and it was the best decision ever. During that break, we decided to switch clinics and started down the path of IVF. We had little support or inside information as to what this all entailed. Our clinic was terrific and had provided some materials, but looking back, I wish this would have been in place months before we started IVF.

I hope to provide information to support you during IVF with my top 5 tips when going through IVF. The following tips are short and simple things that can help you find peace and take back control of your journey to starting or growing your family. Feel free to implement all five or pick a couple to begin. These should not feel like another overwhelming task but tasks that make you feel at ease and at peace.

1. Have a support system in place right away. 61% of women do not share their diagnosis with friends and family. We all know this is a very lonely and isolating diagnosis with so many emotions that present themselves at any given time. We need to have a support system in place for you, whether it is one person or a group. Support may look different for everyone, but it should feel safe. For some, it may be support groups, and for others, it is friends and family. Another option to consider is a fertility coach. Fertility coaches are relatively new but highly beneficial and something I wish I would have had as part of my fertility team. Coaches can be helpful to providing reassurance, understanding, and confidence as you move forward with treatment. There are different styles of fertility coaches such as nutrition, mindset, cycle tracking, medical knowledge, and others are a combination. Some of my patients utilize a combination of coaches specializing in different areas.
   
   
2. Understand your clinic’s chain of command. Being able to ask your questions without fear of judgment is vital to this process. I often hear, “ I don’t want to bother them.” “ I have a silly question and don’t want to ask.” “I asked before, and it took days to get a response”. All of this prevents you from wanting to ask again. I want to empower you to ask those questions the moment you have them. One idea is to use the notepad in your phone and record them as they come. Then you can ask them at your next appointment or send a communication message to your provider the next business day. ALWAYS ask your questions! 
   
   
3. Mindset and Meditations. Studies have demonstrated infertility is as stressful as going through cancer treatments. Men and women both can experience anxiety and depression when going through IVF. It is vital to have tools in place to care for your mental health as you move forward with IVF treatments. This can look unique for everyone but could include reading books, podcasts, meditations, and affirmations. I purchased specific IVF meditations from Circle and Bloom and listened to them daily throughout treatment. I also had it playing during our transfer and after. Simply lay down comfortably, close your eyes, and place your earbuds in.
   
   
4. Understand your protocol. It is very important that you ask your doctor to explain why they chose that particular one for you. I find not understanding this to be a huge cause of stress for my patients. Try not to compare your protocol with others, but if you find yourself curious, present it to your doctor and ask if it would be a good fit for you. Also, be aware of the medication’s side effects to avoid catching you off guard. Know that they affect everyone differently. Some will experience very little, and others will have numerous.
   
   
5. Create a system to organize your medications and schedule. My must-haves are a pill planner for supplements and medications. Purchase a larger one because they fill up fast! I also had a storage system in place for my medications, needles, alcohol swabs, and other essentials for medication administration. Make this a special place in your home with cute decor, affirmation cards, fun bandaids, and a storage system.
   

Remember that you aren’t alone in this journey. There is an entire community and support system behind you as you move through treatment. I want to empower you to ask any and all questions. Never hesitate or feel like you are bothering your doctor. The better you understand your fertility care, the more peace you will have moving forward.

Tara Brandner works as an experienced doctorate nurse practitioner and fertility coach with patients worldwide. She received additional certification through the American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) and Marquette Natural Family Planning. After enduring a long road through infertility followed by a traumatic pregnancy, she turned her hurt into hope for others. Tara offers a personalized approach to fertility care to help you get unstuck and avoid the common pitfalls experienced with this diagnosis. In addition, she provides services for a peaceful pregnancy after infertility and a wide variety of women’s healthcare services delivered via telemedicine. She has combined her experience as a healthcare professional and personal struggle to help navigate couples through their family-building path.