Prior to my IVF protocol, I got so many tips from so many women. I did. Eat this, don’t eat that, exercise this, don’t exercise that. Coupled with the some others I met in the waiting room, holding lucky talismans and praying out loud, I realized early on that IVF was a LOT about circumstances. But with a little bit of patience? Circumstances COULD work in any one woman’s favor.
I took a break from my highly stressful job in entertainment. Working 100 plus hours a week was not great for my mental and physical health (chicken parm at 3A was dinner.) To this day, I do wonder if work stress was a factor in some of my infertility.
Not many women are able to scale back on their work load but luckily, at age 38, I was established just enough to know when well, it was enough. I asked for a “hiatus” and spent those weeks going to my many IVF appointments on time. I took baths. I read good books. I spoke to old friends. And had time to spend with my family. What a luxury.
And I breathed. I didn’t run for my bus any longer. I took my time. I didn’t stay on my feet 16 hours a day. I sat when I was tired. I smiled at the simple things, like a funny looking , cute dog with a long tongue. And I cried at movies made in the 1940′s. Just because I had the time to see them and well, because I could.
I did acupuncture. I went on walks. I listened to music on my ipod. I just took it easy on my mind and body.
My circumstances changed because I learned to be more patient in my daily life. If the paper didn’t come on time, it was no big deal. I had plans to go the Botanical Gardens so the paper could wait.
Again, not everyone has or had the luxury I was blessed with. Twenty years in a crazy line of work was what earned me my right to take a break. Sure, the lack of income was a factor but the time for my IVF was necessary. I needed that reward because otherwise, I might never have had a successful protocol.
If one could have the time as I had? Great. If not? I highly recommend a few hours or at LEAST some time to spare for yourself. If work lingers too long, stretch when no one is around and get those creaking joints limber. Read even a few pages of a good book. Make one phone call a day to someone you love. Wear a favorite necklace or perfume. Just do ONE thing a day to treat yourself humanly.
That way, during your IVF check-ups, you can feel like a mother – a woman juggling her time for her baby who also takes a nice bubble bath when the baby is safely sleeping. There is nothing wrong with that hypothetical bubble bath. Even if it is in a sea of baby bath toys and towels with tiny hoods.
