The two week wait. Cue ominous music. In infertility terms the two week wait is a suspenseful, frustrating, stressful time. It’s the two week wait IVF or IUI. After what is often months, and sometimes years of treatment the two week wait is one of the final hurdles and it can be a frustrating time. Here are some ideas to pass that time without going stir crazy.
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Anyone who has struggled to conceive and undergone fertility or infertility treatment such as IVF or IUI knows the torture of the two week wait. The two week wait IVF is bad enough without adding the stressful factors of infertility. Financial strain, time off work for doctor’s appointments, potential lack of support from family members and employers, makes infertility treatment draining. When you are trying to conceive and fertility treatment is in full swing, the two week wait is essentially the period of time that is between the treatment (in vitro fertilization – IVF or intra-uterine insemination – IUI) and the precious moment you can take the pregnancy test. Why do you wait? Well, one of the hormones taken during IVF is hcG, the same hormone home pregnancy tests detect to measure whether you are pregnant or not. So inaccurate tests results are common when you take your pregnancy test too soon. Like the song says the waiting is the hardest part. During the two week wait it’s completely common to overanalyze each twinge, cramp or slight symptom happening in your body. So how can you fill the two week wait without coming completely unglued?
Five Ways to Pass the Two Week Wait.1. Yoga: Yoga is a calming activity that helps keep both mind and body strong and centred. There are many useful reasons for yoga and even specific yoga for fertility sessions you can join. But you don’t have to go crazy. A routine of using the mind body breathing techniques incorporated into yoga practice can help many people with many different health care situations. 2. Meditation: Meditation is the practice of calming your mind and centring your energy. Sometimes it involves focussing on a word or picture to calm the outside world and soothe mind and body. This is a great way to positively change anxious thoughts and slow worry down. 3. Journalling: Put your thoughts on paper. I kept busy working while I was undergoing infertility treatment (that’s my go to default cycle when I am stressed and I am sure that probably didn’t help my infertility treatment.) Those who know me also know we ended up choosing adoption to create our family. When I was waiting to adopt I journal led and then passed the book on to my daughter to let her know how much she was wanted. She hasn’t read it yet but I know she will one day. Plus it helped me take my mind off waiting to be a family. [tweetthis]How did you pass the two week wait? #IVF #infertility [/tweetthis] 4. Go outside and restore. Fresh air does a body good. Or you could schedule a low key movie night with your partner or, on your own if you are single. Go easy on yourself right now. A purely escapist entertaining movie might be just the ticket to help. 5. Reading: Take a book that is fiction or something totally removed from infertility and parenting and health fields. Then escape into it and free your body to do what it needs to do while your mind is otherwise occupied. See also Five Free Infertility Apps. |
Those are all great ideas. I imagine those 2 weeks must take FOREVER.
Wow. I can’t imagine having to go through something like this. I was a nervous wreck when we were trying to get pregnant, and we didn’t even have any issues!
The waiting period is brutal for so many people.
I remember these times from when my daughter was going through it. It is the longest two weeks but in our case well worth it because we now have brand new baby twins a boy and a girl!
I can only imagine those couple of weeks are like torture. I don’t suffer infertility… My hubby is a young virile thing.
Thank you for posting this! We are in the middle of just such a process right now, and it’s so hard not to think about it! This will help!
I remember the two week wait! The second round.. during the two week wait, I slept a lot! I did not know this but my husband did… I slept because I was pregnant and exhausted!
Yoga and reading are great ways to get through any stressful time. I love finding light hearted reads to help me with my stress.
I had never heard of this. I can imagine it’s difficult to distract yourself. These are great ways to spend the time!
What some great ideas, I can imagine it is just such a hard time to try and get through. x
Those are great ways to keep productive and distracted. I can’t imagine how stressful that time must be.
Those are great ideas for making the time go by when it seems to go so slowly. Yoga and meditation are definitely great stress relievers.
Oh the two week wait. I miss the excitement but not the agony of waiting. These are great and helpful tips!
We have 5 kids and we got pregnant quick with all of them and now wanting baby 6 is taking forever, it can be stressful and is even harder when those around you are pregnant or just having babies. Great suggestions.
Your tips are great suggestions to distract the mind from the wait. I can’t imagine how diffiult it must be!
Gotta love the two week wait. It is all about relaxing, that is for sure!
I hated the waiting. I’m glad I’m past that now.
I am glad you are past that as well. It’s a hard time.
These are all great ideas. I know how unnerving the two week wait can be.
I had many, many TWW over my years of TTC. It was horrible. I tried for a combined 6 years so there were many weeks of stress.
Great ideas! I bet it’s super hard for some and I hate waiting myself .
These are all great ways to pass that wait. I know that can really be a stressful time.
I am not a very patient person. I cannot imagine having to wait for two weeks for such big news. Great ways to make it through
I’ve gone through the process 3 times so far and, yes, the 2 week wait is excruciating. Hoping I don’t have to endure too many more.
We went through this twice with my daughter only for her to miscarry both times. She finally conceived naturally and will be delivering my grandson in May!
My heart goes out to those who struggle with infertility. These are great tips when those 2 weeks can seem like forever.
Fresh air does do a body good. Even if I’ve got a deadline and start to feel groggy/tired, I just step outside for a few and get an instant refresh.
Many underestimate the power of nature. Nature can help with a lot of things in life. Infertility is something I struggled with. I decided a few years ago that I did not want to go through fertility treatments. The older I got, the more risks were associated with it. As a kid I used to always talk about adopting. So, there was a part of me that was perfectly fine with adopting someday.
I can see how journalling would be a big help. I can not imagine how long the wait feels
These are great ways to help pass the time while you wait. Yoga is a really great way to relax and focus.
Two weeks seems like an eternity when waiting for something that you’ve been wanting/dreaming for. Especially with the factor that it might not be…Thanks for sharing these tips to pass the time while waiting!
This is not just a way to pass time – it would be great for the soul and body too!
I know this list must be comforting to so many out there struggling with infertility. Having had friends suffer through it, I’ve learned to NEVER again ask any couple when they plan to start having kids… you just never know how hard they might be trying already. 🙁
These are some really great suggestions. I can imagine how difficult it must be to pass that time as I know several who have struggled with infertility.