The days are counted one by one. “How long is left until the blood test and the result? Will it have worked? “The wait seems never-ending…
The wait after the transfer is undoubtedly the toughest time during the assisted reproduction process, whether it’s after artificial insemination or in vitro fertilisation. Before the transfer, ovarian stimulation seems long and painful, but physically, it isn’t as tough as one might think. The stimulation injections start to be painful as a result of injecting yourself in the same spot, but there’s nothing more to it than that, it’s perfectly bearable. As for the pain, really, what are we talking about here? A few seconds or minutes at most! The mental suffering that can appear after the transfer, that period of endless waiting that remains permanently, is much harder to bear.
The longest two weeks
For many of us, they are two very long weeks, in fact the longest in the whole process and they may even be, depending on the number of previous attempts, the longest two weeks of our lives … Two weeks of torture. In fact, awaiting the outcome often leads to extreme anxiety in women and their partners. The days are counted one by one. “How many days have gone by since the transfer? How long is left till the blood tests and the result? Will it have worked? It has probably worked. No, it’s really difficult, it’s almost impossible that it’s worked “… It’s never-ending!
Everyone finds their own approach and method to lighten this stressful and tense waiting period:
Some will get down to working really hard and prepare a schedule worthy of a minister, packed with things to do, whether big or small, in order to feel constantly busy. It’s good to keep yourself amused and make the time go by faster. It’s a way to stop being obsessed with the calendar. Read, cook, go to the beautician’s and treat yourself to the full works: a facial, manicure, pedicure, full body massage… Pamper yourself! Go out with your friends, go shopping, go for a short stroll, or even a long one, do puzzles, DIY, go to the cinema, a concert, see an exhibition, visit a museum…or go on a trip. Why not? Or just a short weekend getaway? If it’s a long one, even better… It’ll help you to forget, think about other things and gain a new outlook on life…
Support groups
Lend a hand to women or couples who are also going through this difficult waiting period. Your help will be invaluable. Talk to them online, through a forum or by Facebook, and meet up with them to give each other support. There are lots of support groups and numerous blogs! If there are no support groups in your neighbourhood or city … Create one yourself!
In short, lead a normal life. Many studies show that “brooding” or forcing yourself to rest during this period does nothing to help pregnancy. In fact, once the transfer is made, there are few things you can do to improve your chances of success, so … Do whatever it takes to make this period of waiting and acquiescence as short and pleasant as possible, for you and your partner!
