IVF questions

The nurse said that my RE likes for her IVF patients to take 5 days of total bedrest between retrieval and transfer. 3 days of bedrest for retrieval and 2 days for transfer.

Is that standard? Did any of you work from home during that time? My boss said he'd be more than happy to let me work from home during that time, but I don't know if I'll just want to take those days off, or I'll be so bored that I'll want to work.

How strict were you with the bedrest?

Message edited 8/25/2008 8:09:03 AM.

Re: IVF questions

My RE suggested taking it easy the day of retrieval & transfer. That's about it...

Re: IVF questions

Here is what I have done- Took the whole day off and rested after retrieval. Went back to work the very next day. On day of transfer- i've gone to work if the transfer was early enough. I have heard of people taking the day of retrieval off thru day of transfer.

Re: IVF questions

Fortunately, being a teacher and going through IVF this summer, I was able to rest as much as I wanted. I had my ER on a Tuesday, rested until Friday (ET) because I was very sore, and rested again until Monday. I know it probably wasn't completely necessary, but I was listening to my body and it was definitely telling me to rest!

Re: IVF questions

It isn't always possible to rest due to schedules and the such!

However, I did have my transfer on a Saturday so I wound up staying in on the weekend. But, what I found interesting was the advice my accupunturist gave me. She told me to keep my mid-section warm after the transfer. I did that along with accupunture and I got pregnant with the twins!

I am not sure what really worked.....

Re: IVF questions

For the transfer 2 day bed rest then 2 days off after retrival.

After my last iui i had at least 6 follicles and I needed to rest on the day of ovulation. i also think i'll begroggy from iv sedation on the day of retrival.

Re: IVF questions

Every RE is different. Mine said bedrest wasn't necessary. However, I did take the day after my retrievals off only because I was still groggy from the anestesia. I also stayed off my feet for 2 days following my transfer. But that was more at the insistence of my husband.

Re: IVF questions

I took the day off from retrieval bc I was in pain and groggy..then the next day I went to work but was still a little "off"..

Day of transfer, I took off and then 2 days after.

Re: IVF questions

I did not bed rest for either. I researched this and found there is no conclusive eveidence for either. For retrieval-you feel like crap after as you are all bloated and sore. I relaxed but did not stay in bed. For transfer I rested for 20 minutes, that was it

Re: IVF questions

For the retrieval, I had to take the day off b/c I was tired and slept the whole day after the retrieval each time.

The 2nd retreival, I had to take the next day off too b/c my retrieval was late in the afternoon and they said I couldn't drive for 24 hours.

For the transfer, my first RE required strict bedrest the day of transfer. My next RE didn't require it at all. I did strict bedrest for my 1st cycle, BFP and 3rd cycle BFN. Second cycle I did a modified bedrest. BFP but m/c.

So, who knows.

Re: IVF questions

Eventhough my RE did not recommend bed rest, I put myself on "modified" bedrest for about 10 days. This included a few days before retrieval up to a few days after my 5dt. I also had some OHSS and was very uncomfortable and tired. Fortunately, I do not work during the summer so I was able to do this. It's very hard to predict how you will feel so I would err on the side of caution and take whatever your boss is willing to give you.