I suppose you could say I am a superstitious person….I always salute a magpie, I never walk over 3 drains or under ladders. I don’t talk when I go past a monkey puzzle tree, I never put new shoes on a table nor do I open umberellas indoors.
The list goes on, trust me. I know it sounds stupid, I mean how bad is your day suddenly going to get if you see a magpie and don’t salute it? I’m sure it makes no difference, but I say to myself “why risk it?” “It only takes a second so I might as well follow the procedure….just incase!”. The same applies with my IVF superstitions. I know they are probably nonsense, but they exist, and so why not go with them? What harm can they do? I see following these superstitions as my little input – my way of doing everything I possibly can to make this work – to help me achieve the one and only dream I have – to be a mother.
So let me share with you the fertility superstitions I have adhered to over my 4 year IVF journey
My Lucky Transfer Socks
Traditional Chinese Medicine suggests that warm feet contribute to a warm uterus, which is beneficial for fertility. My IVF doctor however told me that there’s limited scientific evidence for this belief when I asked him. He did say though that keeping warm can promote relaxation, which is beneficial for the ‘parasympathetic nervous system’, which encourages blood flow to reproductive organs. So, it’s socks on for me at my next transfer!
McDonald’s French Fries
Now this one I enjoy. I mean who doesn’t enjoy McDonald’s French Fries?! If you’re part of the IVF community, chances are you’ve come across numerous posts of women heading to McDonald’s after their embryo transfer to grab themselves some salty fries, with some attributing it to boosting pregnancy rates. I shall get straight to the point though and say is that this is just myth with no scientific evidence whatsoever, but if it brings a bit of joy or comfort during a stressful time, there’s certainly no harm in indulging.
Pineapples
Everywhere you look in the TTC community you will see pineapples. I proudly wear my IVF babble pineapple pin too! They say that historically, pineapples have been associated with hospitality and warmth, and so his symbolism has extended to the IVF community, where support and solidarity are essential.
Apparently though, consuming pineapples, especially the core, after ovulation or embryo transfer enhances implantation. The belief stems from Bromelain content in pineapples, known for potential blood-thinning and anti-inflammatory effects. However, evidence on Bromelain’s efficacy is inconclusive. Although I am yet to conceive, eating a pineapple has become part of my IVF routine. It’s also super tasty.
Pomegranate Juice
The experts say that the high antioxidant content of pomegranate juice helps protect sperm and eggs from oxidative stress, thereby supporting reproductive health and potentially improving fertility outcomes. So, every morning, me and hubby have a lovely tall glass of juice.
Sue Bedford the IVF babble nutritionist has so many recipes containing pomegranate too which I have tried. Click here to check them out.
Sticky Thoughts
So this one might sound ridiculous, but they say focusing on “sticky” thoughts enhances embryo stickiness and implantation because of the mind-body connection, which is the concept that our thoughts and emotions can influence our physical health and bodily functions. No one is saying that if you visualise your embryo sticking, it will, but it is more about mindfulness, meditation, and visualization which can help reduce cortisol levels. Lower cortisol levels contribute to a more favorable environment for embryo implantation. So, I practice this almost every day.
You are probably thinking, that if any of these actually worked, then I wouldn’t still be child free, and you would have a point, but you see the thing is, what if next time one of these superstitions does make it work? What matters to me is that I am doing everything in my control to make this work. Yes, there is no scientific evidence that my McDonalds fries after transfer are going to make my embryo stick, but it is a ritual that me and my husband do, and it makes us smile. So you see, there is a benefit to these superstitions if they make you feel good.
Do you have any superstitions that you would like to share? Drop us a line at info@ivfbabble.com.
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